Nate Harrison Grade Trail Guide
Nate Harrison Grade Trail is a gravel and dirt truck trail in San Diego County that winds from Pauma Valley to the top of Palomar Mountain.
The steep 9.5-mile road, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, is popular among off-roading and overlanding enthusiasts, mountain bikers, and hikers (to a lesser extent).
Trail Details
- Trail type: Out-and-back or point-to-point
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 9.5 miles end-to-end
- Elevation gain and loss: 4,524 feet, -260 feet
- Trailhead Coordinates: 33.31590904, -116.99056386
- Location: Palomar Mountain
- Season: Year-round
Getting to Nate Harrison Grade
Nate Harrison Grade is located a couple of hours from both San Diego and the Los Angeles/Inland Empire.
From the north, take exit 46 off I-15 for CA-76 toward Pala/Oceanside. Go 13 miles and turn left on Nate Harrison Grade.
From the south, take I-15 N to E Via Rancho Pkwy in Escondido, and get off at exit 27. Take a right at Via Rancho Pkwy, and continue on to Bear Valley Pkwy. After 5.8 miles, turn right onto E Valley Pkwy. After around 7 miles, turn left onto Cole Grade Rd. After 7.9 miles, turn right onto CA-76. Nate Harrison Grade will be on your left in less than a quarter mile.
The Trail
The bottom entrance to Nate Harrison Grade is located in Pauma Valley, west of Palomar Mountain. The road starts from Highway 76 and travels through orange groves before beginning to climb (GPS: 33.31580706, -116.99061544).
The road ascends 4,600 feet over 9.5 miles at an average grade of 8 percent, with some sections much steeper than that.
Our video guide will give you good idea of what the road looks like:
At the top, the road ends at the intersection of five different roads, including Doane Valley Road and Route S7, near the ranger station and entrance for Palomar Mountain State Park.
If the road conditions are good, it should take you around 30 to 45 minutes to get to the top, not including any stops along the way.
If you’re looking to explore the top of the mountain some more, you can make a sharp right at the intersection with Doane Valley Road and drive up to Boucher Hill Summit View Deck and Historic Boucher Hill Fire Tower. These both offer terrific views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
If you’re looking to get in a hike, Boucher Hill Loop Trail also starts at this intersection and will bring you to the fire tower and summit view deck after about a mile of hiking.
About Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is located about 30 miles inland from Oceanside, California, about an hour and a half drive northeast of San Diego or two and a half hours southeast of Los Angeles.
The area offers camping, hiking, stargazing, and other outdoor adventures in a rugged alpine landscape that contrasts starkly with the Mediterranean climate found at lower altitudes nearby.
The area comprises Palomar Mountain State Park, managed by California State Parks, as well portions of Cleveland National Forest, managed by the United States Forest Service. Two of the area’s campgrounds are managed by California State Parks and three by the U.S. Forest Service.
For more information on the area’s campgrounds, check out our guide to Palomar Mountain camping. For cabins, yurts and glamping tents, take a look at Bailey’s Palomar Resort.
For more information on off-roading in the region, check out our guide to San Diego off-road trails.
Other Trails
If you are looking for other San Diego off-road trails, check out the guides below:
