www.TheCarmelValleyLife.com With the amazing weather that San Diego has to offer, it is always great to spend time in the outdoors to not only get some exercise but to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Luckily, for Carmel Valley residents, the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is right in our backyard and offers a variety of fun trails, picturesque scenery and even a waterfall cascading through volcanic rock. Who needs to travel to Hawaii for a pretty waterfall when we have one right here in Carmel Valley!!! Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is located between Rancho Peñasquitos, Sorrento Hills and Mira Mesa and encompasses over 4000 acres. On any given day, you will find visitors hiking the trails, with many training for running a marathon, cycling or just taking some time out of their busy schedules to enjoy some nature. According to residents of Carmel Valley, the most popular trail is the one leading to the waterfall. This trail is about a 3-mile hike each way, but is pretty flat, making it not to difficult of a hike. In addition, the groves of sycamore trees provide a lot of shade, making runs during the summer months a lot more bearable. For those interested in flora and fauna, Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is home to over 500 plant species, more than 175 types of birds and a variety of different reptiles and mammals. Just be sure to watch where you are walking, as there have definitely been some rattlesnake sightings. Generally, if you do not disturb them, they will leave …