DAY-5 REPORT: 6/10/12: Burnt Rancheria to Overlook at Oasis Spring (6.3 mi)

TOTAL PCT MILES COMPLETED AFTER THIS HIKE:  47.7 Miles

THE GOOD: Easily the best views of all the hiking so far.  The first half of the hike being almost entirely under the trees and in shade.  The hike has a net downhill of about 500', easy grades.
THE BAD: The last section that is all downhill snakes back and forth and takes forever to get back to the car.  But it's a beautiful area, so it's not bad at all,  I just couldn't think of anything else that I could say was bad.
AND THE ABSURD:  Sharing the trail with runners near the end of their 100-mile ultramarathon.

Shade, glorious shade!

Start temp approx 75-degrees and stayed more or less the same throughout the hike.   Great hiking weather!  Decent breeze blowing helped keep us cool.  Start time 9:20am, finish time 1:00pm (3.3-hours.)  Atticus walked about a mile of it in total, so we went a bit slower than we could have had we carried him the whole way.

Looking west, overlooking the forest of Laguna Recreation Area

Only 4-people on this hike, ourselves and Rosalind. As was reported on the hike from yesterday, we spent this weekend camping at Burnt Rancheria Campground so we were able to star this hike directly from our camp after leaving our shuttle car at the overlook above Oasis Spring, alongside the Sunrise Highway.  A very short drive to leave the shuttle car.  We got a bit of a later start this morning as it was cooler than on previous hikes and we did a bit of packing of our gear first.  And, enjoyed a second cup of coffee.  Or was it a third?

Dropping down towards the saddle overlook

The first half of the hike was in the shade of trees, and beautiful except for the occasional sound of vehicles along the Sunrise Highway nearby.  The very first section of the hike is also called the "Desert View Trail", aptly named.  Great first views of the desert.  

At the overlook at the saddle, Sawtooth Range in the back left.

Once we eventually emerged from the forest, and back into the Chaparral, the views all around were fantastic.   Eventually we dropped down to a saddle where a short spur trail to the right lead to an amazing overlook above the desert.  If you do this hike, be sure not to miss visiting this spot.

Breathtaking views at the saddle

Everyone is happy here

San Felipe hills faintly seen at end of arrow.  

Likewise, when you start dropping down towards where the car is parked there is a short spur to the right that leads to Foster Point (it is signed, so it is not easiliy missed.)  There is a monument there which points out all the mountains and ranges that can be seen from that point.  It's hard to make out, but we could see the San Felipe hills from there, where will will end up hiking once the weather cools down again in fall or early winter.

Atticus leading the way downhill

After completion of the hike, it's great to get a Blackened Burger and a cold beer (they have great bottled IPA's) at the Pine House Cafe & Tavern.  They also have Hard Julian Cider that is quite nice as well.  And, don't forget the showers at Burnt Rancheria Campground!

Atticus and Rosalind having a good moment together

Speaking of which, you can park at the showers at the campground, as long as you have an Adventure Pass.  There are a few designated spaces there for Adventure Pass holders.


This is the shortest, but the most scenic, hike we have done so far on the trail.  Worth the wait!




Click HERE for our hike as recorded by GPS.  Note that the GPS battery went dead during the hike so the data is incomplete.