After a week of election-fueled stress, take a short break from the television, computer and phone screens with a walk at a community park.
Hillside Park, part the Hillside Recreation Center in El Cajon, has a small, but sweet, network of paved and dirt paths. Visitors will also find a large grass field, a play set for children, picnic benches and restrooms, making it a nice place to bring the family.
I meandered for half an hour, completing about 1.3 miles around the upper section of the park.
It reminded me of a local campground and brought me the kind of peace I usually feel while camping, which I was grateful for this week. If you try this walk, consider taking a rest on one of the benches along the path and breathe in the fragrant smell of pine and eucalyptus trees.
The Hillside Recreation Center is off Fletcher Parkway, on Buena Terrace, west of North Marshall Avenue. There are two parking lots: one closer to the main recreation center and another just beyond it to the west. Park at the second lot, which is closer to the trails.
With few route options, there aren’t many ways to go wrong with this walk, so don’t feel compelled to follow my exact route. For me, this week’s hike was more of an easy exploration of a new place.
From my car, I began by walking on the dirt path on the southwest side of the children’s playset.
Walk a little less than 200 yards before coming to two paths — one going up the hillside and another that leads through the trees — and take the flat tree-lined route.
Hikers will walk along the wide dirt trail before coming to a wooden bridge. Cross it, then climb up a quick hill to reach the paved path.
Head west, where you’ll come to another intersection. Here, I decided to take the road leading to the right, up a gradual hill.
The path runs parallel to Fletcher Parkway but is first tucked in the trees, so hikers aren’t bothered by the traffic. But soon the path becomes more like a sidewalk — running directly alongside the busy road — so I decided to turn around.
This time, when I reached the second intersection, I continued east. A few benches are located along the pleasant path.
I walked until I reached a fence marking the end of the route. At this point, I’d gone about 0.8 miles. To return, simply retrace your steps.
