Fletcher Point Peak

DISTANCE: 6 MILES
TIME: 3 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

My brother Byron was the first to tell me about this destination, which he accidentally discovered one day on a random hike out by Lake Hodges in Rancho Bernardo. He spoke of a beam of sunlight that came down out of the clouds upon an American flag on a hill on a peninsula out in the middle of the lake. I had to check it out for myself, so we went back on 11/20.

We started at the bottom of Duenda Rd. out by our house in the Westwood area of Rancho Bernardo. The first 1/2 mile of the hike was the commonly traveled dirt road leading out past the painted rocks near the Lake. After about 1/2 mile there is a big oak tree and a fork to a trail that heads down alongside the lake. The trail down to the lake is a single-track trail, and winds through a few spooky oak groves.

At about 1.5 miles, it becomes apparent that you have reached a segment of the trail that is not frequently traveled, and you may need to bushwack a little. Fortunately Byron, the experienced bushwacker, brought his machete. He wen't a little crazy though and probably overdid it, so you can thank him if the path is more clear for you than it was for us.

At times the trail is a bit difficult to follow, so keep an eye out for little orange flags that someone has placed on a branch every now and then to point the way of the trail. Parts of the trail meander on slippery rocks, while other parts of the trail are eroding, so be cautious. This isn't a strenuous trail, but there are plenty of obstacles, which is why I rated it a moderate.

Soon the elusive flag-topped peninsula will come into view as you enter the final stretch of the hike. About 1/2 mile before the flag the brush will disappear and you will hook a right to head out toward the point. From this point there really isn't much of a trail, so choose the path that looks clearest to you. It's a great feeling to reach the top of a hill surrounded by water on three sides and to stand next to "Old Glory" as it flaps in the wind.