Gregory Pacheco Memorial
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Hello everyone! This is a friendly reminder that any of these fun places we may visit, we are a guest at. Please treat both businesses and trails with the utmost respect. We here at Hidden San Diego follow the 'Leave no Trace' mantra, meaning whatever you bring with you comes back with you. If you see trash on a trail, please do your part to help remove it. Remember, we are not picking up trash from another person but instead cleaning up for Mother Nature. Happy adventures!
E Grade Rd, Pauma Valley, CA 92061
33.2987272015, -116.8423657548
Dog-Friendly: Yes   Kid-Friendly: Yes
Make sure to check out our list of Hidden Gems on Palomar Mountain for the ultimate trip!
About the Gregory Pacheco Memorial
Please note that there are two over-looks very close to each other. Although most of this page is about the memorial, we will also be talking about the Kica Mik Overlook as well. This is a scenic viewpoint located along East Grade Road (S-7) just below the summit of Palomar Mountain.
You will see the name Picuris Pueblo when visiting.  Despite some confusion surrounding the name, it is not the site of an ancient Picuris Pueblo or Native American village. 
The area is also associated with a memorial honoring Gregory Edwin Pacheco, a firefighter from Picuris Pueblo in New Mexico who lost his life during the 1999 La Jolla Fire while serving on the Peñasco Handcrew. The memorial is sometimes referred to as the Picuris Pueblo memorial because it identifies Pacheco’s home community, which has occasionally led to confusion about the history of the site.
The Kica Mik Overlook is a modern recreation and interpretive site developed by the U.S. Forest Service and Cleveland National Forest. Its interpretive kiosk and exhibits were installed around 2010, with funding provided through recovery efforts following the devastating 2007 Witch and Poomacha Fires.
I read that “Kica Mik” means “view to the south” which I believe is Kumeyaay. Palomar Mountain was traditionally used by the Luiseño (Payómkawichum) people for seasonal hunting, gathering acorns, pine nuts, and elderberries, as well as for ceremonial activities.
Numerous seasonal camps and village sites have been documented throughout the mountain, though none are known to have existed at the overlook itself. Visitors looking south from Kica Mik are viewing lands that have been part of Luiseño homelands for centuries. 
Personal Experience
This little overlook is a great place to stop by on your way to Palomar Mountain State Park or back down the grade to Warner Springs. The weather has a mood of its own, often above the clouds and left in a magical, mystical world of your own.
It’s a great way to escape the rest of the world to just connect with nature.
