North Shepherd Canyon Loop

This is the North Shepherd Canyon Loop, a signed 3.5-mile loop in the Tierrasanta neighborhood of San Diego. It consists mostly of dirt paths running through canyons and open spaces. There is even a Torrey pine at one place. Hiking shoes are recommended. Leashed dogs are allowed. The hills are small, so this is a fairly easy hike. Hiking poles may be helpful in a few steep spots. A few wet spots are to be expected from recent rains, but there are no large stream crossings.

We'll be passing by a small pond called Dishwasher Pond (pictured above), so called because an old dishwasher was once dumped there. It has become clogged with reeds, so it no longer looks like the picture. In addition to rattlesnakes, poison oak, etc., discarded appliances are a hazard in urban canyons.

The east end of the trail passes through part of Mission Trails Regional Park. We will take an unofficial detour on the north side of Portobello Dr. as an alternative to walking along Portobello Dr.

Meet at 9:30 AM on the east side of Santo Road just south of Antigua Blvd. (N 32 50.004 W 117 6.068). We'll start hiking at 9:45.

You can't park on Santo Road or Antigua Blvd. near this corner. Park in the residential area on the west side of Santo Road on Antigua Blvd. or Tortuga Ct. and cross Santo Road on foot. There is a traffic light with a pedestrian crossing signal. (You can use a small off-road parking area on Antigua Blvd., if you can find it.)

We've done this hike, and similar hikes, before. For details, including photographs, see

2018: www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/249620992
2020: www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/271616749
2021: www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/279425326
2023: www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/293553555
2024: www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/304586910

Wear appropriate clothing, take water, and use some kind of sun protection (very little is required this time of year). You might want to take a small snack.

CONTACT: Philip Erdelsky, cell 619-866-8512 E-mail *pje@efgh.com*

WEATHER WATCH: Forecasts as of tonight (Fri. Dec. 26) call for a dry spell until Wednesday. As we learned last week, forecasts can change, and they can be inaccurate. Let's hope for better luck this week!