It also gave me the chance to explore some parts of the park I’d never seen before. I thought most of the park would be the same—rocky trails, views of the peaks, grassy fields—but there were some genuine surprises.

So here I’ve collected three hikes we did during our challenge that I’d highly recommend. We will probably be repeating them regularly, too.

Cowles Mountain via Big Rock Trailhead

5 Miles

Cowles Mountain can feel like Disneyland. There’s a long line of people waiting to climb, with loud music and chatter all around you. But go just to the other side of the mountain and there’s a beautiful trail with far fewer people on it. The views of the back of the mountain are beautiful, and the trail is clear. It’s a longer distance—about five miles out and back—than climbing up the front of the mountain, and you do need to do a small stretch on the steep service road. But the relative serenity of the hike makes it worth it.

Climber’s Loop

2 Miles

This is a short but steep hike in the middle of Mission Trails, with views of the rest of the park and the rushing river that I haven’t seen anywhere else. You can start at the Mission Trails Visitor Center and walk on the paved path for the first half mile, then start your climb. It’s about two miles total and can be steep, but my son loves clamoring over the rocks, and I love the views as you feel like you’re standing on the edge of a cliff. You can also check out the rock climbers who are ascending even higher. 

Corte Playa Catalina Trail

3-5 Miles

There are plenty of hikers to be found on the Grasslands Loop trails on the east side of the Fortuna Mountains, but far fewer explore the looping trails on the west side. For this reason, I love exploring the loops on the west side much better. The Corte Playa Catalina Trail winds through the fields with beautiful views of the Fortunas, and takes you past the Four Corners intersection with bike tools if you need a repair, plus a revegetation project. I like the three-mile loop along Corte Playa Catalina Trail, Suycott Valley and the Rim Trail, or Shepherd Pond Loop. There are a few steep hills, so be prepared.

The post 3 Hikes You Probably Didn’t Know About in Mission Trails appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

The nonprofit Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation supports the city Parks & Rec trail guides, who lead walks on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from the Visitor Center.

Here, we catch up with trail guide Phil Hwang. By day, he’s a software engineer; in his spare time, he’s leading visitors through Mission Trails Regional Park’s rugged terrain, sharing the region’s rich history, and keeping an eye out for wildlife (including tarantula hawks, which are just as scary as their name suggests).

San Diego Magazine: Why did you want to become a trail guide? How did you learn about the program?

Phil Hwang: The park’s 5-Peak Challenge was one of the first hikes I completed moving to San Diego over a decade ago. I learned about the trail guide program while looking up other hiking things to do, I emailed them about taking the class, and after successfully completing the course, I’m now a trail guide!

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What training is required to be a Mission Trails Regional Park Trail Guide?

The annual training is pretty extensive and involved. There’s a weekly course lecture and a weekly field lab. There are tons of awesome guests: San Diego rangers, geologists, botanists, members of the scientific community. The program covers way more than the simplified “walk a trail,” as we are trained to be aware of all aspects of life sciences, native uses, modern history, and the park itself. I especially love stories and lore and legends, and there’s plenty of those, too! The park is alive and changing with us, so we’re always learning.

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What’s something surprising you learned about the park?

The history. There’s deeply rooted history with the Kumeyaay, with the military, and with the surrounding neighborhoods. What I find fascinating is how the park evolves throughout all time. Who knows how it will look in the future?

What’s your favorite animal in the park?

At Mission Trails I love seeing the graceful northern harrier. At Lake Murray I always make it a point to see the osprey. For the pure horror story of it all, I love the tarantula hawk and the nightmarish hell the prey goes through: paralyzed, buried alive, eaten from the inside out for weeks on end until the wasp larva pupates and bursts out an adult. What a growth spurt!

Tell us more about those volunteer opportunities.

As trail guides, we lead tracking walks, bird walks, and all sorts of school and scouting field trips. There’s also trail maintenance, habitat restoration and beautification, and volunteering at the visitor center front desk. Groups are encouraged to work with us to organize a half day of volunteer service for their company or community.

Besides volunteering, how can people support Mission Trails Regional Park?

Enjoy it! Make a donation to support the park through the MTRP Foundation, shop the park’s gift shop, book an event at the visitor center, and more! It’s fun to see Mission Trails hats and 5-Peak Challenge shirts outside the park. I’m always amazed at how many people tell me they grew up in San Diego or lived here for 50 years and never knew this place existed. Spread the word and bring others!

Plan your visit to Mission Trails here.

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The post The Volunteer Diaries: Phil Hwang, Trail Guide at Mission Trails Regional Park appeared first on San Diego Magazine.