Penasquitos Canyon Preserve is another local park in San Diego that allows you to momentarily step out of the urban sprawl and catch a glimpse of what the area may have looked like before all the development plowed it under. This hike is less of an escape from civilization than Mission Trails, because the canyon you are walking through has houses and other buildings all along it's rim, peering down at you as you hike.

The tiny little river that runs through this canyon has never-the-less carved an impressive path through the ancient rock.

Three miles in is a nice little waterfall, with some lovely rocks that are awesome to sit and relax on. The whole trail is 6 miles long, but since it isn't a loop, we hiked the 3 miles to the waterfall and then turned back.

NATURE!!
As to be expected, there were plenty of bugs and plants and such to take photos of. On our first hike, I'd noticed a little brown caterpillar in the path, but my photos of it didn't turn out so well. Never fear, because this trail was littered with millions of these little buggars.

So I was able to get some decent shots of them.

And some other bug.

And, of course, the usual flowers.

We even happened upon an adorable little field mouse. We nicknamed this guy “Despereaux” because of his lack of fear. He let me get right up close to him with my camera. He turned away and acted all shy, but he wasn't running.