Valley of the Moon
1 Review
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!
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48523 OLD HWY 80
JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS, CA 91934
Trailhead: 32.639876, -116.107131
Valley of the Moon: 32.626024, -116.075651
Dog Friendly & Kid-Friendly: Yes, but this area can be potentially dangerous as it is vast and gets hot. Keep your kids & pets close to you at all times
Miles: varies Level: Easy to Hard depending on how you exert yourself
About Valley of the Moon
Note: Unless you have 4-wheel drive, you will have to hike into the Valley of the Moon which is a couple miles up hill. Hike in cooler weather, wear good shoes and pace yourself and you should be fine.
When most think of a boulderer’s paradise in So-Cal, places like Bishop, Mt. Baldy and Joshua Tree probably come to mind. Many don’t realize that on the outskirts of Jacumba is San Diego’s very own rock-climbing mecca.
Valley of the Moon is a mysterious place. There are wind caves and potential secrets filling every corner. Marveling at its majestic beauty can mask the tougher undertones associated with this place though. Afterall, this area is a hotspot for smuggling so please keep that in mind when you decide whether or not this is a place you want to visit. This is also an area of migrant and refugee crossing I am told.
While you’re in the area, make sure to visit the Desert View Tower nearby!
The first time I visited this area it was to explore a spot which is now part of our members section. I was blown away with the rock wonderland we had stumbled upon. This is the type of place you could explore your entire life it feels and still find new secrets. I wonder how many undiscovered cave systems are yet to be explored?
The valley in which we see today took hundreds of millions years to be created. The intricate rock formations were created from this area once being underwater and later etched out by high winds that rip through the valley. Use GPS tracking so you know how to get back to where you came from.
TIP: After you read this article, check out our list of Top Hidden Gems in Los Angeles!
This is what separates the San Diego and Mexican border: a broken, barb-wired fence
Rebecca
Really good pictures
And I am glade the information about
The Mexico and the US border is very
Helpful.
July 18, 2021