SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego's most popular hiking spots may become a little easier to get to — before the hike up, that is.
County planners will consider whether to purchase about 84 acres of land from the Taylor Family Trust to help construct a parking lot on State route 67 to help hikers access the trail head.
Currently, hikers and runners park along SR-67 and on surrounding neighborhood streets and run or hike along the highway and private or state-owned lands to access the county's utility road that leads up to the popular North County landmark.
"The most popular route to Potato Chip Rock is currently accessed by hikers parking on the shoulders of SR 67 and on nearby neighborhood streets, which poses safety concerns. Hikers park their vehicles on the shoulders of SR 67 and traverse private or State-owned land to access the City of San Diego’s utility road to Potato Chip Rock, which hikers use as a trail," the County Board of Supervisors plan says.
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Otherwise, hikers would have to park at Lake Poway Park to hike up Mount Woodson 7.5 miles to reach the Potato Chip Rock. Non-Poway residents must also pay $10 to park on the weekends.
From the Ramona side, the hike up is about four miles round trip.
The county already owns 18 acres that is landlocked and can't be accessed directly. The 84-acre plot could provide access to the county land and allow for off-road parking, the board says.
The plot of land would be large enough for parking to serve those accessing the eastern route of Mount Woodson as well as the county road up to the rock. Though, the plan doesn't anticipate using the entire property for parking and would conserve any surplus land as open space.
The board will consider purchasing the land, appraised at $1.7 million, at a March 27 meeting.
Read the full proposal here.
