What is Diego Henge? - A Trip to See San Diego's Stonehenge

[@DefensisIndus]

As a Wildland firefighter in SD, cutting brush out in those Mediterranean like hillsides, there is nothing but hidden gems and secrets. I believe that's always been San Diego's style though, very mystical and hidden, even out in the dry hillsides. Gotta love my city ⛪🚢

[@laurahampton714]

I've been out to Diego Henge multiple times and have to agree with the mystical and hidden nature of the place. The land feels ancient and there is something really special about it, it's a shame it is being developed. Really appreciate your video so I have the memories of it, the cumulonimbus cloud in the background of your drone footage is stunning!

[@benkanobe7500]

The drone video saved this one! Thanks for having it and making this a fun to watch adventure

[@iansutton3176]

Hi Steve, love the quality of your videos, please keep up the good work, all the very best from Australia.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you.

[@davidanderson5432]

Probably just kids who played their always called it that. We named every rock in the hills behind my childhood home in El Cajon. Thanks for the memories!

[@michaelsimonds2632]

Hahaha! Wonderful, Mr. Adventures! I love that area. In the late 50's & early 60's I drove highway 94 between Chula Vista and Campo probably over 100 times each year with my surveyor father, but "Diegohenge" never jumped out at me. Over 70 years in this area and I still learn about cool places from your videos. Thanks!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Its a great drive. Lots of cool stuff near Campo too.

[@SpanishEclectic]

For a number of years we camped every Memorial Day weekend at Potrero, which is out that way. We'd eat on Friday nite at the Barrett Cafe. An interesting area. As a small child my parents would drive us up the old 395 to Poway to visit Mom's Aunt. It seemed very far from home (South Clairemont), and I was always fascinated by the boulders everywhere. I don't recall ever seeing so many vertical ones, as you've shown us in this 'Henge.

[@boboneill4828]

I literally LOL’d when you panned over to Diego Henge! Thank you!

[@Steve-ow4jt]

This is another one of those times when the trip is more about the journey, and less about the actual destination. It was cooler looking from the drone shot, but the scenery on the way there was certainly far more impressive.

[@TheStuport]

Crazy how Diego Henge has gone "un-noticed" for so many years! Being on private property definitely will keep the Tourists away!🤣 Those Finger Stones were gnarly to see too! Very cool that you were able to discover this Steve and you nailed it about how cool it is to discover hidden treasures right in our own "backyard"! Best part for us Fans is this trip gives you ammo to come back and see some of the neat places on 95 in the future! I thought I saw a partial foundation from a previous structure up there as well @ 3:45 and was curious what this might have been?! Also appears to be a turquoise tank of sorts off to the right by a huge hedge! Love hanging out with The Sidetrack Adventure Posse! Cheers From COW-lumbus, Ohio MOO To All👋

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I couldn't tell if the foundation is for something that was there, or if it was for something being built there now. Maybe a visitor center haha

[@straybullitt]

It looked like a retaining wall built to create a level parking area. There were some other structures that appeared to be gable roofs laying on the ground. The work looked fairly recent judging by the tire tracks.

[@georgemccoy219]

Great video as always. You really do put great research into your work. At about 4:00 in your video, there is a huge rock on the mountain in the background that caught my attention. Even more impressive than the Diego Henge. Beautiful shot from the drone. Thanks for sharing!!

[@MasonObscura]

Google Maps is both a blessing and a curse. I've spent an embarrassing amount of time on it myself...

[@jeff7.629]

You too?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah, there is so much strange stuff marked on it, then sometimes you find something interesting that isn't marked.

[@lgd4247]

Me too.

[@pamhernandez397]

Thank you for all you do ❤️

[@ramong2277]

Steve, your a gem, making something interesting out of something barely there! Thanks for another adventure.. 🤙👍

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you!

[@mutantryeff]

I liked seeing the footage of the drive.

[@1customermaniac]

1:24 to 1:26 gotta go back and do a video on the eagle effigy... 😉

[@1customermaniac]

I lived on Deerhorn Valley Rd right there. Should check out Singing Hills of Sycuan too

[@joevostoch8768]

San Diego has at least one of everything! Looks like the property owner is building a visitors center too! You might want to check out Utah's Stonehenge for an upcoming video. I have finished watching all 189 of your videos. Impressive body of work.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks, I appreciate all the support. I'll have to look into Utah's Stonehenge. My sister-in-law moved there recently so I suspect it wont be too long before we are in Utah again.

[@Barley150]

Hey Steve -- That was fun. Thanks for keeping us informed about all things San Diegan. --charlie, sacramento

[@StokedToker]

Love watching your videos, keep up the good work, and thanks!

[@ME-qr2kq]

Man I was just out that way last weekend and would checked it out had I even known it was there lol

[@JasmineApple]

LOL!!! Your narration was cracking me up! The dramatic reveal! Who put it on Google Maps and why? You definitely made my day a little brighter Glad you had the drone -- it was great to see it from above. But I agree, not gonna compete with Sea World as a destination this year, and maybe not even next year. Good video!

[@boomtownrat5106]

Thanks, Steve, for investigating the mystery that is Diego Henge. I can rest tonight knowing this mystery is done and solved. 🤭 All kidding aside, I love Hwy 94. Look forward to a more comprehensive exploration. Have you investigated the other ‘Henge’ down in La Jolla? Scrippshenge. A phenomena that happens twice during the summer, the setting sun dips toward the horizon, it lines up perfectly between the support beams of the Scripps Pier in La Jolla. I read about this last year and wondered if you have seen this?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I haven't seen it but it came up when I was searching for any info on Diego Henge.

[@renoholland7090]

Thanks Steve. Great video, as always.

[@deborahm6036]

Thanks for taking us along. Love your videos!

[@jacquecaeser9078]

You’re videos are well done and very informative and enjoyable.

[@JeffGloverArts]

Love it, but can't wait for the HWY 94 video!! That's a trip I can see taking myself! Thank you!

[@curtiscroulet8715]

I did not find this marked in Google Maps or Google Earth. However, looking at the maps you posted in the video, it appeared to me that it was on Deerhorn Valley Rd, and so it proved to be. Decades ago, my wife and I took numerous excursions on Deerhorn Valley Rd. We never noticed this.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I think it was removed after the video went up.

[@oneeyedjack8525]

The destination is always worth the drive.

[@charleshaggard4341]

With the drone view, it looks like a building foundation is started. I look forward to traveling the whole road with you in the future.

[@Just__a_Guy]

Just moved away from SD but still a huge fan of the content Steve! Keep it coming!

[@nesleinf]

That'a what I like about you. You don't let anything go unnoticed 🙂 Love from Denmark

[@heyoldman2003]

Diego Henge Rocks … hahaha thank you for taking us along … love your adventures Steve . 👍🏼

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you like them!

[@conniewojahn6445]

Maybe not a spectacular tourist attraction, but a very interesting formation of rocks in an interesting area. Perhaps one day the property owner will open the hill up for tourists? Probably not because no one would want to pay an entrance fee to see more than what can be seen from the road. What it needs to draw in tourists is a legend or prehistoric story. Round up some geologists and archeologists and add some Native American lore and history. More people than me might find this interesting enough to pay a fee and get up close. Thanks for showing us. I think it was well worth the trip.

[@davidmclaughlin2796]

I loved that video Steve, thanks. They look a lot like the standing stones in Ireland to me. David

[@MichaelTitera]

Looking forward to your Highway 94 episode! 😁

[@Dadzilla2]

This is real cool. Would of been great if you could gotten permission to go up there, but I get it. Just watched your video also on on Cajun, that was great, just right around the corner almost from me in Crestline. There is so much to explore here in California. An here I am freshly retired looking for things to do and see. Thanks for sharing.

[@ronb4633]

Thanks for your coverage, Steve, I think you have sufficiently satisfied in curiosity I may have to want to drive there. 😅

[@susanherman3707]

Thanks Steve, I always love your adventures. I love the San Diego area and anytime there is something to see off the beaten path, it is worth seeing. The rock formations from El Centro up the hill and into San Diego are amazing, even from I 8!!

[@ChrisW-17]

I agree! That area around Mountain Spring and Jacumba was always my favorite part of the drive between SD and Yuma.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah. Thats one of the best parts of the Desert View Tower is climbing around on some of those rocks.

[@SantosChronicles]

This is amazing. My type of stop. We are headed to San Diego next month and I’m adding this to the list. Also saw your drive to the bottom of Grand Canyon. Love your format and the places you visit!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks. I appreciate it. If you need anymore ideas for off the beaten path places in San Diego shoot me an e-mail. Happy to help.

[@paulsmodels]

This reminds me of the Alabama Hills outside of Lone Pine, California. You should check it out sometime! There are some amazing rock formations there, and it's the site of many movie making sets.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Recently I was talking about the Alabama Hills and movies that were filmed there and I mentioned the Lone Ranger and my son says "what's a Lone Ranger?"

[@mtbjoser]

Cool video, thanks for sharing! I subscribed, nice channel

[@jens.9155]

The cloud formation in the background looked like and Angel. Interesting rock placements.❤

[@RobertPoteet-ro8bm]

As much time as I've spent in San Diego. I never heard of Diego Rocks. Thank you !

[@rolfathan]

Thank you for letting me know how just alright this one is. Someone told me about it, and they made it sound a lot cooler than it is.

[@galewhiteman2047]

😂 I lived in San Diego 20 years and have never heard of this. Thank you. I’m really enjoying your videos today!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[@daveh4283]

Great video Steve

[@SaynaTheSpiffy]

Ah, I've been nervous seeing how somebody added that to Google Maps. I don't want anyone to mess with it. I know there are other rocks in the general area that apparently had significance to the Kumeyaay people. Thanks for giving us a better look! Those rocks have always stood out to me. And I've heard that Deerhorn Valley/Mother Grundy used to be a something of a rock climbing hotspot back in the '70s-'80s?

[@michaelsonleitner5724]

Thanks Steve … interesting vertical rocks, and agree the no trespassing signs is a tourist attraction killer 😅

[@vetinaalvarez4004]

I love watching your videos Steve !! From Indiana

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@friendlyman9032]

a nice relaxing no frills video..

[@davidpierce3217]

Hi Steve, always enjoy the videos. And, just occasionally, when the video is over I say to myself, thanks Steve, now I don't have to go visit that LUL

[@RyDawg1904]

There are some cool rocks to climb and hang out on. Go north on magnolia in Santee. When the RD. Ends up to the right side is where they are. One of them was called blue rock back in the day because it's painted blue. I haven't seen it for some time. It's a good hike check it out.

[@chuckbrasch4575]

Hey Steve, that area looks to me a glacial morraine. I know there are a lot of them in the local area. Tens of thousands of years ago the ice sheets came south and stopped, losing rocks and dirt they had been carrying along. Still looks like a neat place to 'explore'.... (with the owners permission of course)...

[@arlenbell4376]

Thank you for covering this - saves me a future wasted drive!

[@robertreynolds1044]

I lived in Jamul in 1982 in a CYA halfway house, working for the city of La Mesa. I bicycled everywhere in the county and surrounding desert. There used to be a place on Lyons Valley Rd. called the rocks rocks

[@valeriegoode9762]

Thanks for sharing.

[@stanfrymann]

I haven't been there in years, but on Point Loma at Sunset Cliffs, someone put up a stone circle. I wonder if it's still there. You would sometimes see burned out candles by the stones.

[@dougricheson5683]

Good video, look forward to the highway review. (If you get back to Oregon we have a stone henge at Biggs Junction, built as a war memorial)

[@douglasesposito5651]

This was a mystery solved. Good adventure too. Drive to the Alabama Hills along 395 to see some incredible rock formations. It is 5 hours from SD, but it's full of history and near Mt. Whitney. A pleasant drive too.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks, I love the Alabama Hills area and hope to get back up there soon.

[@randydewees7338]

Granite core stones from orthogonal fracture systems weathering underground - I like your general geologic observation. San Diego back country is simply stiff with hillside boulders. A lot on private property, and all protected by brush! And some urban fields like Santee Boulders and Mt. Woodson. Even the top of Mt Helix offers a bit of bouldering.

[@M.Campbell-Sherwood]

This reminds me of many of the Henges that dot Ireland and Scotland. There are many around England, as well. Avebury in particular. A few are near Stone Henge itself. They’re near their River Avon. There is an actual Stonehenge like henge in the U.S. Unfortunately it’s under water. It was discovered by Archaeology students out for a trip to find old sunken ships. It’s located in Lake Michigan just outside of Traverse City. There is at least one smaller henge on an Island further up the lake too. Another one was found in the lake up by St Ignas. It was, basically, destroyed though.

[@jerrystern10marissanikki62]

I like your channel. I live on the East Coast. I really don’t know much about the small tourist spots. Of course you always hear about the famous ones. But it’s very interesting to see the local items. I live in New England. We have a lot of things here that are unique also. It’s great you have the time to explore all these places. Keep the videos, we definitely enjoy them.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. I figure there's already enough videos on all the famous spots.

[@HuangXingQing]

I loved the sarcastic "a more dramatic reveal". jejeje

[@29madmangaud29]

Cool, will be heading out to SD for work this coming weekend,,,, next weekend maybe some of us shall go for a ride and check this out! First though I'll let my friends know to check out this VID , to see if they'll want to go spend the time to go see it! Since it's private property , and they 're building a home there.....

[@stevenkaskus6173]

Glad you went there 😊

[@lifewithjosef]

Ive been to Stonehenge, Carhenge and Mini Henge (Rolla MO), but never to Diego Henge. Thanks for adding to my "need to visit" list. As always...

[@rebeccatromel4763]

So glad you show this to us so we don't have to drive out there ourselves.

[@johnnesbit2371]

I think Diego Henge is quite notable. Of course, if you are familiar with this region's geological features, it might seem a little every-day-ish; I am reminded of a bus-ride I had through La Rumorosa down in Baja California, not far to your south, it has a lot of 'spirited' Peninsular rock formations of another sort.

[@01LTO]

Cool stuff!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Intriguing video, Steve! Yes, I agree with you that Diego Henge won’t become a major tourist destination here. It looks like you turned onto Otay Lakes Road off of Highway 94 in your video. Is the private property Diego Henge is on part of the large Otay Open Space Preserve that’s on the south side of Otay Lakes Road? Based on your video, I don’t think Diego Henge is in the Preserve, but I just wanted to check with you. The Preserve is the only private property land, which is owned by the state, that I know of that’s out that way.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I turned on Honey Springs Road from Highway 94. Right after I turned there was a parking area for the Hollenbeck Canyon Wilderness Area, but I'm not sure who runs that. There were a number of houses near Diego Henge.

[@AbandonedMines11]

@@SidetrackAdventures Oh, okay. You weren’t where I thought you were. Good to know. Thanks for the reply!

[@faisalaldossary6062]

Mr . Sidetrack I’m from San Diego too , there is also a place has very pretty and mysterious stones like this one in Anza-Borrego desert, can you make video about it too thanks

[@crimsonfirelily]

It's pretty and a nice drive but I don't about a Henge. Thanks for doing this. 💜✌

[@guswatts]

When I was in San Diego I use to frequent seaport village. It has changed so much through the years. Is there a walk thru on the history you could do? Is it still there?

[@trumer-and-co]

Pretty cool. I've never heard of it either. Definitely looks like fingers and toes sticking out of the earth.

[@aventuraseneldesiertodecal8284]

Very interesting!!

[@amyatc]

There is a replica of Stonehenge near Goldendale WA built by Sam Hill.

[@charlesglandon7840]

Thanks for sharing this with us, you will never know how many people you saved from going there to view that Stonehenge.😆😆

[@petecollins4925]

Well at least it wasn't as busy as actual Stonehenge when it comes to tourists! Totally agree about the drive though, you are fortunate to live so close to some wonderful scenery. I love mountain country so I envy you having that sort of terrain within easy driving distance. My bit of the UK could qualify me as a member of the flat earth society due to a lack of anything more than a few bumps (I'd hardly call them hills) in sight. Good fun video Steve and I think even though it isn't a henge it was interesting to see how the rocks had resulted from erosion and weathering.

[@jazzrat2000]

I miss living where this backcountry. we have the Everglades, oncee you've seen one alligator you have seen them all. I do like gallinules, though!

[@laingconley5316]

Have you been to the Stonehenge in Washington State on the Columbia River.

[@TheGrinddcore]

There is a similar feature on a hill just southeast of Mount Woodson across the street of the 67 freeway which looks even more natural than this I don't know it almost looks like some people get a tilted those up but they sure don't look organized

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks! Steve I guess you need to get out more.🌎

[@UnfilteredWP]

Reminds me of tooth rock in between Poway and Mt Woodson

[@hamlaser]

Great adventure! You should have checked out the Maryhill Stonehenge while you were up in Portland. It's the nation's first WW1 memorial.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

The map with all the Spanish name towns is cool. Garcia. Great for a Deadhead !! ❤

[@richardjoyce1]

1:54 What was all that along side the road?!

[@reubenmarchant2229]

There is a car henge near Niland on the way to Salvation mountain. Take the rough road along the power lines to the Thought Tank.

[@badexter1]

Great video..very interesting..BD

[@janebeckman3431]

Picturesque, but imaginatively named possibly for map copyright? (Or do they do that with non-physical maps?) BTW, there is a real Stonehenge copy up on the Columbia River, outside Maryhill, Washington, which was built as a WWI memorial.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I really wanted to check that out when I was up that way last month, but didn't get a chance. Hoping to get back there soon though.

[@gigharbourite]

Awesome!

[@JP-su8bp]

3:06 "It's not surprising that Diego Henge hasn't made it into the San Diego travel guides..." Yep, that pretty much covers it.

[@BlindSquirrel425]

Thanks! Interesting rocks. Which tribe is nearby?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

The Kumeyaay.

[@BlindSquirrel425]

@@SidetrackAdventures I wonder if the elders there might know something about the positioning of the rocks. It is plausibly natural of course.

[@inthedirt3224]

mt gower has some similar weird formations . accessible to the public

[@Purchaser.]

theres a well traveled foot path and paved road in there. maybe you have to get in there from another side and walk in?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I turned on Honey Springs Road from Highway 94. Right after I turned there was a parking area for Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife area, but I'm not sure who runs that. There were a number of houses out by Diego Henge (including an actual medieval looking castle on a hill across the valley).

[@DefensisIndus]

Does anyone know if the old abandoned Spanish style bathhouse is still there off of the 8?? Think it was designed in the 1920s by Bert Vaughn

[@MeItsMeLol]

I don’t know if this is what you mean, but it’s in the same general area… there was an old hotel on Old Highway 80 that reopened about a year ago, it’s called the Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel. You can find their page on the net and see if that’s what you meant.

[@donaldcarter1206]

Good thing you did that at that time before the house got built.

[@Kimbo1972]

Look at that this way - those rock formations formed in a similar way to how opal is formed - except opal requires rain, and this required volcanic heat.....

[@1customermaniac]

If you go back can you please drive a little further up deerhorn valley rd. Go to about the very top just past Mother Grundy Truck Trail and look left. HUGE stone face effigy. Please please please help get drone footage of that it faces Mexico

[@eceDigital]

Yup, the "dramatic reveal" made all the difference!

[@scottprather5645]

I came across that my wife and I were driving out near Lions peak Just decided to turn down a random road to explore and we found it

[@calvarycustoms6681]

@Sidetrack Adventures Steve, what’s your travel range for doing these shorter “oddities” videos? I know of a legit mystery tower in the western Mojave desert. I’ve been investigating it for years, but no one knows what it is - or are willing to share the info. I’ve driven as close to it as prudently possible, but I still can’t figure it out… might take a drone flight to get up close enough to it. It’s roughly 90 miles from SD. If that’s something you might be interested in, I can give you the coordinates. Added bonus: a few miles down the highway, there’s a full-size mock-up (it might actually be a Production prop) of the “Whispercraft” from the Schwarzenegger movie “The 6th Day”, sitting right in someone’s front yard.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Sure, shoot me an email on it. I'd certainly be interested in trying to find more info on it.

[@calvarycustoms6681]

@@SidetrackAdventures Sorry Steve, I haven’t been able to find an email for you yet; the only contacts I see are Twitter and IG. I suppose I could DM you on IG, I’ve just been avoiding that platform for months now, since it’s deteriorated to the level of TikTok. I don’t have any problem posting the coordinates of that unidentified tower structure, since it’s out in the open, and probably military in origin. But I don’t want to publicly post the coordinates to that house, since it’s private property.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

@calvarycustoms6681 You can email me at steve at sidetrackadventures.com.

[@calvarycustoms6681]

@@SidetrackAdventures Got it, thanks. 👍🏼