Things to do Try Nighthawk Trail on Black Mountain for some exercise before the workday The roughly 4-mile hike features steep and rocky sections plus excellent west-facing views on a clear day ...

I hike alone quite a bit for this column. And when I’m on the trail by myself, I like to play little mental games. For one, I quiz myself on the different plants that line the route — from laurel ...

Viejas Mountain has all the fixings for an ideal local hike. It’s not too far away — only about a 40-minute drive from the city of San Diego — and is located near the heart of the mountain ...

I met a big black bear. Well, we weren’t formally introduced, but more on that later. It all started with our impromptu trip ...