Sippy-cup day hike

On a warm Sunday at dawn in midwinter, I have a couple of reasons to look forward to hiking Daley Ranch, an area hiding in the coastal foothills above Escondido in north San Diego County.

There’s the head-clearing, 100-mile commute down the stunningly empty 5 Freeway with lukewarm coffee and two bananas. There’s the promising report from Carrie Hammond, a Daley Ranch regular and adventure race competitor based in nearby Vista, that “the southern flank of the park is recovering nicely after being burned in the October 2003 fires.”

There’s the novelty factor. Before receiving that report, I’d never heard of this 3,058-acre preserve -- a haven for local hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian types -- that had been spared from a large housing project in 1996 when the city of Escondido purchased it.

The biggest draw of all is the company. My 3 1/2 -year-old son, Jackson, has generously agreed to join me. So have Carrie and her 18-month-old son, Burke. So have Nico and Kellen, a sprightly pair of 4-year-old identical twins, who’ve brought along their father Terry and grandfather Fred to even out the toddler-to-adult ratio.

After a round of hand shaking and fidgeting in the ranch’s parking lot, the eight of us settle on the popular Ranch House Loop -- a PG-rated, 1.5-mile hike to the park’s historic ranch house. From there, a free shuttle (Sundays only) can whisk us the final mile back to the parking lot if need be. Hiking with four little men whose collective age is 13 should take anywhere from a couple of hours to several months.

A few yards in, Burke takes a little tumble and retires to Carrie’s back with a biscuit.

Half a minute later, Jackson’s ready for a water break. Shortly after that, it’s time to pee.

“Keep an eye out for tarantulas, guys,” says Terry. His boys lead us up Creek Crossing Trail, a good-sized hill (if you’re 4) along the park’s southern rim filled with flora signs identifying a number of indigenous plants.

“California buckwheat,” says Kellen, sounding it out with help from the adults.

“Giant needlegrass,” ups Nico.

“Bush monkeyflowers,” retorts Kellen.

“Our Lord’s candle,” volleys Nico.

“What’s that?” chimes in Jackson, entering the game by pointing to a fresh pile of horse dung by the side of the trail.

Colorful observations, precocious sign readings and frequent sippy-cup stops continue. A pair of hawks circle far below over glimmering Dixon Lake. A bobcat print and then a hyena print (which may just be the work of a terrier) are around the next bend on the gentle East Ridge Trail where a purple-blue symphony of ceanothus (also called California lilac) is still in its first movement, poking above hills coated in boulders and chaparral. Soon the landscape around here will be completely alive with color.

Some horses trot by, stopping to let us pat them. Then an 80-year-old man decked out in spandex pumps past us on his mountain bike with friendly greetings.

“Everyone really gets along here,” says Carrie, who’s ridden her mountain bike on most of the park’s 20 miles of trails. The northern, canyon end of the park is one of her favorite spots. “There’s a huge hill up there where most people opt out,” she says. “But if you make it up you’re in these gorgeous groves of Engelmann oaks and sycamores.”

Today we’re just pushing for the ranch house -- and it looks like we’re going to make it. Jackson’s on my shoulders. Burke is again on Carrie’s back. Terry’s doing double duty with Nico in his arms and Kellen on his back (or is it the other way around?).

We pass a mirrored pond with a few mallards on it. Out come the binoculars, the latest of many reminders from the younger generation to stop and savor the moment. Even ducks can thrill.

Back at the lot, someone’s actually waiting for my parking space and crowds are gathering to join a number of docent-led nature tours. Jackson and I will surely be back early one Sunday morning to see the ducks and bobcat prints and horse droppings long before the others arrive.

The particulars

Where: Daley Ranch, northeast of Escondido in north San Diego County. It’s open from dawn to dusk every day; no entry fee.

What: The Ranch House loop is 2.5 miles with a mild elevation gain of about 100 feet. Shave off a mile on Sunday when a free shuttle service runs between the main parking lot and the ranch house every half-hour.

How: Take the 5 Freeway south from Los Angeles to the Oceanside/Carlsbad area and exit onto Highway 78 east to Interstate 15 north. Exit the freeway at the El Norte Parkway and go east about four miles to La Honda Drive (look for the Dixon Lake and Daley Ranch signs). Follow La Honda Drive up the hill to the Daley Ranch parking lot on the left.