Palomar Ranger District

Description:

• Palomar Mountain is located 35 miles east of Oceanside off Highway 76. County Road S6 (South Grade Road) leads to Palomar Observatory and two Forest Service campgrounds. County Road S7 (East Grade Road) leads to Palomar Mountain State Park.

  The Observatory is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology and houses four telescopes. Construction of the first telescope began in the late 1930s, but because of World War II, it was not completed until 1947. The observatory is open to the public 9 AM to 4 PM daily for a self-guided tour of the 100-inch telescope.

  At the nearby Fry Creek and Observatory Campgrounds you can camp under evergreens and oak trees. The 2.1-miles Observatory Trail begins at the east end of the Observatory Campground and ends at the Observatory. A trail guide is available at the District Office in Ramona.

  To the north, the main access to the Agua Tibia Wilderness is the Dripping Springs Trail (about 6.8 miles long), part of approximately 25 miles of pathways in the wilderness. The steep hillsides are covered with thick chaparral, and some plants may be as old as one hundred years. The tops of the mountains are covered with pine, fir, and oak trees. Agua Tibia Mountain is 4,400 feet and Eagle Crag is 5,007 feet. Snow falls occasionally in winter and early spring.

  The best time to hike is from late autumn through early spring. The rest of the year temperatures can reach as high was 100 degrees F during the summer months, or as low as 50-60 degrees F during the wintertime. Small pools in the canyons' bottoms become quite warm, hence the name Agua Tibia, or "warm water" in Spanish.

  Indian Flats Campground is east of Highway 79 near Warner Springs. Scattered oaks provide shade for 17 campsites in this high desert area. A segment of the Pacific Crest Trail is accessible along the paved Indian Flats Road.

  In the south near Santa Ysabel is a picnic area and short nature trail. The half-mile Inaja Memorial Interpretive Trail offers views in all directions and a walk through the chaparral. A trail guide describes the natural history of the area and a monument commemorates the eleven firefighters who lost their lives in 1956.

  Palomar Mountain is one of the wettest locations in Southern California. In 1993, a record 97 inches of rain was recorded. Its location separate from nearby mountains allows it to catch winter storms coming off the ocean. Visitors should remember to dress in layers when traveling to Palomar.

  Free wilderness permits are required for overnight use only. Campfires are not allowed in the wilderness.

  Most visitors enjoy hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Tent, RV and group camping, along with several picnic areas comprise the recreation options found on Palomar Ranger District.

  Forest visitors on the San Bernardino, Cleveland, Angeles and Los Padres National Forests of Southern California are required to purchase an Adventure Pass and display it on their vehicle when parked in the Forest. The cost is $5 per day or $30 per year and can be purchased in any Forest Service office or over 350 businesses throughout Southern California.

  The Palomar Ranger District is located in the center of the Cleveland National Forest North of Ramona on the east side of Interstate 15.