San Mateo Trail provides some of the finest day and overnight hiking trips in the wilderness. The best times of the year are fall, winter and spring.

San Mateo Trail is a short 2-mile downhill hike above and along San Mateo Canyon Creek bringing you to Fisherman's Camp, a broad grassy area under the oaks. Three trails meet at Fisherman's Camp (San Mateo Trail, Tenaja Trail and Tenaja Falls Trail)... great for a shuttle trip. San Mateo Canyon continues another 9.3 miles beyond the junction and you will find grassy stretches, cool creekside oak and sycamore woodlands, and broad open areas. This trail provides some of the finest day and overnight hiking trips in the wilderness. The best times of the year are fall, winter and spring.

Directions: From Temecula, CA, Travel Interstate 15 to the Clinton Keith Road exit and go west, then south on Tenaja Road for a total of 9.9 miles. Turn right on Rancho California Road (FS 7S01). Continue 5 miles to trailhead.

Distance: 8.3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

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