Location: San Diego County, 13 miles southeast of Temecula, 112 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: San Diego County

Forest Service: Cleveland National Forest

USGS Topo: Vail Lake 7½, Boucher Hill 7½, Aguanga 7½

HPS (updated): National Geographic Topo!

HPS (old version): Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Distance: 26 miles round trip on trail, road, and cross-country

Gain: 5500' total, 4500' out plus 1000' on return

Time: 12 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, very strenuous

Navigation: Intermediate

Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Original: John Backus, March 1982

DRIVING ROUTE 3

• Same as Route 2.

HIKING ROUTE 3

• Walk to the south end of the campground where a sign and trail register are located. Sign the register, then proceed across a seasonal stream (flooded after heavy rains). Just past the "Agua Tibia Wilderness" sign, the trail reaches a trail junction with the Wild Horse Trail on the left and the Dripping Springs Trail on the right.
• Turn right onto Dripping Springs Trail (1W03) and follow it for 7 miles to where it joins the former Palomar-Magee Truck Trail (now trail 2W01) at a signed saddle just west of Agua Tibia Mountain (near the "T" in "Tibia" on the Vail Lake topo): One may want to climb to the summit of Agua Tibia Mtn (Lower Peaks list), a very short but very brushy climb.
• Turn left and follow it 2 1/2 miles as it contours on the northwest shoulder of Agua Tibia Mountain and descends to Crosley Saddle, junction with Wild Horse Trail. This portion of the road is often poorly maintained.
• Continue as in Route 2.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The Forest Service is planning a seasonal closure of the Dripping Springs Campground because of the endangered green toad. This may prevent the use of Routes 2 and 3 during closure periods. Please contact the Cleveland National Forest Palomar Ranger District Office at 760-788-0250 for current closure information.