Creek Crossing 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.
Creek Crossing is a short trail that follows the southern border of Daley Ranch. The trailhead is across the road from the information kiosk at the La Honda Drive entrance. The elevation at the trail head is 1,198 feet. The highest point on the trail is 1,324 feet. This is the trail’s elevation from the hill looking down on the trailhead sign marking the end of the Creek Crossing trail. The altitude falls to 1247 feet as we hike down to the trailhead sign marking the end of the trail. At the trailhead sign we are about 75 feet below the trail’s highest point.
The Creek Crossing Trailhead sign indicates the length of the trail as 0.6 miles. The trail is wide enough to accompany the ranger trucks that patrol the ranch. This makes for an easy trail to hike. The trails “moderate” rating comes from its shortness and the relatively few hills that must be climbed.
About 100 feet down the trail is a view of the La Honda Drive parking lot.
There are Lord’s Candles on both sides of the trail. The slides depict the plant in the left panel of the slides with close ups of their flowers in the right panel.
Near the quarter mile mark from the trailhead is a view of Mount Woodson. The top of the mountain has several communication towers, but in our photo the mountain is too far distant to make out the towers.
The trail soon moves downhill to the creek crossing that gives the trail its name. The creek, when water is present, flows from north to south. The creek eventually empties into Dixon Lake.
The trail goes up hill from the creek bed to an excellent view of downtown Escondido. The home atop the hill in the foreground of the photo is near the entrance to Daley Ranch.
There are some rock outcroppings along the trail, where, in some instances, trees, both live and dead, protrude above the rocks. A short distance down the trail from the rock outcropping is a view of Dixon Lake.
Dixon Lake is along the southern border of Daley Ranch. The Creek Crossing trail provides some excellent views of the lake. None of the views, however, show the lake in its entirety.
Daley Ranch is an excellent place for pet owners to exercise their dogs. Here we see two beautiful white dogs enjoying a stroll along the Creek Crossing Trail. Please remember to keep your dog(s) on s leash and clean up after them.
Near the end of the trail are some excellent views of the hills to the east. The trail in the foreground is the East Ridge Trail.
From the highest point on the trail is a view of the trail’s end. The hill in the background is Stanley Peak. One can hike up Stanley Peak as it is a part of the Daley Ranch Preserve.
The trail ends with its intersection with the East Ridge Trail. If one turns left at the intersection they can follow the East Ridge trail west to the ranch house. If at the end of the Creek Crossing Trail one turns right onto East Ridge they will be hiking to the Sage Trail. The latter borders the east side of Daley Ranch.
Text and Photos Copyright © 2009 William R. Sherrard. Used with permission