2 min
Overview
The Piedras Pintadas and Bernardo Bay Trails combine together to form an oddly shaped but nevertheless enjoyable loop hike along the shores of Lake Hodges. Both trails have separate and distinctive characters, with Bernardo Bay featuring up-close views of the lake along with the large variety and volume of waterfowl, in addition to nice views of nearby Bernardo Mountain. Piedras Pintadas (Spanish for “Painted Rocks”) offers a good introduction to Kumeyaay culture as well as a small waterfall. Taken together, one can enjoy a nice combination of bird-watching, lake-side strolling, interpretive displays on local history and culture, and beautiful riparian habitat. Steam coming off of Lake Hodges on a cool October morning This region features numerous perennial streams within the San Dieguito River watershed. For hundreds of years before the arrival of European settlers, this area, with its abundant water sources, wildlife, and vegetable food sources provided a comfortable home to the Kumeyaay indians. Traces of their rich culture are evident all over the place, including the morteros used to grind acorns into flour, and the rock art painted by the Kumeyaay from which this area receives its name. The rock art is no longer accessible due to vandalism, but the interpretive signs make up for the absence somewhat by educating hikers on who the Kumeyaay were, what they did, and why they liked this area so much. Egrets? I’ve had a few. . . More recently, the Lake Hodges dam was built, thus altering the landscape dramatically and providing increased habitat for birdlife. Both the south and north trails along the shore have a reputation for great wildflower shows during wet springs, which is a result of the surprisingly rich biodiversity in what initially appears to be a typically dry and chaparral-ridden landscape. Bernardo Mountain and Lake Hodges Pano This trail will start by taking the Bernardo Bay Trail in an easy loop along the shore of the lake before bending back inland near the eponymous bay. To reach the trail, y
Trail Stats
8.4 km
121 m
131 m
82 m
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