An iron bridge spans Del Dios Gorge.

Del Dios Gorge overlook to Lake Hodges Dam

This trail is part of the Coast to Crest Trail of the San Dieguito River Park. The 70-mile planned Coast to Crest Trail will extend one day from Volcan Mountain near Julian to the shore at Del Mar. Del Dios Gorge is within this planned area, but only part of it is accessible. Del Dios Gorge is partly inundated by the Lake Hodges Reservoir created in 1918 on completion of the Lake Hodges Dam.

Start of the Del Dios trail

Different plant communities are found along the Del Dios trail. From the parking area, head east toward the dam. The plants found on the early part of the trail are common to the coastal chaparral habitat, including sagebrush, white sage, and some large coast prickly pear cactus. Several interpretive panels along the route describe the history and fauna of the area, including bats. At about the 1.5-mile mark, the trail descends to a steel-railed bridge that crosses the San Dieguito River and enters a riparian area paralleling the riverbed. Although it is a riverbed, you will probably see no more than a couple of stagnant pools among the many large granitic boulders. There is enough water, however, to support groupings of coast live oaks and various species of willow.

One of the historic highlights of the trail is the Hodges Flume along the north side of the gorge (to the left as you proceed to the dam). It is not used today but was once a gravity water transporter to the San Dieguito Reservoir, four miles to the west.

The trail is undoubtedly at its best after some rain, which should provide some water flow in the river and awaken the coast chaparral and riparian plants that might come into flower. The only drawback of this hike is the background vehicle noise from the Del Dios Highway.

Del Dios Gorge

The Rattlesnake Viewing Platform is the turnaround point and a good spot for lunch or a snack. The platform was named not for any rattlesnakes in the area but rather for the native rock that was shaped into the form of a rattlesnake. Here there is an interpretive panel that explains the place of rattlesnakes in the ecosystem, a burned “dead” black oak tree on the platform that addresses the impacts of wildfires, and a sculpture with a pipe ring scope that lines up features at the dam, including the spillway, the bulwarks, and the river below. The view from this point is the concrete-arch Lake Hodges Dam (see 2/14/13 “Roam-O-Rama”), which impounds the San Dieguito River. After taking in the views and resting, return to the parking lot along the same route.

There is also parking along Del Dios Highway just above the dam viewing area. Parking there is limited and entry there would access the trail from this point.