Stonewall Mine / Lake Cuyamaca Hike is a 3.3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Julian, California that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from March until October.
kid friendly
birding
hiking
nature trips
walking
lake
views
wild flowers
wildlife
no dogs
Easy enough hike for my 93 year old grandpa. We really enjoyed the scenery and abundant wildlife. There was many deer and wild turkeys towards the lake. Wild strawberry plants are also strewn across the shady, pined covered portions of the forest floor, but no strawberries yet. You can start and end your journey at the stonewall mine, where there are a few picnic tables set up for day use, flush toilets and a small cabin explaining the history of the gold mine.
Great place to take children, getting a good dose of nature and San Diego history without the elevation gain. Big Laguna trail is another similar hike.
it was a really nice and easy hike! it is absolutely gorgeous and is mostly covered by shade and a nice breeze! the only thing is the trail is very thin in most spots and is quite overgrown around it. so if you were are wearing shorts, plants will constantly be brushing against your legs, but i would say it is totally worth because of the view!!
Nice easy going trail. But don't follow the route indicated on the map after the old mine. The trail has disappeared and it's very difficult to walk across dead trees. Follow the route indicated on the sign when you leave the old mine ( just next to the parking) and you will join the loop and return to the start.
We've hiked this trail this Saturday, September 24. It was a nice day for our group. Some of us are physically challenged, so we took our time. Started from the parking right off 79, and headed towards the "little island". We've walked around the island, and headed towards southeast for another loop. After getting back to the first point before the little island, we've gone back to the parking. Some of us spotted turkeys, and it was very pleasant trail overall.
We did this hike yesterday with my 4 year old daughter. It was a nice semi-shady hike and not tons of people. We saw turkey, a bald eagle and plenty of squirrels. We tried to follow the loop shown but there really isn't a path for the last half of the loop. We will definitely be back out here again!
Great with small children, especially along the shore.
We wanted a mellow day ( recovering from El Capitan!!). This was an easy, really beautiful walk... Deer, wild turkeys and Hawks, gorgeous wild-flowers.... Recommend pants if you go off the trail ( low brush, lots of burrs).