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I drove to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, paid to park at Green Valley Park (formerly Green Valley Campground), and explored Pine Ridge Trail on foot.
The trail is shown on the Cuyamaca Peak USGS topographic map, albeit faintly. It is as shown on the topo, except near Green Valley Park. The topo shows it emerging in what is now the upper parking area for Green Valley Falls. There is no trail there now, but there is a sign directing hikers to campsites 37 and 38, where the trail now emerges.
I hiked the entire trail from east to west, with only one memorable event. Near the west end, I went around a corner and encountered an angry rattlesnake in a shady spot on the trail. It was hissing, coiled up and ready to strike. I stepped back, and so did the snake. When I peered cautiously around the corner, the snake had moved into the bushes on the north side of the trail. I couldn't see it, but I could hear it! I sped past the point.
I thought it was rather surprising to see an active rattlesnake out in hot, sunny weather. Normally they wait for dusk.
When I got to South Boundary Fire Road, I went north as far as Arroyo Seco Fire Road, and then turned around and went south to the Falls Fire Road. Along the way I noted another fire road to the west shown on the topo, and signed at the junction, as King Creek Fire Road. It does not appear on the official trail map of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, but it appears to be hikable and ridable, but not drivable. Some day I'll have to go back and explore it.
I returned to Green Valley on the Falls Fire Road, detouring onto the Sweetwater Falls Trail.
Before returning home, I drove over to the Stonewall Mine and took some pictures of the mine site, the nearby Miner's Cabin, and the plaques inside the cabin, but I did not survey any trails.
Transcript of survey.
Photo annotations.
Data plotted on topo.
Philip J. Erdelsky