Adventure 008, Hike 54 - Balboa Park Trail 33

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 54 – Balboa Park, Trail 33

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 14, 2012

Location: San Diego

Hike Info:

Trail: #33

Distance: 2.2

Duration: 2:00

Elevation Rise: Unknown

Description:
Balboa Park in San Diego is filled with trails which weave in and out of its cultural areas as well as the more natural areas. This creates an aurora of calmness in the walker amongst a busy city. It also means that almost anywhere you go, you are on a named trail. This is what happened to us. We were walking around when we realized that we were on a named trail as part of our 2+ mile walk through the center of Balboa Park. We had seen the center plaza and had just arrived a little too late for the Biological Exhibit. But we were able to admire Lily Pond—which a few days before had been the scene of a massive water gun fight—hundreds of people participated, but which damaged much of the area.



But along the way, we picked up Park Ave Trail 33 for a ways. We were able to descend down into the canyon area where we figured out we picked up the trail. We had to go back up the same trail through Cactus and Succulent Garden. But then, right next to it, we enjoyed the Rose Garden for at least 45 minutes. The Rose Garden was in bloom and the smell of blossoms, and some fertilizer was in the air. (We were so impressed with this garden, we brought our parents and aunt back the next day to the garden.) We then made our way back down to Independence Point, where we had parked the car.



There are two reasons why we want to go back to Balboa Park. The first is this is a great area of museums, cultural and natural enjoyment. The second, is that there are soooo many Capture California points to be scored here from the hikes, we could easily do about 40 points in a day. Balboa's Web site, describes this trail as follows:

The 3.7-mile trail follows unpaved pathways through native habitat in Florida Canyon, and then goes through the park’s historic zones. Experience both well-known and not-sowell-known parts of the park. Type: Sidewalk, dirt trails and some road surfaces.

Difficulty: Medium. Follow the #33 square orange trail markers.