Is feasible to get onto Palomar Divide via the truck trail that runs south next to the RV park on 79?

 

Ya it connects at the top as long as the gate is unlocked

 

How far up High point is the gate?

 

Depends, there's 2 gates, the bottom one is about 15 min up, than the second one up is almost all the way up. Normally there only closed for rain and snow, maybe fire danger. Should be good now

 

Thanks for the heads up I'll check at Oak grove Station on way up

 

Ralph - you should be able to loop all the way around. So if you start in Aguanga, you can end up just south of Sunshine Summit. The gate to the lookout tower could be locked, but it's a short walk up there if you want to check it out. The gate for the trail down to Oak Grove unfortunately is usually always locked but if they tell you different, let me know

 

Went up Highpoint however was unable to get to Doane Pond or Observatory? Locked gate just north of intersection? Going back tomorrow and attack from upper end to see if somehow I Mk missed a turn, might be a short trip if so but will ho up Nate H Grade just for grins

 

last year I went from the RV park for quite a while and their was a gate that had to be close to the observatory. there was a sign on it that it was locked at the discretion of the school or something like that. The gate was probably 1/4 mile past a firing range.

Still a good up-and-back trip though.

Have you tried the road on the ridge to the west of Lake Elsinore? You go up the ortega highway and take the first right after the summit. North Main Divide I think? It is a couple hours and fantastic views. It goes out to an antenna farm on Santiago Peak.

 

I see your trip mirrored mine not quite the end I was looking for but as you said a great trip none the less.I found it humorous that I choose the Palomar route because someone complained of a locked gate at the end of that route Go figure. In short to anyone considering the Palomar Divide route just be aware it is a "divided" route for sure. By the way were you able to access Hi way 15 at the northern end or have to backtrack?