Directions & Info
Distance
- About a 69-mile loop from Escondido.
Directions
From Central San Diego
I-15 North to Centre City Parkway Exit in Escondido.- Right on West Grand Avenue.
- Continue onto East Valley Parkway.
- Right at Lake Wohlford Road.
- Right at Valley Center Road.
- Right at Pala Road (SR-76).
- Right at Center Loop/Mesa Grande Road (watch for sign).
- Right at Black Canyon Road (look for old Mesa Grande Store).
- Continue onto Magnolia Avenue in Ramona.
- Right at SR-78.
- Right at Pine Street to stay on SR-78. Continue onto San Pasqual Valley Road and N. Ash Street in Escondido.
- Left at E. Washington Street to stay on SR-78.
- Right at N. Broadway to SR-78 freeway and I-15.
Along Black Canyon Road
Green Hills Continued
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After passing the vegetable stands, it was a right-turn into the rugged hills along Lake Wohlford Road. A great contrast to the wide switchbacks of Valley Center Road, it goes by the historic Lake Wohlford Resort, whose restaurant is now open again, according to San Diego Union-Tribune auto editor Mark Maynard, who stopped there a few months back. Still full from the unfortunate Farmer Boys lunch, I didn’t stop.
Damage from brush fires in recent years is still eveident, but this spring, with lots of green growth, you’ve got to look hard to find it. Of course, you’ll notice the difference if you’ve been there before, but relax and take it as it is… beautiful.
Twisting through the back hills of Valley Center, Rincon and up to Lake Henshaw is material for other stories… but believe me that this is a beautiful drive. Resist the urge to stop at Bates Nut Farm, the Valley View and Harrah’s Rincon casinos — or stay overnight at the Harrah’s high-rise hotel.
Then there are the Lake Henshaw Resort, just before you turn, and the Hideout Steakhouse, where you turn to Mesa Grande Road. The Hideout is popular on the weekends with the Harley touring crowd and is worth a visit. The Henshaw resort has cabins.
Leaving SR-76 is where the drive really begins. Mesa Grande Road has been profied here a few times, most recently in 2007 when I tore around it in a Saturn Sky. Mesa Grande has just about anything a driving enthusiast would like… nice curves, not much traffic and great scenery. The Subaru Forester ate up the curves… not quite the WRX I tested last year, but as close as I’ve experienced in a grocery-getter SUV.
