I'll Have a Double!

Double the peaks, double the fun—and a reward awaits when you are done. San Marcos is home to a vast array of hikes and breweries. Get the best view and best brew of “San Parkos” on a 4.5-mile (round-trip) out-and-back summit trek to Double Peak Park, which looms above North County, followed by a tasting flight at Double Peak Brewery.

Park at Lakeview Park and head past the gates along a trail hugging the water. This is Discovery Lake—a serene setting for waterfowl, anglers, and a loop trail for those who want to stay grounded. Prepare yourself—the path to the peak immediately ascends and does not relent until the top. After a quarter-mile, the trail crosses a neighborhood street and continues its upward trajectory above suburbia and adjacent hills. Helpful signs direct you through the trail junctions.

The panoramic views are constant and magnificent throughout, while benches provide rest points and water breaks—necessary if the day is warm, as the trail provides zero shade. Near the 2-mile mark, the path parallels another street. Here you can take a very steep use trail or continue along the road to the top. At the summit are picnic tables, an amphitheater, and the park caretaker’s residence. Head to the true summit for incredible 360-degree vistas. Sit and gaze from a bench or peek through a telescope—a map etched on the concrete IDs the landmarks. On clear days, you can see Batiquitos Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean to the west (find Catalina Island!), the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains to the north, Vulcan Mountains to the east, and even Coronado to the south. Take a gander at Discovery Lake below before you head back down the way you came.