Palomar Mountain

Adventure 

Palomar Mountain offers van and RV nomads a great escape out of the city to spend time in the wilderness. The beautiful forest and mountain meadows of Palomar Mountain State Park are in northern San Diego County, high atop the west side of Palomar Mountain. 

Hiking

There are many trails located within Mt. Palomar and the state park. The most popular trail is the Observatory trail that goes from the Observatory Campground to the observatory. The most popular trails in the area are:

• Observatory Trail (4.6 Miles Moderate)
• Thunder Springs Trail (3.6 Miles Moderate)
• Boucher Hill Loop (1.9 Miles Easy)

Camping

There are a number of campgrounds located around Mt. Palomar. All of these campgrounds are accessible for van or small RV, have restrooms and water. These campgrounds include:

• Fly Creek Campground
• Observatory Campground
• Doane Valley Campground
• Cedar Grove Group Campground

Mount Palomar State Park

Mount Palomar State Park is a great place to visit and spend the day. The park features camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain.

Brochure: Palomar Mountain State Park Brochure

The park has an elevation that averages 5,000 feet above sea level, making evenings cool even during the summer. There are a number of vista points offer spectacular panoramic views both westerly toward the ocean and inland toward the desert.  There, you’ll also find the historic Boucher Hill Fire Lookout.

• Day use fees are $10.00 per vehicle, cash or check only.
• Trails are open to foot traffic only, and dogs and mountain bikes are not allowed on trails.