This blog will detail 1,000 video hikes in Southern California. By Southern California, I am drawing a line from San Luis Obispo to the Nevada Border. Anything south of that line will be declared "Southern California". In a way, it is a personal challenge to do so many hikes. Mainly, however, it is my way of showcasing how many hiking opportunities there really are right in our own geographic back yard. As a blog, it serves as a companion piece to my Youtube channel "Mike On The Trail". It is also a work in progress, as I don't actually have 1,000 edited videos completed. This will take effort for quite some time before it is declared done. Even then, there will still be more out there. Here's to hiking and all the positive effects it has had on my life...and possibly yours!
***There is a fee to park at the end of the road here, so I parked in the free lot just off Hidden Springs Dr.
Heading up the trail.
Box Springs Mountain Park is a place I had hiked several times over the years. One thing I never did was access it from the east side in Moreno Valley. There is an established trailhead known as "The M Trail". The trail works its way into the hills before connecting with a lower ridge leading toward the big painted "M" on the side of the mountain. It is a very prominent point, which is seen all throughout Moreno Valley and into the Inland Empire. The trail climbs steeply next to the "M" to the top of the peak, which had a building and radio towers.
Approaching the "M".
Just beyond the first peak is the true high point known as Box Springs Mountain. I continued to it in order to make the climb complete. This also served as my turnaround point. I could have simply returned the same way, but I wanted to add a little variety. So I picked up a trail going off the NE slope which was actually labeled as "The M Trail". This route leads down the NE slope and bypasses the actual "M". As it eventually lead back to the trail I came in on, I used the familiar trail the rest of the way down.
Reaching the "M".
While visiting, I experience more than expected wildlife sightings. At the trailhead, I saw a herd of wild burrows in the field. On the way up the trail, I spotted a large raptor on a boulder above the trail (probably the biggest I ever seen). Not sure if it was an eagle, but I took a photo, so I can possibly figure it out later. A great day in the Inland Empire!
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