Scenes from State Route 79 in Backcountry San Diego County
Hiking the highest peak in San Diego County, backcountry camping, off-roading, and a craft beer bottle shop with local Mexican food, arcade games and a killer vinyl collection.
State Route 79 is a scenic route that spans nearly the entire length of San Diego County connecting Interstate 8 in east county all the way to Wine Country in Temecula.
This is a jump-off point for so many adventures! Here are highlights from my latest weekend exploring the area.
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Garage 79 appears like a desert mirage somewhere between Warner Springs and Aguanga. This old auto garage turned craft beer bottle shop is only open on the weekends and serves food through local vendors.
Pro Tip: Check Instagram for food updates and time your visit when they are open - don’t forget cash for the food.
Drinks: a thoughtfully curated collection of craft beers, canned cocktails, local wine, and ciders. They take credit cards inside.
Food from a rotating collective of local vendors outside. Cash only.
Arcade Games: Street Fighter, Kong, and Table Soccer. 25-cent play!
Great Music: a killer vinyl collection. Free ;)
Indian Flats Campground is a remote campground with only a dozen and a half campsites and PCT access but be careful that google maps will try to route you the wrong way that is impassable without 4x4.
Pro Tip: Don’t go the wrong way there unless you have 4x4
Pin Drop for non-4x4 access: Lost Valley Rd/ Lost Creek Rd / Puerta La Cruz Rd. (asphalt road)
Winter trips - Plan ahead - it’s super remote. Get firewood ahead of time at the market in Sunshine Summit.
Puerta La Cruz (Truck Trail) - [North to South] 4x4 FUN down to the camp but only if you have the right rig for it.
Hot Springs Mountain attracts summit seekers of all ages and abilities due to its status as the highpoint in the county. It is on Native American Indian land and there are associated rules and fees.
Pro Tip: bring cash
Hours: 6am-6pm. Guard is only on duty after 8am
Money drop: $10/person (not $10/car) either pay through money drop slot or pay on your way out if you get there when no guard is on duty. We wrote our license plate numbers on paper, folder cash into it, slipped it through the door slot and confirmed with guard who was in trailhead parking lot taking pictures of the cars/license plates that were parked there early.
Summit proper options - there’s a ladder and some fixed rope to get up the summit geological markers. The signs and the register are down on a boulder near the ladder. Note: There’s also a pretty easy scramble up to the true summit on the other side if you keep going past the ladder. I found it to be less sketchy than the ladder but I’m tall so I have the reach for the crux move shorter folks may not have.
