Day One

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Leave LA as early as you can and avoid traffic

• Last pit stop · ARCO - 1015 Main Street in Ramona
• Nearest grocery store · Stater Bros. Market - 1674 Main Street in Ramona

Head to the campground to check in and make lunch

• Get settled into camp, find your site, and make some lunch
• Sandwiches are always a kid-favorite and easy to make while camping

Explore the area on Fry Creek Trail

• This 1.5 mile loop trail starts at Fry Creek Campground, just across the road from the Observatory campground.
• Be sure to layer on sunscreen and bug spray before heading out, trail’s proximity to a creek means it’s buggier than usual.

Chill and cook up dinne

• Enjoy the night under the dark skies and stargaze with your family
• If you’ve got some kiddos who are afraid of the dark, check out these solar-powered lights and fun multi-colored headlamps to keep the night bright and fear-free.

Attend a Star Party

• Hosted on weekends once a month in the summer, the Observatory hosts free open-house nights that let you meet with astronomers to see galaxies, planets, and moons
• You can hike to the Observatory from the campground, but it’s a 4.9 mile hike to the top. Otherwise, be sure to drive up early to ensure you get parking.

‍The Palomar Observatory is home to the Hale Telescope, which was the world's largest and most important telescope from 1949 to 1992. The observatory also houses a 60-inch telescope that discovered the first brown dwarf star.

Day Two

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Wake up and make breakfast

• Get some breakfast going! Add some sprinkles to classic pancakes to make them funfetti.

Check out Doane Pond and Weir Trail Loop

• This 2.7 mile easy loop takes you through the Doane Valley Natural Preserve
• Make sure you apply bug spray and sunscreen before you go, and pack enough water (1L per person) and snacks to keep everyone happy on the hike.
• You’ll get to see Doane Pond and have the option to take a detour to see the Weir Historical Site
• You can see lots of birds, ponds with frogs and other wildlife, and tall old growth pines throughout the trail

Lunch

• Have lunch at camp and settle in for an afternoon siesta to avoid afternoon breakdowns

Find views of the valley on Boucher Hill Loop

• This 1.9 mile easy loop takes you along the top of Boucher Hill
• Make sure you reapply bug spray and sunscreen before heading out, to keep the family bug bite and sunburn free.
• Take in the views and check out the fire lookout tower. This is a great opportunity to teach your kiddos about wildfire risks and the importance of forest management.

Chill and cook up dinner

• Enjoy the night under the dark skies and stargaze with your family
• We recommend these camp chairs and camp blankets for laying out under the stars.

For millennia, only desert and coastal tribes, like the Kumeyaay, Luiseños, Cahuilla and Cupeño, knew about the lands within CNF. These native people had a deep respect for nature and the land held significance for them. We can learn from the teachings about their land.

DAY THREE

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Pack up and leave camp in the morning, before it gets hot

• Cook up brekkie, pick up any random pieces of litter around camp, and save some snacks for the return trek
• Layer on sunscreen, bug spray, and fill up your water bottles!

Head down the mountains and back to society

Treat yo' self to Nessy Burgers for lunch

• This roadside burger joint has a retro surfy vibe and outdoor seating. The kids will love the burgers, chicken tenders, fries, and milkshakes. Plus, it’s right off the freeway on the way home.
• Located at 3235 Old Hwy 395 in Fallbrook
• Open 7 AM to 7 PM every day

Head home!

The CNF is the southernmost national forest in the contiguous US, extending to 5-miles north of the Mexico border.