Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Hike

In This Guide	Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Hike How to Get to the Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Hike Insider Tips and Recommendations
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
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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.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 40 — Look for the Doane Pond Day Use Area turnoff.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 41 — The parking lot is massive.

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.

Stay Safe Out of Cell Phone Range
If you’re not familiar with the Garmin InReach technology, it allows you to send and receive text messages where you don’t have cell phone signals. You can also get weather reports and trigger an SOS to emergency responders. Even if you don’t have an emergency, sending a quick message telling a loved one that you’re okay or are running late is well worth the cost. The Garmin InReach Mini (REI | Amazon | My Review) fits in your palm and weighs next to nothing.

Altra Lone Peak 5
For most people, the Altra Lone Peak is a solid choice that will leave your feet feeling great at the end of any hike. The feel is cushy and light, and if it had a car equivalent, this would be a Cadillac or Mercedes Sedan. The grip is great and they’re reasonably durable for this type of trail runner, which I think is better in most conditions than a hiking boot, and here’s why. The downside of this shoe is that it won’t last as long as something like the Moab 2 (see alternate footwear choices at the bottom of my gear page). I’ve been using mine for many miles and my feet always feel great. Watch my video explaining why they are a great shoe here.
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Latest Price on Women’s Shoe
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Latest Price on Men’s Shoe
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Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
I’ve gone back and forth on trekking poles, but I think for most people they are a good investment. They help you dig in on the uphills, provide stability on loose downhills, act as a brace when crossing streams, and can probably poke away aggressive wildlife in a pinch. The Trail Ergo Cork poles are a good balance of light weight, durability, affordability, and ease of use. If you want something ultralight and a little more pricey, I’ve had great luck with the Black Diamond Z Poles too.
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Latest Price
REI | Amazon

Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated October 2021.

My October 2021 Top Gear Picks

No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps keep the website ad and promotion free. There is no cost to you.

Lower Doane Valley and French Valley Trail Maps

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 37 — There are unofficial trails in the meadow area of the hike. Stay on the official trail (as described here) and respect the restoration.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 38 — The very beginning and end of the hike are on the Doane Valley Nature Trail, which has interpretive displays along the way. You can download the PDF to follow along here.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 39 — On the second half of the hike you’ll see evidence of the massive 2007 Poomacha Fire, which destroyed 65% of the park. It was started when a vehicle fire spread into the surrounding vegetation.

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 CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

If you try to download the GPX file and your browser adds a “.txt” or “.xml” extension to it, simply rename it as a “.gpx” file.

How Are You Going to Navigate This Hike?
If you are a hardcore hiker and/or hike in extreme conditions, I recommend getting a dedicated GPS like a GPSMAP 66sr or 66i, or a wrist-based GPS with maps like the Garmin Fenix 6. If you only hike in fair weather and a touchscreen is fine, or just want a solid tool, I highly recommend downloading the smartphone app, Gaia GPS. It’s a piece of cake to use and very powerful, just make sure your phone is in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get a big discount here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.

3D Map

Who’s Doane?

George Edwin Doane 2 — Here’s George Edwin Doane (1851-1929) in his namesake valley, around 1904.

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

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 42 — There are two trailheads at the parking lot. Take the smaller one on the right.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 43 — Here’s what the trailhead looks like up close.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 44 — Our first stop will be the weir in 1.2 miles.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 45 — Right at the beginning the trail crosses the road that you came in on.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 46 — There’s a short downhill.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 47 — And then you are plunged onto a lush trail following Doane Creek. It doesn’t feel like you are anywhere near San Diego.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 48 — You’ll hike under huge pines, cedars, and oaks as the trail follows the creek.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 49 — At the junction with the Weir Trail, make the left and climb the stairs.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 50 — Here’s the sign from the last junction. 0.9 miles to the weir.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 51 — The trail has the same feel as it did before, continuing along the creek.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 52 — I love this primitive bench along the trail.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 53 — Right after the bench, the Baptist Trail joins from the left. Keep straight.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 54 — And then you’ll get glimpses of the meadow in Lower Doane Valley.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 55 — The trail crosses the creek and then splits. Take the left to visit the weir. We’ll come back here after visiting the weir to continue on the loop.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 56 — There’s a trail marker for the Weir Trail.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 57 — And then it gets very overgrown. This trail doesn’t see a ton of traffic.

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.

Doane Valley French Valley Hike Directions 58 — After a short while you reach the weir, where Pauma Creek joins Doan Creek.

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.