Palomar Mountain State Park

Palomar Mountain State Park Palomar Mountain State Park features 1,862 acres of pristine forest, peaceful meadows, and pleasing panoramas of San Diego County.
(295)

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.

REMINDER (and correction) that the Palomar Mountain Hoedown is this Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at the Palomar Community...
08/27/2026

REMINDER (and correction) that the Palomar Mountain Hoedown is this Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at the Palomar Community Center on 21610 Crestline Road, Palomar Mountain.

Save the date!The Palomar Mountain Hoedown will be this Saturday, August 28th from 11am to 2pm. There will be food, live...
08/25/2026

Save the date!
The Palomar Mountain Hoedown will be this Saturday, August 28th from 11am to 2pm. There will be food, live music, vendors, and dancing!
We will be there with an educational booth.

Chip and the Giant Apple 🐿️🍏A Merriam's Chipmunk feasts on a heritage variety apple in our historic apple orchard. ...
08/23/2026

Chip and the Giant Apple 🐿️🍏

A Merriam's Chipmunk feasts on a heritage variety apple in our historic apple orchard.

A Merriam's Chipmunk, patiently waiting for snacks.Chipmunk snacks include: acorns, conifer seeds, and occasionally berr...
07/13/2026

A Merriam's Chipmunk, patiently waiting for snacks.
Chipmunk snacks include: acorns, conifer seeds, and occasionally berries such as thimbleberries and wild currants.
Photo: Interpreter Michele Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

"Pond Hunter"A Blue Dasher perched on a broken reed before resuming its swift patrols around the edge of Doane Pond.Phot...
07/06/2026

"Pond Hunter"

A Blue Dasher perched on a broken reed before resuming its swift patrols around the edge of Doane Pond.

Photographer: Interpreter Michele,

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 t...
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.

Happy Friday! Here's the latest from the park:☁️ We're seeing some cloudy weather hanging over the mountain. Expect some...
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.

Nature abounds at Palomar Mountain State Park! Keep your eyes peeled and you will be rewarded.A quick glance to the left...
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. 😺

Thank YouPhoto: the small silhouet of a Red-tailed Hawk perches at the tip-top of a wiley yet deceased Big-cone Douglas ...
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.

Screech Owl and Western Toad photos by Ernie Cowan !WOW!Thank you for sharing, Ernie.
04/12/2026

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

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Palomar Mountain State Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Palomar Mountain State Park:

Shortcuts

Share

Category