Hike of the week: Doane Valley shines with autumnal shades of green and orange

This week’s hike takes us back to the wooded and serene trails at Palomar Mountain.

It also marks my 100th hike for this column, an endeavor I took on about two years ago. It feels fitting that I would hit this milestone with a hike at Palomar Mountain State Park, a place that shows the genuine beauty and range of hiking opportunities in San Diego County.

I’ve written two previous columns about hiking in Palomar Mountain, dividing a 10-mile hike that covered 10 trails in the state park into a three-part series. This decision to break up a long hike into smaller portions is part of my goal to make hiking in San Diego feel accessible for all skill levels.

Hikers will complete a roughly 4-mile easy loop this week around the Doane Valley, located in the northern part of the state park. The route follows four different trails, which are each lovely — especially this time of year as the vegetation changes color.

Note that there is a $10 day use fee to enter the state park, dogs are not allowed on trails and it may be helpful to consult a trail map before setting out. Begin by parking at Doane Pond, located off Doane Valley Road. Hikers can drive there through the park’s main entrance on State Park Road.

The Doane Valley Nature Trail begins north of the Doane Pond, near the restrooms. It travels west down a short hillside into a shaded section. At certain times of year, there may be water flowing in the Doane Creek.

The trail intersects with State Park Road and continues on the other side. After 0.2 miles, the Doane Valley Nature Trail meets the Weir Trail, which ultimately leads to the historic weir, a barrier built across the French Creek to measure flow rates.

Take the Weir Trail northwest for about 0.7 miles. Along the way, the forested area along the trail opens up to a view of the Doane Valley to the right. The trail heads into the valley and meets the French Valley Trail, which continues heading northwest.

The trail is named for the French sheep ranchers who lived in the area in the 19th century. Take it for about 0.4 miles before taking a sharp turn southeast to continue on the trail. (I missed this turn and accidentally added an extra half-mile to my hike, so be aware of the trail’s changed direction.)

The French Valley Trail soon takes cover under shady oak trees, and hikers even get the chance to pass under a fallen oak tree that lies across the trail.

Near the 2.7-mile mark, the French Valley Trail ends and connects with the Lower Doane Trail, which leads to the Doane Valley Campground. But just before reaching the campground, at the 3-mile mark, hikers will spot the Doane Valley Nature Trail, which heads west back through the shaded forest, reconnecting after half a mile with the trail they began on.

If you’re wanting more, find the Thunder Springs Trail on the southeastern side of Doane Pond and follow the route from last week’s hike. Or, take the Cedar Trail on the western side of the pond, which can connect you with Boucher Hill and its fire lookout tower from the first hike in this series.