Palomar Mountain Quatro Climb

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San Diego County, CA, US

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@oldguywhotris

San Diego Cycling Climbing Addict - Half & Full Ironman Age Grouper

88 km

2.375 m

They call Palomar Mountain the Alpe d'Huez of Southern California. This route takes you on all of it including the famous South Grade switchbacks, up to the equally famous observatory, lesser-known restored and active fire tower, and the incredible views from the East Grade.

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## Overview
Welcome to what many describe as the Alpe d’Huez of Southern California.  Famous for the @photo[20+ switchbacks on the South Grade](4858189), Mount Palomar is a right of passage for all cyclists looking to join the ranks of the serious Southern California cycling climbing fraternity and wear their bragging rights badge of honor home with pride.  However, there is much more to explore and climb on this mountain from Lake Henshaw to the galactically celebrated Palomar Observatory.

## Where To Stay
If you are coming from far away to climb the legendary Mount Palomar, there are some great options if you want to stay nearby.  [Harrah’s Resort](https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-socal) is very close if you are looking for stylin’ digs.  For camping, at the bottom of the South Grade is [Oak Knoll Campground](http://properties.camping.com/oak-knoll-campground/Overview) and on the mountain there are multiple [state park campgrounds](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=637).  Or, you could camp or rent one of the cabins at [The Lake Henshaw Resort](http://www.lakehenshawresort.com/) as well.

## What To Prepare For
**Water** – There are not a lot of opportunities to fill up with water on Mount Palomar.  As a precaution, bring extra water with you just in case.  *Especially if the weather is going to be hot.*

**Temperature** – You will be gaining a lot of altitude from starting in a desert type climate and rising up to a more alpine environment.  In addition, this route will take you most of the day unless you are an elite cycling athlete.  Thus, the temperature range could vary widely over the many hours you are out there depending on the time of the year.  Check ahead of time what the weather will be at Mount Palomar and at Lake Henshaw to see what the temperature range for your day and plan accordingly.

**A Big Smile** – It’s a pretty cool feeling after you finish this one for the first time.  Soak it in.

## Where To Park - The Safe Start
This route maximizes safety and provides even more vertical and switchbacks for your suffering pleasure by starting at @poi[The Lake Henshaw Resort](9674947).  You can park in the big parking lot off Highway 76 in front of The Roundup Grill.  The owners prefer you to park closer to the road than right in front of the restaurant.  And, if you buy a beer or a burger from them at the end of the ride that certainly couldn’t hurt all of our chances of continuing this generocity towards cyclists.

From here, you simply turn left out of the parking lot onto Highway 76 and cruise down a short mile long straight stretch of road before starting your ascent up the East Grade.  After this mile, you have left any kind of major traffic behind you and this part of Highway 76 tends to have very little traffic anyway.

Caveat – On the weekends, it is popular for motorcyclists to test their handling abilities on the South Grade switchbacks.  However, they tend to come out more in the afternoon when it is warmer so you might want to time your ride appropriately if you can only visit on the weekends.

## The Start - The East Grade Climb
Although not as steep as the South Grade, the @slice[East Grade](d,1303.92,19426.23) is a long one.  It will average just under a 5% grade, it is 11 miles long and you will climb 2,800 feet with only a few short breaks from going up.  In the summer, you want to do this early in the morning.  This grade is on the desert side and it not only gets hot, the winds pick up and are hot as well.  That can be ok for your afternoon descent, but not pleasurable for the climb.

You will gain altitude quickly.  As you rise, the view of the @photo[Lake Henshaw](4849464) watershed below will be an ever changing breathtaking view on your right side.  At mile two there will be an @poi[overlook](9674948) and, if it is your first time, you will no doubt want to take a photo for social media.

The surrounding terrain will mostly be @photo[rocky outcroppings](4849451) that eventually give way to old oak trees providing spotty shade and some areas @photo[with canopies](4858160) that give you more consistent shade as you turn into the mountain and leave the valley views behind you.

Around mile seven you will emerge from the oaks to experience a @photo[high mountain meadow range](4858161).  This area is a working cattle ranch and often the furry grazing beasts on display for you almost as if on cue.  In the spring and early summer this stretch of road will be thickly lined with @photo[wild purple Lupin flowers](4858174) sprouted from the earlier rains of the season.  If you hit it right there will also be abundant California Poppys and various cactus flowers as well.

As you leave the meadow your terrain will begin to slowly change with altitude to feature more pines and less oaks.  You will also begin to see the fruits of your climbing to your left as @photo[glimpses of the valley and distant mountains](4858196) become available.

You will finally come to the @poi[Kica Mik](9674949) overlook around mile ten.  This is another social media photo op.  The overlook will provide you the opportunity to take in the very expansive view of Northern San Diego County.  On an extremely clear day you will be able to see all the way to the Pacific Ocean from up here.  This spot will provide you one of the two best views of the day.  As a bonus, there are some @poi[restrooms](9674956) here.

## The Town of Mount Palomar
After you leave the overlook, you have only a short mile to go on comparatively flat road until you come to the @poi[town of Mount Palomar](9674950).  There isn’t a lot here.  There is a @photo[post office](4858164) the size of a large shed, and @poi[Mother’s Kitchen](9674950) restaurant.  Interestingly, Mother’s is a vegetarian (not vegan) restaurant.  Although you won’t find whole muscle protein on the menu, the food is quite good.

## South Grade – The Descent
Now that you have had your 11 mile 2,800 vertical foot warm up on the East Grade, let’s get you down the mountain so you can experience the epic switchbacks before the temperature heats up if you are trying this in the summer.

**Caution!** – @photo[This descent is the real deal](4858181) and it is seven miles of cornering down steep switchbacks.  You can get flying down this mountain and with any mountain descent there are dangers.  Rocks could have fallen into the road from the mountain that this road is cut into.  The road has areas that aren’t in the best shape and depending on the winter rains it could be worse than the year before so you need to look for pot holes etc.  Finally, there are a few @photo[iron cow catchers](4858186) that you will have to either slow down for or bunny-hop over.

Before you get going full tilt into it, a half mile into the descent on the right is an @poi[artesian well](9674953) where you can @photo[fill your water bottles](4858184) most of the time.  Sometimes in the summer it goes dry, but most of the other time it flows natural mountain water.

## South Grade Time – The Climb
@slice[The climb](d,30344.57,41192.39) is pretty straight forward….start behind climbing!  It will get steep (average grade 7%+ with 10%+ sections), it is seven miles long, and it has very few breaks.  You will earn your badge of honor on this one, but it is truly one of (if not the) coolest climbs in Southern California.  Mt Baldy is a tough climb, but it is mostly straightish until the end.  The Mount Palomar switchbacks are truly a treat for climbers from a technical standpoint, scenery, and bragging rights.  I have actually climbed the famous switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez in France and although it is a greater challenge, Mount Palomar was a formidable training ground for me to get used to switchbacks and build the kind of endurance needed to attack that Tour de France classic climb.
___
*If you have never climbed switchbacks before, try to take the tighter turns a little wide as it will make it easier and safer to make that turn.  I was climbing up Mont Ventoux in France on some of those switchbacks and there was a guy in front of me who took the turn tight and literally flipped over backwards because it can get so steep in those inner corners.*
___
My only other advice on this one is to just keep going.  You will get glimpses from time to time of the winding road above and your mind may tell you, you are getting close.  Don’t listen -- it is probably wrong.  Once you see that @photo[Artesian well](4858184) again, you can start to think about a little celebration time in the near future.

**Congratulations!!** You have joined the South Grade Alpe d’Huez of Southern California fraternity!

## The Observatory Climb
But wait….there’s more!  @slice[The climb](d,41287.13,49211.2) up to the famous @poi[Palomar Observatory](9674951) is more reminiscent of the East Grade climb in challenge, but the terrain is mostly covered in tall pine trees and it is shorter at 4.5 miles.

Once you get to the top, you will know it.  There is a @photo[giant observatory](4849457) that you can’t miss.  If you need a long break after all that climbing, you can go into the observatory and check it out.  There is a visitors center and they also do tours.  To learn more about the observatory [click here](http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/homepage.html).

## The Observatory Descent
You will be very used to the road conditions by now and understand potential safety issues if any.  Although most of this is a descent, there will be some climbing in this one especially just before you get back to town.

## The Fire Tower Climb
Welcome to @slice[the easiest climb](d,56039.97,62336.78) of your day.  We saved it for you at the end before you head back to the Lake Henshaw Resort.  Tell your legs to give you just a little bit more.

The beginning is quite minimal and it is mostly flatish with a slight grade until you get to the entrance of the campground.  As you pass the entrance, continue straight as the cuesheet instructs you past the intersection of a couple roads.  You will now start the climb up to the fire tower.  It is not long, but it is a bit steep on a very narrow one way road.  As you exit the pines, you will take in the most @photo[amazing view](4858196) of the day across much of San Diego County and on a clear day out to the Pacific Ocean.

Almost immediately on your left will be the @poi[fire tower](9674952).  This is an actively manned fire tower that has been @photo[restored to the original condition](4849404).  They often will yell down and invite you to come up and check it out.  I have taken them up on that offer before and it is quite the education as well as @photo[quite the view](4849406).  There is also a @poi[restroom](9674955) here for the public detached from the fire tower that you can use.

Again, the perfect place for a photo op.

## The End – The East Grade Descent
Simply leave the fire tower and start to descend back to the Lake Henshaw Resort.  All in, you will now be doing a 14 mile descent with a few brief climbs here and there.  However, mostly you are just going down for a long time.  The road conditions of the first half aren't the best, but they aren't the worst.  Be cautious and keep your eyes open for pot holes and rough patches.  The second half was freshly paved all the way to the end in 2018.  Unlike the South Grade, there are not switchbacks to help slow you down.  You can really get cooking if you don’t pay attention.  In the summer, you can also really heat up your brakes so remember to pump them efficiently.

At the bottom of the descent, simply hang a left, ride a mile and think about maybe a beer and a burger at The Roundup Grill.

Again, congratulations if you did all of this route on legendary Mount Palomar.  55 miles and 7,800 vertical feet with technical and challenging switchbacks is definitely something to be proud of.  Mount Palomar is a special place for sure and we are all lucky it is available to cyclists here in San Diego County and people that come from around the world to tackle it.

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Palomar Mountain Quatro Climb

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