Staycation challenge San Diego: Day 4 - Lake Hodges

Today was going to be a day for hiking along the beach, but when my mother and I got there the marine layer was thick and the wind had dropped the temperature to the mid-sixties.  Armed with a pair of sunglasses and a hat we thought perhaps we ought to return inland to the temperatures we were prepared for.

So, day four of my staycation challenge to see and do more in the San Diego area found me walking around Lake Hodges instead of the beach.  The sun beat down on the path to the bridge and we thought this was much better than a hazy day at the beach where we would have seen nothing and probably frozen in the wind.

Today's task for the staycation challenge was to change the routine and do something different.  Since I'd never actually been on the pedestrian bridge across Lake Hodges and today was about abandoning plans, it seemed fitting to hit this trail on the way home from our failed beach hike plans.

We parked up the hill from the Lake and walked down towards the bridge path.  We found the signs announcing that fishing was not allowed off of the pedestrian bridge amusing.  This is mostly because the bridge looks like this.

Lake Hodges, the newest forest in SoCal

Fishing?  Really?

There isn't water under the bridge anymore.  It's been such a bad drought for years now that Lake Hodges is almost entirely Forest Hodges.  There is some water at the far end of the lake but directly under the pedestrian bridge the most you can say for the amount of water there is that parts of the lake floor are sort of boggy with a puddle here or there.  However, it's largely dry.

Pedestrian bridge over Lake Hodges

We walked across the bridge over boggy waters and onto the pathway that circles the Lake.  We found the wildflowers growing on the hillsides lovely and enjoyed the sun for a bit as we walked.

Some of life's littlest pleasures

It was a nice trail, but it warms up really fast with the sun, the lack of breeze and the dry dirt reflecting the sun back up at you.  I'd advise you bring lots of water and a friend if you intend to hike this trail, even though it's not very strenuous or hilly.  It's always a good idea to bring water on hikes in Southern California, even when it's early April and the weather isn't that warm.

The tiny portion of Lake Hodges is still a lake

California Poppies

Sandy California hiking trails

California wildflowers

As for bringing a friend, it's safest to hike with someone anyway, but especially on trails that are less frequented.  Lake Hodges is not extremely well trafficked and it's always good to stay on the safe side.

Goodbye, come again soon!

Madder Hatter's Tricks of the Trade for this outing:
1. Don't go alone.  - Bringing someone with you on a hike is always safer and this one is more isolated.  Be smart, bring a friend.
2. Bring Water and sunglasses - You will more than likely need to bring some.  It can be hot here.  I mean, we grow cactus...
3. Watch where you are going - this way you avoid, twisting your ankle and running into rattlesnakes

If you want to see my other adventures this April for the staycation challenge you can find my other posts here.