Historic San Pasqual Valley

San Pasqual Valley is a peaceful place, a pastoral lowland backed by dramatic granite foothills. For the most part, it has resisted San Diego’s eastward suburban sprawl by virtue of its agricultural zoning.

The valley is an inviting place to hike, picnic and step back into California history. Hikers can follow easy pathways through San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, and more challenging trails in nearby San Dieguito River Park.

The state historic park interprets the battle of San Pasqual--a small conflict, but the most severe of the Mexican-American War fought on California soil. A modern visitor center and museum tell the story of the battle with maps, displays and a video. Other exhibits feature the history and natural history of the San Pasqual Valley. The park’s short nature trail and Battlefield Monument Trail are also good introductions to the life and lore of San Pasqual Valley.

Today, most valley visitors are en route to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, which surrounds the state park on three sides and whose entrance is 1 1/2 miles west.

Take Interstate 15 to Escondido, exit on California 78, and follow the road eight miles east to the turnoff for San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park. Leave your car in the lot by the visitor center, which is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join the nature trail, which begins on the hillside behind the visitor center. After a quarter-mile, you’ll join Battlefield Monument Trail and ascend a slope bristling with prickly-pear cactus.

At a picnic area, you get an inspiring view of the wide San Pasqual Valley as well as a fine place to eat lunch. Sometimes you can see some of the larger animals roaming through the nearby Wild Animal Park. You can return to the visitor center the way you came, or continue another half-mile on Battlefield Monument Trail to a historic monument next to State 78.

For more challenging hiking and terrific valley views, drive four miles further east on 78 to the city of San Diego’s San Dieguito River Park. Pull into the parking area on the south side of the highway.

This area of the park, known as the San Pasqual Trails, is divided by 78 into a south and north trail system. The south trail system is the easier of the two.

For a good panoramic view of the San Pasqual Valley, take the 2.6-mile round trip (900-foot elevation gain) to Peak 1550. From the signed trail head, ascend the boulder-strewn slope to a junction. Go right and continue your steep ascent to the peak.

To reach the north trail system, drive another half-mile east on 78. Look carefully for the unsigned parking lot and trail head on your left. Use caution when you make the sharp and awkward left turn into the lot.

The northern San Pasqual Trails zigzag over steep slopes and offer the ambitious, switchback-loving hiker the opportunity for a 10- to 15-mile hike, as well as the chance to conquer half a dozen or more peaks.

Battlefield Monument Trail, San Pasqual Trails

WHERE: San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, near Escondido.

DISTANCE: Visitor center to overlook, 1 mile round trip; to monument, 2 miles round trip.

TERRAIN: Cactus-dotted slopes above San Pasqual Valley.

HIGHLIGHTS: Mexican-American War history; wild land on the edge of San Diego.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, 15808 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido 92025, (619) 220-5430.