Hike of the week: A journey through black oak and conifer forests shows off the timeless beauty of the Laguna Mountains

It’s easy for me to wax poetic about the outdoors in San Diego County. Sometimes I feel like I’m part of Mother Nature’s own marketing team for this corner of the Earth.

But when taking a camping trip, hike or even a drive through the Laguna Mountains in East County, I’d argue that it’s impossible to not find something remarkable. The thick forests blend seamlessly with the grassy meadows, and the way the mountains give way to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to the east is one of those topographical features that delights and fascinates me every time I see it.

In short: I’m a big fan.

This past weekend, I tried out a moderate 4.8-mile loop in the Lagunas, part of the Cleveland National Forest. The route followed a mix of trails, but I started at the Red Tail Roost Trailhead, located south of the Burnt Rancheria Campground.

My partner and I were camping at the Laguna Campground, about a 10-minute drive from the trailhead, so this was an ideal day hike for us. It only took a couple of hours, though there were plenty of places for us to stop and admire the view or rest in the shade. And we could still enjoy time at camp; the hike didn’t leave us so tired that we couldn’t still take a walk around the campground and make a tasty dinner later that night.

Note that there is a day-use fee to park in the national forest. Visitors can purchase a daily Adventure Pass for $5 or the annual pass for $30.

To begin, park in the large lot at the Red Tail Roost Trailhead, located on the Sunrise Highway at 10403 County Route S1 in Mount Laguna. The Red Tail Roost Trail begins on the western side of the parking lot.

Start on the single-track trail heading into the black oak trees. Hikers will immediately come to an intersection. Since this is a loop, it doesn’t matter which way you go, but we chose the trail that continued heading west.

It gradually snaked its way up the hillside, with a mix of dips, short climbs and flat sections for the first mile. But at the mile mark, the trail began to descend more fully into the trees.

At 1.7 miles, the Red Tail Roost Trail ends when it meets the perpendicular Escondido Ravine Road. Turn left to head downhill toward the Agua Dulce Trail, a wide and mostly shaded path. Hikers will head northwest on the Agua Dulce Trail for half a mile before coming to the Escondido Spur Trail. This trail — like the others — has a trail marker, but it’s not obvious, so keep your eyes peeled once you get to this part.

The Escondido Spur Trail, which heads east through a grassy meadow, will begin your return hike. It connects with the Escondido Ravine Road, which hikers will follow for almost a mile until they intersect with the Red Tail Roost Trail around the 4-mile mark.

The final section of the hike is an ascent through a black oak and conifer forest until hikers reach level ground again and take the last few steps to the trailhead.