It’s been one year since the Union-Tribune began the hike of the week series. So this week, I’m reflecting on the highlights of the journey so far. Over the course of 52 hikes, I’ve logged more than 100 miles, fully broken in my Danner boots and grown more enamored with San Diego County. I feel it in the moments when I stop to observe a coyote crossing the path or kneel to identify a flower species: a true gratitude for the region — something that can be forgotten if I spend too much time indoors in front of my computer. Being out there does a lot a good for me, as I suspect it does for many people. I’m excited to keep hiking and sharing my routes with readers. Do you have suggestions on where I should go next? Please share with me: [email protected]. Until then, here are my top 10 hikes from the past year. Coastal Trail Cabrillo National Monument is the epitome of beauty. This easy 1-mile walk along the monument’s western coastline takes visitors to tide pools and along a trail surrounded by coastal sage scrub and maritime chaparral plants. Read more here.  Crestridge Ecological Reserve Explore an adobe kiosk made of recycled materials and follow along with a “Storybook Hike,” a trail marked by chapters of a short story, at this East County nature preserve. Located near my hometown, Crestridge will always hold a special place in my heart. Read more here.  Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve I liked that this 3.5-mile hike begins and ends in a shady forest — and that it’s rumored to be haunted. My hike there was free from the paranormal, but it still made the hike exciting. Read more here. Hollenbeck Canyon Wildflower blooms go, well, wild here in the springtime, but Hollenbeck Canyon is nice throughout the year. The 5.5-mile journey traverses streams and climbs hillsides, plus passes through an old cattle ranch. Read more here. Iron Mountain This 6-miler is a classic San Diego hike for good reason. It packs just enough punch in its uphill climb and offers sweeping 360-degree views of the county, with an emphasis on the peaks of Cuyamaca Mountain and Mount Woodson. Read more here.  La Jolla Heights Open Space Hikers need to only walk about half a mile up a La Jolla mountainside to reach one of the best views in San Diego. This 1.3-mile round-trip trail is hidden within a quiet neighborhood and is steep, so you get a nice workout, too. Read more here. Marshal South Trail As a history buff, this Anza-Borrego Desert State Park hike was a delight from beginning to end. The roughly 2-mile trail climbs Ghost Mountain to the remnants of the home of Marshal South, who raised his family atop the 3,200-foot peak for more than a decade in the 1930s. Read more here. Mission Trails North Fortuna Perimeter Trail, the Oak Canyon Trail and the Grasslands Loop There are plenty of great routes in Mission Trails Regional Park and this easy 3-mile hike covers three of them. Mountain views, open prairie lands, oak trees and the San Diego River are all on display. Read more here. Mother Miguel Mountain I enjoyed the scenic variety on this tough 4-mile hike. Located in the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, it offers views from both sides of the mountain. At the peak, you can see as far as the Coronado Islands off the coast of Mexico. Read more here. Oakoasis County Preserve The San Vicente Reservoir sparkles in the distance from this well-marked 2.5-mile trail. There’s plenty of shade, so you can do this hike even in the warmer months. Read more here.