Riding Palomar Mountain with DROC
Palomar Mountain is the one that separates a good day from a long one. South Grade Road climbs the mountain in a series of tight switchbacks that riders come from across Southern California to ride, and DROC keeps five different route plans that include it.
It is rarely the whole ride. Palomar pairs with Ortega on the way down, and with Julian, Borrego Springs or Mesa Grande on the way back, which is how a four-hour day becomes five and a half.
Worth knowing
- The switchbacks on South Grade reward patience, not speed. It is a popular road and you will meet traffic.
- Mother’s Kitchen at the top is the traditional stop.
- Cold at the summit even when the coast is warm. Layer for the descent.
Route plans
These are the actual route plans DROC has used, with the map for each. Ride leaders pick from these rather than inventing a route every time, which is why the same roads come up again: they work. Nothing stops you riding them on your own.
| Route | Length | Hours | Last ridden | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ortega, Palomar, Julian, Mesa Grande, HWY 78 | Full day | 5 | March 2025 | Route |
| Ortega, Palomar, Borrego, Julian, HWY 78 | Full day | 5.5 | May 2023 | Route |
| Palomar, HWY 79, Borrego, Julian, HWY 78 | Full day | 5.5 | February 2024 | Route |
| Ortega, Palomar | Full day | 4 | June 2024 | Route |
| Ortega, Palomar, Julian Pie company, Mesa Grande, HWY 78 | Full day | 4.5 | March 2025 | Route |
The route library has no date against that variant. Shown instead is the most recent DROC ride in the area, Ride to Ortega + Palomar + Julian March 2025.
Ride it with us
Ground rules and hand signals are on the rides page.