Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Hike
In This Guide |
|
Total Distance (?) | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) |
Hike Time | 2 Hours (Total) |
Difficulty (?) | Easy |
Total Ascent (?) | 630 feet (192m) |
Highest Elevation | 4,670 feet (1423m) |
Fees & Permits | Entry Fee |
Dogs Allowed | No |
Alerts & Closures (?) | Palomar Mountain State Park |
Park Phone | 760-742-3462 |
Weather & Forecast | Latest Conditions |
Stay Safe | Copy this webpage link to the clipobard and share with a friend before you hike. Let them know when to expect you back. |
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The hike through Lower Doane Valley and French Valley at Palomar Mountain State Park is a gem; every twist and turn offers something natural and beautiful. You’ll follow the lush Doane Creek, hike through groves of giant trees, across mountain meadows, visit a historic weir, and find a hidden pool of French Creek. There are ups and downs, but no big mountain climbs on this short 4 mile hike.
Doane is pronounced doe-n.
Where is the Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Hike?
The hike is located in Palomar Mountain SP. Drive into the park and follow the signs for Doane Pond. There’s also a (private) retreat by the pond that might be more GPS-friendly. Use this trailhead address:
Camp Palomar, 34798 Doane Valley Rd, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060
There is an entry fee to enter Palomar Mountain State Park.


Gear For the Hike
While not long, this is a hike through the backcountry. The trail is overgrown in places; having long pants will protect your legs. In the summer, insects can be intense, bring repellant. And in the winter, this can all be covered with snow. Check the weather before you go.
Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Trail Maps



The trails on this hike are relatively easy to follow, and there are trail markers and signs along the way. That said, some maps include trails that are no longer there or that are closed for restoration. Following the maps from this guide will keep you on the official trails. There’s also a handy map that the park gives out that’s worth saving on your phone.
Explore Map on CalTopoView a Printable PDF Hike MapDownload the Hike GPX File
3D Map

Who’s Doane?

- Doane’s forefathers were one among the first English settlers, arriving in Plymouth in 1630, just 10 years after the Mayflower first landed.
- Originally from the San Jose area, George Edwin Doane lived several years around San Diego before getting a homestead for the valley in 1885.
- In 1894 Doane started advertising for campers on his property. The fee was $0.15 a night.
- Known to be social and humorous, Doane became as much as an attraction as the beautiful surroundings. He would host bonfires, tell stories of mountain life, and bake cakes and treats.
- And now the not so charming part. In 1904, at the age of 53, he married a 16 year old from Texas that he met through a matrimonial magazine (yes, a mail order bride). The marriage lasted ten years before divorce. Shortly after that, Doane was arrested on charges of raping a 12 year old girl. The charges were dropped after Doane paid the girl $1500 cash.
- With his reputation tarnished, Doane moved to a town by the Mexican border, then traveled to South America, where he planned on staying. He lasted a few months before sailing back the USA, this time to New York City.
- Doane became the celebrity mountain man in New York, with his long beard and wilderness pedigree. He was interviewed in several newspapers and well-known.
- From there, it’s a bit anti-climatic. Doane lived in New Mexico, and then passed away at the age of 78 in the area where he was born, San Jose, of pneumonia.
Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Hike Directions
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Video Directions
Turn by Turn Directions
















Keep your eyes open for banana slugs along the water and rocks. They are found widely in the Pacific Northwest down to the Sierras, but not in SoCal, except in this isolated pocket of Palomar State Park. This moist area is a good spot to catch a glimpse of one.

The weir (a low or small dam) and the building, which is called a gauging station, were built in the early 1900 hundreds. They were built by Pacific Light and Power Company to determine if there was enough water flow to support a hydroelectric generator and reservoir in Doane Valley. The power station would provide electric power for trains in the lowlands. It never happened.







French Valley is named after Hubert and Jean Baptiste Foussat, homesteaders and sheep farmers who lived here in the 1880s.



















This guide last updated on May 18, 2022. Did something change on this hike? If so, please contact me and let me know. I'll update the guide.