Touring * Historic * Slalom *

From Interstate 5 in La Jolla, exit east on Highway 52 (the Soledad Freeway). About six miles past the Interstate 15 interchange, follow the exit signs for Mission Trails Regional Park (the freeway comes to an end here). Turn right at the stoplight at Big Rock Road and head west. After passing Mast Boulevard, stay to the right when the main road curves left uphill as Mission Gorge Road. Continue straight beyond two gated and signed trail entrances on the right (these trails are not paved). A half mile down the gorge, there is a parking lot for Mission Trails Regional Park on the right, next to the trailhead. Map: The San Diego County Bike Map is available free by calling (619) 231-2453.

The Father Junipero Serra Trail passes through a rugged gorge of the San Diego River in the ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay Indians. Fortunately, city planners left the 5,700 acres of Mission Trails Regional Park through which it passes in a natural state "to preserve the true nature of San Diego." The views of the rocky peaks on both sides of the San Diego River are wild and beautiful, especially when spring is abloom. At the trail's entrance, a gate and a large Do Not Enter sign ensure that the trail is open to cars in only one direction, leaving an entire lane free for pedestrians, skaters, and bicyclists. The pavement is in prime condition and is a full 10 feet wide. The converted road has a big raised curb painted with yellow stripes to protect trail users from the cars that pass infrequently on the other side. If you can visit the park on a weekday when it is less crowded and if you know how to skate with ski poles, this is an ideal place to use them, because there are three fairly substantial hills along the route. Starting out from the gate, the first hill delivers the steepest descent as you enter the canyon, making the first quarter mile a real thrill. If you survive that one, you'll be fine from here on. (Remember, you can always ride your heel brake.) You will face climbs in both directions, but uphills are a cinch when you use ski poles, either double-poling or skating cross-country style. As you round a corner near the far end of the trail, an impressive building is perched on the ridge ahead. Is it some rich person's ostentatious mansion? No, it is the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors and Interpretive Center, a gorgeous structure. The dedicated Father Junipero Serra Trail ends at the entrance gate to its deliciously paved concrete driveway. Climb up the driveway to read a plaque describing the history of the park, then sip from the drinking fountain just behind it. If you simply cannot resist and nobody is around, climb the driveway to the top of the slope so you can slalom back down.