Of the more than 60 miles of trails in Mission Trails Regional Park, those at West Sycamore may be less likely to be on your radar than some of the park’s more popular routes, such as up Cowles Mountain and the Grasslands Loop. But it’s worth it to try out these trails, preferably on a cool morning or evening. West Sycamore is a 7-mile trail network located in the northern section of the park, northeast of Scripps Ranch and adjacent to the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch County Preserve. Rolling hills make up most of the terrain, and much of the roughly 2-mile out-and-back hike was flat and easy. There were, however, a few steep sections that could be categorized as moderate-to-strenuous hiking. All the while, hikers are surrounded by native chaparral vegetation. The entrance to West Sycamore, from Stonebridge Parkway. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune) The hike offers big views of nearby mountains, including Iron Mountain and Mount Woodson in the distance, but the trail experience itself on a warm September afternoon was subpar. There is no shade and the route isn’t varied, plus much of the vegetation was naturally dry from the summer. I’ll plan to return to this path for a fall or winter hike, since it’s straightforward and accessible — and probably much more beautiful after some rain. There are several trailheads for West Sycamore, but I began at the one on Stonebridge Parkway. There is a large parking lot here, along with a portable toilet and an information kiosk. I started along the wide trail on the northern side of the lot. Around the half mile mark, hikers will come to a path on the left, the Stonebridge Connector Trail. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune) The trail meanders for about half a mile before coming to the first hill. About halfway up, hikers will see a path on the left, the Stonebridge Connector Trail, marked with a sign. I took the 0.1-mile path, reaching the Stonebridge Trail, before heading right — or south — up toward the Overlook South Trail. Once there, I proceeded left, toward the Goodan Ranch Overlook Trail. Here, hikers can make a decision: either walk down the very steep and rocky hill to the overlook, or stay and admire the view from where they are, at about the 0.8 mile mark. For research purposes, I continued to the overlook — only 0.2 miles farther — but admittedly, I could have skipped it. The view from above, near where the Overlook South Trail meets the Goodan Ranch Overlook Trail, was much more impressive and expansive. After this, I chose to walk back to my car along the same path. The view from the intersection of the Overlook South Trail and Goodan Ranch Overlook Trail. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)