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Worth the Hike in San Diego
June, 2023 - Issue #221

While hiking may not be a top-of-mind activity for most San Diego visitors, an abandoned rail line makes for a worthy detour from the city's typical tourist destinations.
About an hour east of Downtown San Diego and a couple miles north of the border lies the trailhead for The Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge.
The hike follows a railroad through the Anzo-Borrego desert, trailing along the lengthy Carrizo Gorge. Clocking in at nearly 16 miles, it scares off most would-be hikers.
However, there's a catch. Because the trail follows train tracks, it never rises to an incline a train couldn't pass over. On most hikes, if there is a mountain in the way, there is no choice but to go over it. But here, tunnels smooth out the inclines.
"A CAREFUL WALK along the bridge revealed its
impressive lattice structure - a network of beams and
connecting bars all arranged into perfect geometric structures. It was a great place to stop for a lunch break."
That's not to say it's an easy hike - it's still 16 miles of walking. But if you are up for a challenge, it is definitely worth the trek. I had heard about this hike online and those who visited told of stunning views and impressive historical relics.
With an upcoming trip to San Diego to visit friends, I figured there was nothing else that could top this. Arriving at the trail head around 10am, we donned our Camelbaks packed with sandwiches and trail mix ready to take on what the day held.
After just a couple of miles we made it to the first landmark - a large double-decker passenger car pushed off to the side. We were obviously not the first to find this train; it was hard to find a spot uncovered by graffiti. After some exploration, we continued moving forward, knowing we still had a lot of ground to cover.
For the most part, the tunnels along this trail are wide open and easy to pass through, however, the first tunnel is closed and requires hikers to make a short scramble over a hill to get to the other side. Following the tracks, we were eager for the sights ahead and around the four-mile point, we reached a large opening. Scrap building materials had been discarded here inside several caves.
This tunnel is also closed, requiring a detour around the mountain. This is the only point in the hike with a sustained incline. While many people decide to turn around before this detour, the landmarks afterwards are the most rewarding. Consisting of several more tunnels and views, the second half of the hike is worth the extra distance.
Many of the tunnels are impressive, reaching lengths of half a mile. After a long but pleasant eight miles under the warm sun we rounded the corner and reached our objective.
We were rewarded with a spectacular view of the Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge.
A careful walk along the bridge revealed its impressive lattice structure - a network of beams and connecting bars all arranged into perfect geometric structures. It was the perfect place to stop for a lunch break.
The trail does not just stop here. The railroad continues for many miles, eventually rejoining the greater American rail network.
While this is not on most people's "perfect vacation spots in San Diego" list, the hike to the Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge is a worthy destination in its own right.
Drew Harnish lives in Castaic and enjoys traveling just as much as his dad.
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