I have to go to San Diego for work this weekend and I figured I'd give myself some extra time for recreation. I lined up a C8 Corvette on Turo, and I have up to 300 miles before I start paying extra. Would like to get out of the city and do some fun canyon driving, and also some hiking if possible. Anyone have any specific suggestions? Right now my plan is to head east to Palomar State Park.
Not specific to canyon drives but one day in San Diego
Palomar Mountain is a great drive but short. Beware of Bikes, they will cross the line.
A great one is to go out the 8 to 79 (or Sunrise Mtn) to Julian, CA then from there (after apple pie) take 78 to S-3 (I think) to Borego Springs, CA. Check out at least the dragon but there are 30+ sculptures around town. Then head west out of town on S-22 (or S-2 one of them) you'll go up Montezuma's Canyon and when you get back to a T in the road (79 again maybe) take a left and you will be back in Julian.
79 is fun, 78 is fantastic, Monte is very cool. Check the route out on a map program, I may not have remembered the correct roads but you'll see it.
That drive has everything from high desert to low desert and it is beautiful, if you take Sunrise you will see some big pines on top of the mountain.
I have spent a ton of tim,e out there with my Cayman.
By a lake in 79:
Just off of 79 at a lookout just before Julian, the road at the bottom is on the way to Borego Springs after going down the canyon on 78:
I was going to say Palomar and Julian (definitely get the apple pie), but they have been covered...
In reply to ShinnyGroove (Forum Supporter) :
Traffic!!!! On the weekend? San Diego?
Good luck. Maybe in a small underpowered car you might find enough open space but the ticket you could get will flat ruin your fun.
They do tend to patrol those areas pretty intensely.
The wife and I went out to Slab City and so we could pet the slab city kitties. Roads were fun, but I would skip Julian. The pie was only OK.
Great suggestions guys. As of right now, the plan is to leave San Diego Thursday evening and go out to Julian. I have a hotel room there, will get breakfast and check out the town before going on to Borego Springs and Montezuma Canyon. Will post photos!
Julian for sure, both for the roads and the pie. Not all of the pie places are equal though. We always go to Julian Pie Co. The closest I've ever found to my grandmother's pie.
Agreed ^ Julian Pie Co is my preference as well. Make sure you get a slice of classic apple with cheese. If you end up farther south for some reason I'm a big fan of the 94 east, between Jamul-Jacumba Springs. If there is traffic it puts a damper on things though.
I'd get up really early.......does Turo allow modifications?
Palomar Mountain road for sure, but as said, sportbikes can be a bit sketchy on behavior, and cops sometimes make sweeps to pick them off... or out of canyons as routinely happens...
Highland Valley Road, which you can take on the way toward Ramona and Julian. Warning: a couple of the turns are very truly hairpins, and anything over 15mph will be too much.
Also, about as far north as Palomar Mountain is Fallbrook, and De Luz Road is good. To the east, try Couser Canyon Road. All of these are Kimini and Midlana recommended 
Oh, and another - if you've had enough of twisty roads, is to head out east of Palomar Mountain to Borrego Springs. Go through there and continue east through the desert to Salton Sea. It's an interesting place to visit, if for no other reason to experience what it's like to visit a Quintin Tarantino movie set. Very surreal...
Report:
I got in Thursday night and picked up the C8. Drove out to Julian, it was 35 degrees with heavy fog, snow and rain. Think I was the only person in town that night. Got up Friday morning, still cool but the weather was clearing up. Did the 78/79 loop through Borrego Springs and Montezuma Canyon, it was fantastic! Tons of amazing scenery and almost no traffic, had the roads to myself all morning. Everything from snow-capped mountains to low desert. You CA guys have it good.
Report on the C8:
Yeah, it's everything they say. Rear visibility sucks the seats are just ok, the targa top is a bit of a PITA, but everything else is magnificent. Suspension, brakes, steering, chassis- all on par with the best cars I've ever driven. The motor is beautiful, the sounds delight. Some day I will own one, in this exact color. (picture of 492 screaming eagles; 490 in the car, 2 on the sculpture).
Hah, I'll see you and raise you:
Maybe those of us in the area should meet up for a drive some time. Or maybe just sign up for the same scca road rally.
I spent the winter of 1985-86 in Escondido, CA and drove up Palmer Mountain highway many times. It was a great drive up to the Mount Palmer Observatory with it's visitor's center. Once on the way down near the bottom, I saw a gaggle of new sporty cars heading up the mountain and figured they were some car magazine doing a new car road test. I should have turned around and chased them up the mountain and talked to them. Maybe I could have gotten my car in their magazine.
Shavarsh said:Maybe those of us in the area should meet up for a drive some time. Or maybe just sign up for the same scca road rally.
I'm in Orange County but I could be up for that. Don't really have anything that fun on the road at the moment tho
Good job!
Mount Palomar Mountain Road:
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