Fill Up on Fallbrook

Visit Fallbrook California for Hiking, Eating, and Drinking

Hike Fallbrook in San Diego

Meet Fallbrook, self-proclaimed avocado capital of the world. But there’s more greenery here than the toast-friendly fruit. This small town in northern San Diego County has more than 10 nature preserves.

Explore two less-visited hiking havens: Hellers Bend and Dinwiddie Preserve, then stroll down the eclectic main street. Start at Hellers Bend in southern Fallbrook, a 2-mile (round-trip) half-paved, half-dirt track hike.

Head through the gates and down under majestic oaks and along a babbling brook. The paved path then ascends 500 feet over the next half-mile, gaining beautiful vistas over the town of Fallbrook and beyond to Monserate Mountain, and even the Palomars.

At the peak of the preserve there’s a bench for more view time, and from there the trail becomes a narrow dirt path in a residential area before ending at a fence. Head back to your car and head north to the Fallbrook Land Conservancy.

You can park at the lot and check out the Wildlife Sculpture Garden on a very short 0.2-mile loop. Afterward, cross the street to the Dinwiddie Preserve for a quiet half-mile stroll among oaks and sycamores.

BONUS FALLBROOK: Avocados aside, Fallbrook’s got plenty to explore. Park at the Fallbrook Library, a beautiful eco-friendly building with a charming shop of gently used books. Next, pass the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society (good to explore!) and get a coffee at local cafe Brooktown before walking north on Main Avenue.

There are plenty of nature murals along the way, a village square with sculptures, and plenty of boutique—and avocado-tique—shops (check out the art map). We like Caravan, an eclectic joint with global products, and the Spoiled Avocado—get the avocado fudge for a genuine Fallbrook treat! If you’re hankering for a big meal and craft beer after your hikes, we recommend Oink and Moo, a locals’ favorite with barbeque classics and a creative variety of burgers. Regardless, be sure to pick up some Fallbrook avocado memorabilia.

To get to Hellers Bend Preserve, take the I-5 or I-15 to the CA-76. Take the Mission Rd. exit and head north for 1.4 miles and turn left onto Hellers Bend Rd. The preserve is on the left after 0.2 mile (park before the curve on the street). To get to Dinwiddie Preserve and the Fallbrook Land Conservancy lot, go back to Mission Rd. and head north for 2.7 miles, turning right onto Stage Coach Ln. The conservancy offices and lot will be on your left in 1 mile. Finally, to get to the Fallbrook Library, continue on Stage Coach Ln. for 1.8 miles, turn left at Alvarado St., and in 1.5 miles the library will be on your left. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View