Wildwood Canyon State Park

Not too far from bustling suburbia, Wildwood Canyon State Park has an unpresumptuous entrance: a dusty equestrian staging area, and a dirt road heading into the foothills beneath San Gorgonio Mountain.

The singletrack trails split off almost immediately. I love how equestrian trails get worn down into a sort of slot car chute and have that soft, churned feel under the trail runners.

(These lovely little legumes drape themselves all over the sunny areas.)

Late spring is a good time to see Wildwood when the grass is still green and the snakes aren't yet in full force. The scrub oak, California Blue Lilac, Blue Elderberry trees display their humble yet abundant blossoms along with the rest of the chapparal shrubbery.

(Chia seed plants)

Live Oaks, centuries old, tower in the middle of meadows

or create shady fairy wonderlands in ravines and creek beds.

Watch out, for they are accompanied by aggressive bodyguards: thickets of virulent poison oak.

Climb "Hi-Up Road" and you'll discover a fairly late model house, boarded up but with a large veranda providing views clear into north San Diego County.

I wandered on a few of the short loops which added up to a six mile hike, but they connect to the truck trails on out to Pisgah Peak, for a nice long trek and even better long-distance views.

Here is the website. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22883