El Monte County Park

What travelers say:

This is a well-maintained county park with large oak threes, extensive lawn areas, shade structures, clean restrooms and helpful rangers. Great place for a group or family picnic or party. Surprisingly uncrowded, maybe because it is a little distance from urban centers, but actually less than a half hour drive from downtown San Diego. More importantly, the park has great views to the north, looking up at El Capitan and adjoining peaks. And, best of all, it provides a trailhead for trails making their way up the mountainside overlooking the park. The main trail goes all the way up, through multiple switchbacks, to a ridgeline from which you can see over into Blossom Valley. Halfway up, the trails splits, and branches in either direction follow the onetime flume which carried water to San Diego, beginning in the late 1800s. As you ascend, the views across the valley toward the mountains gets better and better.