Boulder Loop Trail
This trail description was written by Bill Sherrard in 2009. Most details are still accurate, but keep in mind that foliage and other flora change seasonally and over time.
The Boulder Loop Trail intersects the Ranch House Road Trail at two places. The southern terminus of the trail is 0.67 miles north of the Ranch House Road Trailhead. It loops 2.50 miles to the west and ends back at the Ranch House Road Trail approximately 0.05 miles north of its starting point.
The elevation at the southern terminus of the trail is 1,321 feet. The trail rises to approximately 1,722 feet at its highest point.
The trail is moderately difficult, having two rather steep sections on the trail. The greatest rise in elevation occurs in the first half mile of the trail. After that the trail is fairly level rising gradually to over 1,700 feet.
Three other trails have their trailheads off of the Boulder Loop Trail, namely, the Rock Ridge Trail, the Cougar Ridge and the Crest Trail.
At 0.25 miles down the trail, at the crest of a steep hill on the trail, an excellent view of downtown Escondido can be seen from this point.
The trail gets its name from the considerable number of boulders along the trail. Below are pictures of just two of the many rock outcroppings that appear during the first half mile of the trail.
The Rock Ridge Trail intersects the southern loop of the Boulder Loop Trail at 0.51 miles. The trail goes north and ends on the northern portion of the Boulder Loop. The Rock Ridge Trail is 0.6 miles in length.
At three quarters of a mile down the Boulder Loop Trail there is a beautiful rock outcropping on the right side of the trail. The trail is level along this section making for easy hiking.
There are several plants along the trail, however, because these pictures were shot in the summer, most plants are past the flowering stage. Nonetheless, the plants are beautiful in the later stages of their development.
We are at 1.16 miles down the trail and are approaching the point where the trail will loop to the north as it turns to head back to the Ranch House Road Trail.
At 1.42 miles down the trail one has completed the southern portion of the loop and is headed east along the northern portion. This point in the trail houses the largest rock outcropping along the loop.
The outcropping is next to the Rock Ridge trail’s northern trailhead at the Boulder Loop Trail. The trail traverses the loop forming a shortcut connection between the north and south portions of the Boulder Loop Trail.
Leaving the 1.42 mile point on the trail one quickly sites an interesting rock outcropping on the left side of the trail. It appears to hang over the trail resembling a projectile pointing from the north side of the trail.
We are now 1.67 miles from the southern trailhead of the Boulder Loop Trail. The Cougar Ridge Trail intersects Boulder Loop at this point. This is the southern terminus of the Cougar Ridge Trail. The Cougar Ridge Trail is 2.8 miles in length and goes from here to the north end of Daley Ranch, ending at the Cougar Pass entrance to the park.
As one rounds the bend at the 1.77 mile mark the trail begins its descent back down to the Ranch House Road Trail.
During the last half mile of the trail, between 2.00 and 2.50 miles, the plant life is greener and one is afforded vista like views as the trail descends down to its northern terminus on the Ranch House Road Trail.
At places the plant life forms a canopy over the trail.
Within a tenth of a mile of the Ranch House Road Trail one passes the southern end of the Crest Trail. The Crest trail is 1.25 miles in length and is one of the steepest trails on the ranch.
Shortly after leaving the Crest Trailhead one views the trail dead ending into the Ranch House Road Trail.
Text and Photos Copyright © 2009 William R. Sherrard. Used with permission