El Cariso Nature Trail, Elsinore, CA
Total Distance: 1.3 Miles (1.5 if you go to the Firefighters Memorial)
Difficulty: Easy (slight elevation gains, dirt path)
Address: 32353 Ortega Highway Elsinore, CA 92530
Cost: $5 parking or Adventure Pass
Denise and AJ pass a rusting barbwire fence on the trail.
Yesterday we went to the El Cariso Nature Trail. Despite the fact that it was Memorial Day weekend we did not see anyone on the trail. We saw a few people in the campsite ($15 per campsite, first come first serve), but there were still plenty spots available.
Usually when there is a lack of people that is a bad thing, but when it comes to nature it is a good thing. The trail was very short (only 1.5 miles), but it was interesting as it had lots of outlook views on to the different valleys, an abandoned mine, and a few pine trees. Every so often there were interpretive signs along the way to point out highlights.
-
- Denise and AJ over look a meadow.
-
- A view of the El Cariso Visitor center.
-
- This guy was illegally poached and put on display to talk about local wildlife.
-
- This display talked about how even though a tree can recover from fire it still permanently scars the tree.
-
- The trail starts directly behind the visitor center.
-
- Along the trail we saw an abandoned ore mine. You can’t really go in because it is blocked, but it was interesting to peek inside.
-
- Along the trail we saw many bright flowers.
-
- The El Cariso Monument honors those fallen fighting California wild fires.
-
- Denise in front of the El Cariso memorial.
-
- Behind the wall there are little plaques with dates and numbers of those lost in wild fires.
-
- The Picture City fire of 1930 was the oldest fire we saw on the wall.
-
- The trees in Penny Pines are not native to the area and were planted by the Girl Scouts.
-
- Denise and AJ walk by and old barb wire fence.
-
- These buildings were build by the CCC in the 1930’s to hold explosives used in building the roads.
-
- Looks like some firefighter had too much fun with the hoses.
-
- A big red shiny fire truck at the station.
For us it was a nice way to spend the afternoon. It was a very relaxing quick hike for our family. My son is 6 and he did the whole trail in sandals. I would not recommend this as some parts can get slippery (I slipped once on some gravel) and I also recommend to wear pants that cover your ankles because there are some parts of the trail that get narrow and there are plants that have various briars (sticky things).
How sad that such a beautiful place has so few visitors.