View Attractions Related to: Scenic Views
by TourGuideTimFly Sailplanes Above the Mountains and Desert
Location: Warner Springs (75 Miles / 1.5 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM (Weekday reservations strongly recommended)
Cost: Rides start at $125 for 20 Minutes. ($160 for 2 people)
Features: Glide over the Mountains and Desert on a Sail Plane
Palomar Observatory
Location: Palomar Mountain (78 Miles / 1 Hour and 45 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally open 9AM – 4PM (Closed on December 24th and 25th)
Cost: None
Features: Home to One of the World’s Most Powerful Telescopes; Took Clearest Pictures Ever of Outer Space in 2007; Images Used in Google Sky; One of America’s Finest Scientific Achievements.
Lake Cuyamaca – Mountain Lake
Location: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (9 Miles South of Julian and 53 Miles / 1 Hour Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 6AM – Sunset
Cost: $6 Minimum for each Car. (See Fee information below.)
Features: 4,600 Feet Above Sea Level; Surrounded by a National Forest; Fishing; Boating; Bird Watching; Hiking Trail; Tent & RV Camp Sites
Cleveland National Forest
Location: Cleveland National Forest (1 Hour Drive from the Coastal Areas of San Diego)
Cost: Most Visitors Will Need An Adventure Pass – $5 per Day or $30 per Year.
Features: Mountains, Meadows, Views of Ocean and Desert; Scenic Drives; Eagles; Falcons; Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Horseback Riding; Campground & RV Sites
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Location: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (14 Miles South of Julian and 48 Miles / 55 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Dawn to Dusk
Cost: $6 per Vehicle; $15+ for Camp Sites
Features: Mountains, Meadows, and Woodlands Ranging from 4,000 – 6,512 Feet Above Sea Level; Mountain Top Vistas; Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Horseback Riding; Campground & RV Sites
William Heise County Park
Location: Julian (57 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Dawn – Dusk
Cost: $3
Features: Good Place for a Hike with Mountain and Desert Views
Mountain Horseback Riding in Julian
Location: Julian (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Time: Reservations Can Be Made for Weekdays and Weekends.
Cost: Starts at $50 per Hour.
Features: Ride Horses in San Diego’s Mountains; Enjoy Mountain Views, Peaceful Meadows, Wildlife, and if you are lucky, Catch a Glimpse of the Ocean on a Clear Day.
Historic Mountain Town of Julian
Location: Julian (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Historic Town in the San Diego Mountains with Hiking, Wine Tasting, Gold Mines, Stargazing, Shops, Famous Apple Pie, and Surrounded by Forests