Cougar Pass, Hidden Meadows, and Burnt Mountain

Our first two hikes were not really what we would normally consider hikes. They were more ambles. The first hike had the treat of the 0.4-mile loop through Annie’s (slot) Canyon, and the other hike did have Penasquitos Creek. However, they didn’t really feel like hikes. Today would be different. We arrived at the Cougar Pass trailhead a bit after 8:00 AM. Once again the skies were clear with perhaps just a few cumulus clouds drifting overhead. The temperature was rising. I didn’t realize, perhaps none of us did, just how hot it would get. We donned our backpacks snd struck out along Cougar Pass Trail into the forests, meadows and mountains. A pleasant cool breeze brushed against us. Too bad that didn’t last.

We worked our way through the forest. The hard packed trail generally rose and in time we found our way to the Bobcat Trail. We had a false start here, though really we could have just tackled the loop in the other direction, before properly following the route we wanted. We had taken the advice of a local runner and were enjoying a route either greater shade. As we walked we listened to the life around us. We relaxed without the roar of traffic in our ears. The heat continued to increase its temperature.

At about the 2-mile mark, we found a wobbly bench with a not-particularly-animal-secure trash can nearby. It was a good spot for a break in this mountain meadow. We wondered about trash pickup. As we climbed up towards and around Butnt Mountain a ranger in a tough little 4x4 drove up. He deals with the trash and also checks on people. He has extra water for those in need. I think this heat wave, well above 80 and rising, is unusual but it’s great to see a local natural area like this is well maintained and cared for.

We left the ranger to his duty and continued on. We soon found the bypass that should save us some distance and effort. I am not at all sure it did either. However, it got us off the forest road with its ruts and on to a true trail. A trail that is marked with a sign warning about mountain lions. A bit of zest for the hike. We made more than enough noise to alert anything we were here. It was a gifing little bypass.

We popped back out on the far side of Burnt Mountain. All downhill from here. Downhill on the narrow rutted dirt road. Downhill to a nice viewpoint. The sun beat down upon us. A bit later we found a gloriously shady spot for another break. Stretching out, laying down, for a few minutes was wonderful. A relief from the descent which felt tougher than it should have been probably because the road is full of lumps and ruts. A relief from the heat which by this point just after noon was likely closer to 90 than 80.

We didn’t have far to go but it always seems like the last bit to the end of a hike is the longest and most tiring. However, we did arrive at the car in due time. That is where we learned that on direct sunshine it was 95°F. No wonder we felt a bit whipped. The people we saw climbing up into the mountains, walking their bikes in dome cases, must be more heat tolerant than us. We were happy to be done and happy we had done this hike.

The fly-over view of the hike.

Photos snd Video

▶️ Play Burnt Mountain and Meadows

Burnt Mountain. I am pretty sure our bypass climbed over a flank of the mountain. I think the longer option that stays on the dirt road likely climbed less.

--February 27, 2026 at 9:56 AM.

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Extra zest is added by this informative sign. It’s telling you what to go in case you have a close encounter with a mountain lion. I am fairly sure this bypass doesn’t save much time or effort.

--February 27, 2026 at 10:08 AM.

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Nifty rocks. Formations like this appeared throughout the day.

--February 27, 2026 at 10:32 AM.

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We took a nice break here. It was in direct sun but the heat hadn’t taken its toll yet.

--February 27, 2026 at 10:45 AM.

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Los Penasquitos Canyon

Our hike today was about as different from what we did the previous day as we could wish for without venturing into the mountains. Here we found an area mostly devoid of traffic sounds, thick with oaks and other trees, shade, ample water rarely far away. There are several forest roads and single-track trails in this nature preserve. We followed both.

It’s a dull hike on that you do follow a dirt road or the single-track trails. The latter provide more interest with more twists and turns and tiny dips. But in either case the footing is along hard packed dirt most of the time. It’s suitable for walking, biking, or horseback riding.

I’m not walking as fast as I used to walk. Hopefully this will change as everything recovers from the shoulder-fracturing fall last October. Most people will have no trouble walking well over 2 MPH; we were moving at just under 2 MPH. But it was a nice stroll through the lands that surround this old ranch and have been inhabited by people for 5,000 years. We eventually found our way to the cascades, just over 3 miles from the car, that the guidebook call a waterfall. Water is falling but if you’re looking forward to something substantial you’re going to be underwhelmed. Perhaps I just didn’t look in the right place.

This isn’t a hike to go on a bucket list. However, I can see it being popular if you live nearby and need a dose of nature and the chance perhaps to wave in a rushing creek. I’m glad we did it but I doubt I’ll remember it as much as the slot canyon that is Annie’s Canyon.

Photos and Video

▶️ Play Los Penasquitos Nature Preserve Hike

The road is lined with Coastal oak but now and then cactus like this prickly pear pop up. There is a single-track trail that is a nicer option to follow but we missed it on our way out.

--February 26, 2026 at 9:08 AM.

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Ken had a bit of a struggle descending the dozen steps of varying heights. But these are almost certainly far easier to deal with going up or down than the rocks on the opposite shore of the rushing creek. Photo by Judy.

--February 26, 2026 at 10:29 AM.

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Looking across Peñasquitos Creek. We watched a lady carry her small dog through the knee-deep water. She first scrambled down from the area shown here. It looked tough.

--February 26, 2026 at 10:30 AM.

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I suppose it is a waterfall.

--February 26, 2026 at 10:30 AM.

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It took a bit of extra effort to descend the rough steps to these rocks at the water’s edge of Penasquitos Creek. Upstream is a tiny cascade of water but it’s barely a waterfall. Photo by Judy.

--February 26, 2026 at 10:32 AM.

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San Elijo Lagoon and Annie’s Canyon

Tuesday is our first full day here in San Diego. Monday we took a bit of time and visited Pacific Beach but while we walked some it wasn’t really a hiking day. Today is the first hiking day. Our first plan didn’t come together. So we decided to fall back on a previous idea. It would turn out to be a very good choice. We drove to the San Elijo Natural Park. This is located near Encinitas. The lagoon is part of an estuary that I suppose flows into the Pacific Ocean. There are numerous trails around the water. Many, if not all, are easy walking paths that are fully accessible. The paths are almost completely flat. The trail bed is packed dirt and very firm. The walking actually gets a bit tiring because of this (though I admit I am still not healed from the bad fall and subsequent shoulder surgery). This area is within spitting distance of highways. A notable feature in and around San Diego are the endless highways and constant traffic. The sound of the traffic is omnipresent and loud.

We walked around the lagoon through a profusion of yellow flowers. Black feathered ducks drifted by upon the water. People, often with dogs, strolled by. We kept walking the road-wide path. Bikes are not allowed but vehicles can drive by as long as they stay below the 10MPH limit. This seems a bit strange.

In time, it seemed more and farther than it was, we reached the bottom entry of Annie’s Canyon. At this point, you have a choice to take the tougher route up through the slot Canyon or follow a dirt path that climbs up the hillside. If you choose the latter option you will not get to see the slot Canyon. We chose to climb up through the slot canyon and descend on the moderate path back down. While there are no signs saying you cannot descend through the slot canyon we feel sure you shouldn’t do so. After all, it’s a slot canyon which often narrows to perhaps 12 inches wide. There is no way people could pass by each other.

Climbing up the canyon was fun. It was tough especially when you had to squeeze through spots and climb up 18-inch (more?) high steps. We did it.

After dropping back down we continued on the hard packed path towards busy roads and the highways. We passed under the highway along the flowing g water to join a path alongside a bustling road. The GOS track says we walked just over 3 miles: felt like more. Annie’s Canyon really makes this hike shine.

A fly-over view of the hike.

Photos and Video

Looking across the San Elijo Lagoon. This nature area has seen considerable improvement over the last several years. It’s great that this place is here but it’s a shame the traffic noise is so intrusive.

--February 25, 2026 at 10:35 AM.

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At the bottom of Annie’s Canyon. What makes the slot tough is the need for agility as you squeeze through and up the slot.

Mom took this picture while waiting for Dad and Ken to come down the moderate trail from the top of the canyon. That trail is really easier but in some ways more challenging for Ken than the ascent of the canyon. Photo by Judy.

--February 25, 2026 at 11:27 AM.

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Not far from the lower end of Annie’s Canyon. After this point this slot canyon frequently narrows down to perhaps 12 inches: just enough to squeeze through sideways with a squeezable backpack.

--February 25, 2026 at 11:03 AM.

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Squeeze and climb. Photo by Jonathan.

--February 25, 2026 at 11:09 AM.

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▶️ Play Annie’s Canyon

High steps, tight spaces, and ladders to surmount. These are what you will find as you ascend about 160 feet along a 1200-foot or so long slot canyon trail. Photo by Jonathan.

--February 25, 2026 at 11:14 AM.

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The top of Annie’s Canyon. We now will travel down this sandy trail full of steps of varying heights back to the bottom. You can go up or down this way. I think it only makes sense to go up Annie’s Canyon.

--February 25, 2026 at 11:21 AM.

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Smoked BBQ Cauliflower

▶️ Play Smoked BBQ Cauliflower

One head cauliflower was first smoked for just over an hour in the Pit Barrel Junior. The cauliflower had been dipped into a sauce. That was a mixture of about 8 ounces of TBQ Honey barbecue sauce, a couple of ounces of Sriracha, a  splash of Worcestershire sauce, about 2 ounces of melted butter, and a bit of a local hot sauce.

After the cauliflower was done smoking and was pretty close to probe tender, call it al dente, we sprinkled a bit of cornstarch on it to help crisp it up while cooking over the fire in the Breeo fire pit. The cauliflower was cooked in the rest of the sauce.  

Marinaded Pork Chops on a Warm Snowy Aftetnpon

> [![Play video Grilled Asian-Isoured Marinaded Pork Chops ](

▶️ Play Asian inspired marinated grilled pork chops

These pork chops were  over a live fire in the Breeo Fire Pit. They were marinated for about five hours in a marinade of orange juice, soy sauce, garlic powder, and pepper where I to do them again, and I certainly will, I would reduce the soy sauce a little bit because it was just a touch too salty. After each flip, the pork chops were based it again the basting sauce was a reduced form of the marinade the pork chops were cooked to an internal temperature of about 142°F. There would be some carryover which would raise the temperature to a bit over the 145° refresh hold of course, if you are nervous, cook them to a higher temperature.

Marinade  (enough for 2 pounds of pork):

1 cup orange juice

1/3-1/2 cup soy sauce

1 Tbs sesame oil (maybe use more next time)

2 Tsp garlic powder

1 Tsp freshly cracked pepper

Marinate the pork for 4 to 6 hours.

Circulating Golden Gate Mountain

We will circumnavigate Golden Gate Mountain by following the David Yetman trail from Golden Gate Pass trailhead, then the Coyote trail (Ivyhink that’s the name), the Kinney trail, and complete the circuit on trail and Gates Pass road.

--January 10, 2026 at 10:36 AM.

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This wasn’t our initial plan but once we realized what a challenge we had endured climbing over and down Golden Gate Pass we decided to make a change. It probably ended up being longer and in its way challenging too. However, it almost certainly was less stressful. 

▶️ Play All Around Golden gate Mountain

A fly-over video glimpse of the 6.26 miles-long hike. 

Out and Back on the David Yetman Trail

Out and Back on Part of the David Yetman Trail

▶️ Play Out and Back on the David Yetman Trail

Tucson Mountain Park has a surprisingly large network of trails. We have been here many times before we decided to revisit a part of the David Yetman Trail. We would hike from the Camino de Oeste trailhead as far as we felt good about and then retrace our steps back. We picked this hike because overall we thought it would be a gentle hike not requiring me to work my left shoulder: well we were mostly right.

The remains of the Bowen house. We have visited this place many times but this is the first time we have seen standing water.

--January 9, 2026 at 10:51 AM.

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Mom spotted this ocotillo. I don’t recall ever seeing it getting ready to bloom like this.

-- January 9, 2026 at 13:34 PM.

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