Heck, with Thanksgiving a whiff o'roasting bird away, we propose an option to walk off the insipid and obligatory poundage that is about to be added to our all too welcoming bodies. As fate would have it, in the midst of picking the topic, we actually thought for a moment that we heard the faint sounds of elves tinkering and tapping away in the North Pole.

There could only be one place in San Diego that we could come up with that would tie these two unlikely birds together: elves and exercise. This selection dwarfed other competing choices. Ladies and gentlemen, we present the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve or the Elfin Forest.

Like many things in San Diego, the names don't always accurately define the place. The Elfin Forest is not home to elves. Techinically, there is really no forest, either. What you'll find is wide open space. Space that opens up the soul, encourages walking/hiking, and takes you away from the urban drone of day to day life.

The Elfin Forest is considered magical to many of the environmental faithful. Landscaped with all the natural Southern California flora you can imagine, you'll find Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, and Riparian Oak Woodland along with Coast Live Oak, Arroyo Willow, Sycamore, Lemonade berry, and the list goes on. A botanist's nirvana.

Now that we know that elves don't live in these parts, we'll tell you what creatures do. If you take a good look around, you might spot Coyote, Bobcat, Mule Deer, Brush Rabbit, Gray Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, Striped Skunk, and umm.. the possibility of a Mountain Lion. Don't get your dander up about seeing Mountain Lions. Chances are they won't be the mane attraction.

If you like spiders and snakes, then you won't be scared out of your skin to see some. You will see the San Diego Horned Lizard, Southern Alligator Lizard, Western Fence Lizard, Rattle Snakes, (Red Diamond Back and Southern Pacific,) Coastal Rosy Boa, San Diego Gopher Snake, Garter Snake, and Striped Racers.

For those who have been looking for Jeremiah the Bullfrog since a song was written about him in the 70s, his type lives in harmony with the Western Toad, Pacific Tree Frog, and Garden Slender Salamanders - all in the Elfin Forest in Harmony Grove.

We have to answer the question everyone has. Why is it called the Elfin Forest? It's just a name given to reflect the type of low-lying vegetation found in Southern California. The chaparral-covered hills and oak woodlands are known as "elfin forest" and tend to be drought-resistant.

To some, this type of vegetation is ripe with wonder. To others, it is a big yawn. But, in Southern California, with threats of development everywhere we turn, open space is a commodity as rare as elves. The Elfin Forest, however, claims to be one of the largest areas of "virgin" coastal scrub in Southern California.

The area Indian tribes, including the Northern Diegueno, thought of the land in the Elfin Forest as Peace Grounds with good, good vibrations all around. As far as we're concered, that's good enough reason to go. While there is more local history attached to this geographic location, we'll point out that the area was part of the Butterfield route. Locally, fires, floods and developer interests have put Elfin Forest on the defense for decades. It still remains a special place with 750-acres of land to be explored.

If you want to be on the right trail or any trail at all, you have to begin on The Way Up Trail. This is a trail that you can shake a stick at. In other words, you might consider grabbing a stick. You can sometimes find one in a box at the beginning of the trail. How bad is it? Kids manage. You can do it. It is a 1.5-mile uphill trek - with the assistance of switchbacks.

Elfin Forest

Need an excuse to stop along the way? You'll find plenty of places as you take in the views. The Way Up Trail leads to the 12 other trails including a trail that continues on beyond the top of The Way Up Trail, 9-miles or so, over to Lake Hodges. Yep. We said 9-miles more. Better you than us. If you lean toward less is more, just go a bit more, about .75-mile and stop at the Lake Hodges Overlook Trail loop. On a clear day, if you want a 360-degree panoramic view, head to the Elfin Forest Overlook which tops out at over 1300 ft.

Once you get to the top of The Way Up Trail, you'll find a picnic area complete with water and 'necessities.' As always, take good shoes, lots of water, a hat, sunscreen, and pack a lunch. Again, don't let the word forest lead you to believe that there will be oodles of trees to take a leisurely nap under the open sky. In this case, you not only can't see the forest through the trees, but you won't see many trees at all.

As you start to thinking about your Thanksgiving feast, you can balance that culinary excitement knowing there's a place you walk it all off. Be grateful that we still have these beautiful places that dot the American landscape. If we use them and demonstrate how important it is that we have open space for families and individuals to appreciate nature, maybe we can save these precious resources from becoming extinct.

The Elfin Forest Reserve is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 30-45 minutes before sunset. It is open every day of the year except Christmas Day and rainy days. Parking lot gates are locked at closing time. You can only enter/exit the park through the Harmony Grove Staging Area.

Directions:

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
1966 Olivenhain Rd.
Encinitas
(760) 753-6466

From the I-15 freeway in Escondido, take the Auto Pkwy exit.
Proceed to 9th Avenue.
Turn Left on to 9th Avenue.
After you cross the Valley Parkway intersection, the road bends sharply to the left and the road becomes Hale.
Proceed on Hale to Harmony Grove Road and turn right.
Make the first two Lefts to stay on Harmony Grove Road (otherwise you will be on Enterprise or Kauana Loa).
Once you have made these two left turns, the Elfiin Forest Recreational Reserve will be approximately 3 miles on the left.

Map-Elfin Forest