The Crazy Ho Chi Minh Trail, San Diego, California

If you dare...and if you can find it... 

The Ho Chi Minh Trail, San Diego

(aka La Jolla Trail)

Beginning the Upper End of the Trail

This sandy trail begins between two fences 

around some pretty nice homes. 

Upper Section of Trail

It works its way down to the beach below. 

The Beach Below Ho Chi Minh Trail, San Diego

The nearby clothing optional Black's Beach 

will either scare you or motivate you.  ;) 

Checking Out The Lower Section Ahead

I read about this trail on several blogs and travel sites. 

They all said the trail was moderate...

you can ask my physically fit 20 year old son about that. 

He says: No way is this moderate. 

Yup, That's The Trail Near the Lower End
(There were two folks stranded on the right side who came from the Glider Port Trail.)

It's a steep, twisty, rocky, sandy, narrow climb. 

It was also pretty popular when we were there. 

You'll See Para Gliders Overhead

We think the recent rains (2017) may have washed parts of the trail away 

making it more difficult...but still...moderate?  

The Trail Head...Not An Easy Find 

Here is my recommendation: 

Take the steps down from the nearby Torrey Pines Glider Port to the north

and work your way up the trail (- going down is harder.) 

I found climbing barefooted easier on the sandy sections. 

Access the Trail Via the Beach or 9883 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037

More photos of the trail and surrounding La Jolla area 

can be found here. 

Social Connections: 

The Town That Almost Went Ghost

If you look up Main Street in Julian and use your imagination 

you can see the makings of a western ghost town here. 

Main Street, Julian, CA

This town began in the 1870s with the one and only San Diego Gold Rush

but it didn't die with it. 

Those pioneers stayed and began farming...apples. 

Apples saved Julian. 

Me With Some Julian Hot Cider

Well, apples and location. 

Located in the mountains 

Julian offers hiking and off-roading trails. 

Surrounded by reservations it also 

offers a nearby casino. 

Pioneer Cemetery

But it seems all those people make their way into Julian for apple pie. 

Julian is famous for its apple pie so of course we had to buy one. 

I was quite the skeptic - 

thinking this is just a tourist ploy - 

but the apple pie was the best I have had. 

Shop Signs, Julian, CA

In historic Julian, 

quaint and interesting shops fill the old buildings. 

There are plenty of options for dining as well. 

An Old Soda Fountain on Main Street

As much as I would have liked to visit a real ghost town, 

Julian was quaint and tasty enough to keep us happy. 

Heading Back to San Diego and Warmth

We visited from San Diego 

and failed to keep in mind the difference altitude would make in the weather.  

We were cold so we put on everything we had with us! 

Keeping Warm With Hot Cider

And the last photo I have to add because dirty Jeeps were everywhere in Julian. 

We passed them the whole way on the route into town. 

Jeeps and RVs. 

I loved this one with the little dog on the driver's lap. 

Man and His Little Dog

Julian is an hour east of San Diego and makes a good day trip. 

For more images of Julian, 

visit my online gallery. 

Social Connections: 

Sunset at Ocean Beach

My daughter and I went to Ocean Beach in San Diego 

because Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives 

did a feature on OB Noodle House. 

The Best Chicken Wings I Ever Had

OB Noodle House definitely fits into the Dives category. 

If we had not come specifically 

to try their food, 

we would have never gone inside. 

Best Asian Food Ever

But it was so worth it. 

The food was amazing. 

The tastes beyond description. 

Ocean Beach, CA

We ventured a few blocks to the beach, 

just to have a look. 

Ocean Beach is another place that fits into the Dive category. 

Only this time, 

we probably shouldn't have gone. 

Contemplating the Surf

Too many drug deals happening before our eyes. 

A lot of people gathering as the sun set. 

People not exactly altogether there. 

We had bad vibes. 

Ocean Beach Pier

But the sky, beach, ocean and pier 

gave me a few quick snaps 

before we made it safely out of there. 

My complete gallery that shows the pretty side of 

Ocean Beach is here.

Hello Mt. Laguna

Heading east from San Diego on Route I-8 

just above the Mexican border - 

then north on Sunrise Highway 

my daughter and I found Mt. Laguna. 

(Elevation 5,738 ft) 

Edited: Topaz

The air was cool 

and the views were breathtaking. 

Our plan was to hike a specific trail.  

But the problem: 

We couldn't find said trail. 

So after our failed search, 

we just picked a random trail. 

It seems that nothing on the trail map 

matched anything in real life. 

That trail map was useless.  

An agricultural burn with the Salton Sea immediately in the foreground. 

We ran into a local who was readying to do some mountain biking. 

He was fascinating to talk to and 

he explained much of what we saw. 

But we never learned what the story was with these 

cemetery markers found randomly along the trail. 

We didn't risk going too far 

for fear of getting lost. 

Being from the east coast 

where there are tree covered mountains, 

it seems much less likely to get lost when you 

have a clear view back to your starting point. 

The gallery to view all my Mt. Laguna images 

can be found here.