Activities and Shopping

The Summit, at the top of South Grade at State Park Road is Palomar Mountains’ only commercial center. This small group of commercial buildings houses a small grocery store/gift shop, a café, a staffed US Post Office and public restroom facilities. Be aware…there are NO gas stations on Palomar Mountain, so be sure to fill up before your arrival.

Just two miles west on State Park Road (S-6) is Palomar Mountain State Park. With numerous hiking trails, nature walks and excellent camping facilities the park is a great place to visit. Within the park you will find Doane Pond. Doane Pond is a perfect place to take the kids fishing. Call the park to find out when they are stocking with trout. Visit the website for ranger scheduled activities.

Five miles from the lodge, northwest on Canfield Road the world famous Palomar Observatory offers a glimpse into the galaxies. Self guided Observatory tours are available daily and a visitor can see the Hubble Telescope and numerous photos of the far reaches of space. Curios and educational materials are available at the gift shop.

The Palomar Mountain General Store, only .7 mile from the lodge is the mountain’s only store. Don’t miss it. It offers a wide variety of unique gifts from around the world to include Tribal Art, Gems, Fossils and Crystals. You can pick up ice creams for the kids while Mom gets tempted by the gorgeous earrings or clothing. You will find some basic grocery items so you won’t starve. Next door to the store, Mother’s Kitchen serves an extensive menu of delicious vegetarian dishes. For your sweet tooth, they make amazing pies and cakes as well as shakes and malts. Visit their website for their menu and hours.

There are also several campgrounds on the mountain, and a county day use park for picnicking. You can buy wonderful free range grass fed beef or participate in day programs and cattle drives by calling Palomar Mountain Ranch. Owned by descendants of two of the first families on the mountain this ranch offers western experiences, horseback riding, and many cattle ranch experiences for flatlanders visiting the Mountain. The Bailey family run Bailey’s Palomar Resort, a country lodge with a number of rustic cabins.