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Monday 7am - 7pm Tuesday 7am - 5pm Wednesday 7am - 7pm Thursday 7am - 7pm Friday 7am - 7pm Saturday 7am - 7pm Sunday 7am - 7pm

Palomar Mountain State Park

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Palomar Mountain, CA
Palomar Mountain State Park

Palomar Mountain State Park features 1,862 acres of pristine forest, peaceful meadows, and pleasing panoramas of San Diego County.
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Created in 1933, Palomar Mountain State Park is located atop Palomar Mountain in San Diego, California. The Park consists of 1862 acres of pine and oak forests and various mountain meadows. There are over 14 miles of hiking trails within the Park, including breathtaking views to Downtown San Diego and San Clemente Island. The Park also boasts a variety of wildlife that feel at home at 5000 foot elevations.

06/01/2026

Sometimes, the only way to express how the natural world makes us feel is to get it all out on paper. You have time to think, time to reflect, time to wonder what it all means and how it all makes you feel.

Best of all, journaling hones and strengthens our relationship with Mother Nature. Experiences that might once have blended into a sea of memories will stand out when jotted into a journal - precious moments are memorialized, epiphanies are crystalized, and that fleeting feeling can be momentarily captured and revisited.

Join us this State Parks Week for "Pages of Palomar," a guided nature journaling program on June 12, 2026 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at Doane Pond. We'll be there with journaling and artistic supplies. All ages welcome and all experience levels welcome!

Whether you need a rigidly structured activity to get started, or a simple prompt to run with, we've got you covered.

See. You. There.

05/30/2026

Happy Friday! Here's the latest from the park:

☁️ We're seeing some cloudy weather hanging over the mountain. Expect some patches of sun with periodic cloudy conditions and even dense fog. Dress for cool, damp hikes with the ability to shed some layers.

👣 Seasonal crews are back in the park to work on accessibility projects in the campground and on trails. Part of a long term project to make the park more accessible to people of all physical capabilities.

Enjoy this Spotted Coralroot! These deep red orchids are parasitic plants, meaning they do not produce their own sugars through chlorophyll. Instead, all of the nutrients and compounds they use to build their anatomical structure is absorbed from their host. Kinda like a vampire plant. Kinda.

05/17/2026

Nature abounds at Palomar Mountain State Park! Keep your eyes peeled and you will be rewarded.

A quick glance to the left revealed this gorgeous little Bobcat doing some hunting in the creek. See if you can spot it before swiping to the second photo. 😺

04/27/2026

Thank You

Photo: the small silhouet of a Red-tailed Hawk perches at the tip-top of a wiley yet deceased Big-cone Douglas Fir on a soggy April morning. The lines between fog and cloud have utterly vanished.

04/12/2026

Screech Owl and Western Toad photos by Ernie Cowan !
WOW!
Thank you for sharing, Ernie.

04/04/2026

Happy Friday!

Skilled Laborer and Trails Maintenance Unit leader Clyde displays his impeccable sawyer technique on a very large downed Incense Cedar on Thunder Springs Trail while Ranger May acts as a "swamper."

CA State Parks employs a wide variety of people to take on the task of effectively managing the state's natural, cultural, and recreational resources.

It's a huge challenge, but one we all take on willingly with passion and enthusiasm.

If you have a passion for the outdoors, protecting preserved lands, working with the public, or you have a skill set suited to more administrative work, CA State Parks is a fantastic place to look!

calcareers.ca.gov

03/12/2026

It's heating up! Pack an extra water, a hat, and some sunscreen this weekend. Please, enjoy this westerly look from Boucher Hill Observation Point.

03/02/2026

March begins.

02/05/2026

Happy Black History Month!

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and its supporting departments invite you to celebrate Black History Month with us! Through virtual and in-person events, we will be honoring Black leaders in the environmental field, who work to protect the environment for current and future generations and encourage others to become environmental stewards.

More Info at:

https://resources.ca.gov/BlackHistoryMonth

Link in IG bio

About Black History Month
Welcome to Black History Month – a time dedicated to uplifting, learning, and appreciating Black heritage and culture. The colors Black, red, green and yellow are often associated with Black History Month and each color has its own distinct meaning and significance. There is a rich history to the colors and many alternative perspectives on their significance worth exploring, but they are commonly thought to represent:

Red - bloodshed and sacrifice in the struggle against racism, slavery, and colonialism

Green - nature, the rich greenery of Africa and our natural resources

Yellow - justice, optimism, equality

Black – resilience, a shared identity, and the colors of Black skin

Altogether the colors are a source of pride and symbol of unity!

01/23/2026

Happy Friday!

Enjoy these shots of North County from Boucher Point 🙌

Address

State Park Road
Palomar Mountain, CA
92060

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 7pm
Tuesday	7am - 5pm
Wednesday	7am - 7pm
Thursday	7am - 7pm
Friday	7am - 7pm
Saturday	7am - 7pm
Sunday	7am - 7pm

Telephone

(760) 742-3462

Website

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=637

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