Adventure Guide

The lake is literally across the street from Hideout. It’s part of the local scenery and a great starting point for the day. Fish for bass or catfish (permits required), walk near the shoreline, or just enjoy the fact that you’re staying next to one of San Diego County’s few natural-feeling lakes.

A few miles down the road toward Julian, this conservation center is home to several packs of Mexican gray wolves. It’s a rare chance to see these animals up close and learn about efforts to reintroduce them to the wild.

Take the winding grade up Palomar Mountain for dense pine forests, meadows, and hiking trails that feel completely different from the lower elevations. Continue to the famous Palomar Observatory (check opening days) to see the massive 200-inch Hale Telescope.

Turn off Highway 79 and take Mesa Grande Road. It’s a beautifully winding, oak-canopied drive through historic cattle ranches and open country. No destinations, just a great road for motorcycles, windows-down driving or catching the sunset.

Hike to the summit of Volcan Mountain. It’s a moderately challenging climb through oak and pine woodland, but the reward is a massive view stretching from the desert to the coast on clear days.

Continue south beyond Julian into a huge landscape of oak woodland, meadows, mountain roads and miles of trails. This is the place for guests who want to turn a few hours outdoors into a full backcountry day.

Now this is cow country. Carrisito is a fourth-generation family cattle ranch in the Santa Ysabel Valley, offering locally raised beef, pork and other ranch products.

More than 7,000 trellised apple trees make this one of Julian's signature U-pick experiences. Because the apples grow at arm's height, little pickers can actually reach them.

Inside a restored blacksmith shop, artifacts tell the story of Julian's Native American heritage, pioneers, mining, ranching and everyday life from the late 1800s onward.

Leave Main Street behind and go underground into restored hard-rock mining tunnels dating to Julian's Gold Rush era. Mining equipment and exhibits help bring the 1870s story to life.

You can practically walk there. Burgers, drinks, motorcycles, music and plenty of backcountry personality make Hideout's neighbor an experience all its own.

Get the famous Julian pie experience before you even reach Julian. Grab a slice - or bring a whole pie back to Hideout and become everyone's favorite person.

A backcountry institution since 1963. Grab coffee, pastries, breakfast or one of Dudley's famous breads before heading toward Julian - or stock your Hideout kitchen for later.

Browse paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass and other work by regional artists surrounded by the same backcountry landscape that inspires much of it.

Settle into Julian Station and sample a rotating lineup of ciders in a relaxed indoor/outdoor setting. The surrounding shops and food options make this easy for groups even when not everyone is tasting.

Meet another side of Julian beyond mines and apple pie. The long-running Arts Guild brings together painters, photographers, sculptors, craftspeople, writers and other local creatives.