New this year! We're offering two hike options inside this beautiful preserve, one of the best-kept secrets of San Diego County. The Santa Ysabel Preserve offers hikers miles of oak woodlands, riparian, chaparral, and grassland habitats.
We will begin our hike at the Santa Ysabel East kiosk on Highway 79 where there is ample street parking, then proceed through the gate and into the Preserve. At the base of the hill, those wanting a longer, more challenging hike will continue up to a beautiful field of oak trees and spectacular views. This trail loops around and comes down near the nature center. Those wanting a less challenging walk, but still nestled between oak trees and rolling grasslands, will follow the trail along the base of the hill. . Upon arriving at the Santa Ysabel Nature Center, be sure to check out the interpretive displays or just have a snack on the shaded patio. When we are ready to return to our cars, we will follow the trail along the hillside and grasslands completing the loop Two hike options will be offered: a shorter, easy 4-mile hike with an elevation change of 500 feet, or continue on to complete an intermediate 5-mile hike with an elevation change of 900 feet. The hike is scheduled from 9 AM–1 PM. (Santa Ysabel) From CA-78 turn north on CA-79 and go 1.3 miles (1.0 miles past the entrance to the Santa Ysabel Nature Center). Park on the right side of the road by the Santa Ysabel East Open Space Preserve Kiosk. Facilities at the Nature Center. (GPS N33.126886, W116.678642)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Enjoy a picturesque trail to Thunder Spring while hiking through bracken fern, oaks, and conifers. There are some steep elevation gains/losses as well as plenty of poison oak along the trail.
This is an intermediate 4-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,300 feet. The hike is scheduled from 9:30 AM–1:30 PM. (Palomar Mountain) From I-15, take CA-76 east for 20.5 miles. Turn left on S-6 (South Grade Rd./Palomar Mountain Rd.) and go 6.7 miles until the intersection. Turn left to stay on S-6. Turn left again immediately on S-7 (State Park Rd.), just before the store and restaurant. Go 3.1 miles to the Park entrance. Continue 0.2 mile and turn right at the stop sign. Go 1.4 miles following signs to School Camp and Doane Pond. Continue to the parking lot on the right. A $10 day use fee or a California State Park Pass is required for each vehicle (1 day for $10.00). Day use passes can be purchased online using the Yodel app (follow instructions on the signs found at parking locations — $0.35 fee added), at a kiosk, or Iron Ranger, depending on the location. Note: Any Day Use pass is valid at all locations that require a pass within the park. See http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049 for more information. Facilities. (GPS N33.341747, W116.901352)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail to reach a stunning formation known as Eagle Rock for a very good reason. The first 2 miles pass through oaks continuing to sparse chaparral and grassland with abundant seasonal wildflowers.
This is an intermediate 6-mile hike with an elevation change of 1250 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–1 PM. (Warner Springs) From CA-67, continue east on CA-78 through Ramona. At Santa Ysabel, turn left (north) on CA-79 for 14 miles. Meet the Canyoneer host near the Warner Springs Fire Station. No facilities. (GPS N33.273323, W116.645115)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.This trail lined with wild lilac passes through thick chaparral on a gentle upward slope. Take a short climb to a promontory overlooking San Vicente Reservoir and stop for a snack before beginning the return trip through a riparian oak woodland.
This is an intermediate 3-mile hike with an elevation change of 550 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8:30–11:30 AM. (Lakeside) From CA-67, exit east on Mapleview St. and go 0.3 mile. Turn left (north) on Ashwood St. and go 1.0 mile. Continue on Wildcat Canyon Rd. and go 3.3 miles. The preserve entrance is on the left (west), about 2.5 miles past Louis A. Stelzer Park. Facilities. (GPS N32.912668, W116.887228)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Hike along Pine Valley Creek and pass under the I-8 Pine Valley Bridge, which is 400 feet above the gorge. Explore remains of an 1895 flume intended to move water from a proposed reservoir in Pine Valley to King Creek, a San Diego River tributary.
This is a difficult 5-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,400 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–1 PM. (Pine Valley) From I-8, exit north on Pine Valley Rd. and go 0.4 mile. Turn left on Old Hwy. 80 and go 1.6 miles. Turn left at the Pine Creek Trailhead sign and go 0.5 mile. Park near the vault toilets. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cleveland/passes-permits/recreation#adventure for more information. Facilities. (GPS N32.837365, W116.541780)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Midweek hike! Scarlet larkspur and Mexican pinks often brighten this challenging hike that takes you to the top of Oakzanita Peak for a spectacular view all the way to the Pacific Ocean on a clear day.
There will be an option for a less strenuous hike along the ephemeral lower Descanso Creek. Two hike options will be offered. A shorter, but challenging 6-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,350 feet, or continue on to complete a difficult 7-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,600 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–12:30 PM or 8 AM–1:30 PM. (Descanso) From I-8, exit at CA-79. Turn left and go 2.6 miles. Turn left to stay on CA-79 and go 3.2 miles. As you enter Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, park in the dirt lot immediately to the right after the sign. No facilities. (GPS N32.889480, W116.576014)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Canyoneers have special permission to hike this 5,600-acre California Department of Fish and Wildlife ecological reserve. Here find sage scrub and riparian environments, and efforts to convert non-grasslands to native habitat.
The ruins of a historic cement-making kiln will also be visited. This is an intermediate 4-mile hike with an elevation change of 350 feet. The hike is scheduled from 9 AM–1 PM. (Jamul) From I-8, exit on CA-125 S and go 2.1 miles. Exit on Spring St. towards CA-94 E. Turn left and go 0.1 mile. Merge right on CA-94 E and go 4.6 miles. Turn right on Campo Rd. (CA-94). Go 7.8 miles to the entrance of the reserve on the right. If you reach Honey Springs Rd. you have gone 1.8 miles too far. Facilities. (GPS N32.684428, W116.846851)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.New this year! This is a lovely hike in the Laguna Mountains surrounded by California black oaks and conifers. A variety of seasonal mountain wildflowers may be in bloom, while birds and other wildlife can be seen enjoying the shelter of the shady woodland habitat.
Red-Tailed Roost connects to several other trail systems, but this hike will return via Escondido Ravine Rd. This route follows an easy trail with just a few steeper sections. This is an intermediate 4-mile hike with an elevation change of 600 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–noon. (Mount Laguna) From I-8 E, exit on the Sunrise Highway (S-1). Turn left and go 9.0 miles. Turn left and park in the Red-Tailed Roost Volunteer Activity Center parking lot. No facilities. (GPS N32.857303, W116.423498)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.New this year! The Canyoneers have special permission from UC San Diego to hike the 235-acre Dawson-Los Monos Canyon Reserve. Explore the multiple habitats found in the reserve, and find species associated with grasslands, riparian, and coastal sage scrub ecosystems.
Birds, reptiles, and amphibians are possible sightings along the trail. Old pastures of annual grasses intermixed with native herbaceous species are the result of a century of grazing. A seasonal floodplain supports its own set of species in wet years, and where grazing has been eliminated within the reserve, the meadows now support many native species. This trail is part of the UCSD Natural Reserve System. This is an easy 5-mile hike with an elevation change of 650 feet. The hike is scheduled from 9 AM–1 PM. (Vista) From I-15, take CA-78 W for 7.5 miles. Exit on Sycamore Ave. and turn left. Go 0.3 mile. Turn right on Shadowridge Dr. and go 1.9 miles to the signed entrance of the park at Antigua Dr. Park and meet the Canyoneer host. Facilities. (GPS N33.157909, W117.246481)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Take a stroll through the canyon toward a small reservoir that attracts birds and other animals. This is part of a greenbelt area that sustains native vegetation in the area formerly known as Camp Elliott.
This is an easy 2-mile hike with an elevation change of 150 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8–10 AM. (Tierrasanta) From I-15, exit east on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. for 0.9 mile. Turn left on Santo Rd. and go 0.1 mile. Turn right on Remora St. Continue onto Gabacho Dr. and park. Walk north on Santo Rd. to the trailhead. Alternate route: From CA-52, exit south on Santo Rd. and go 0.9 mile. Turn left on Remora St. Continue onto Gabacho Dr. and park. Walk north on Santo Rd. to the trailhead. No facilities. (GPS N32.830932, W117.102638)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Follow a section of the Pacific Crest Trail as it climbs the southern flanks of the Laguna Mountains. Along the way there will be manzanita and other chaparral species as well as expansive views down into the Kitchen Creek watershed.
After a steep and rocky descent, lunch can be enjoyed at Kitchen Creek Falls before retracing the route back to the parking location. This is an intermediate 5-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,250 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–12:30 PM. (Buckman Springs) Take I-8 E to Buckman Springs Rd. Turn right at the first stop sign (Buckman Springs Rd.) and left at the second stop sign (Old Hwy. 80). Proceed for 2 miles to the Pacific Crest Trail parking area (just before the Forest Service campground). A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cleveland/passes-permits/recreation#adventure for more information. Facilities available at the Buckman Springs Rest Stop. (GPS N32.732506, W116.483277)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.We will descend 400 feet to the canyon floor and then follow a flat trail to Pine Valley Creek that will lead us through live oaks, sycamores, and seasonal wildflowers. If the creek's pond is full, hikers are in for a real treat!
This is an intermediate 3-mile hike with an elevation change of 700 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–noon. (Alpine) From I-8 E, exit south on Japatul Valley Rd. and go 5.5 miles. Turn left on Lyons Valley Rd. and go 1.5 miles to the trailhead on the left at mile marker 16.4. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cleveland/passes-permits/recreation#adventure for more information. No facilities. (GPS N32.747146, W116.669205)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.Stonewall Mine was once a productive gold mine. Now, it’s a fenced-off site in a beautifully wooded section of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Unlike the rest of the Park, the trees here were not heavily damaged by the 2003 Cedar Fire.
Additionally, the area is steeped in history. It was in the early 1870s that gold was first discovered in the Cuyamaca/Julian area, sparking a gold rush that lasted over 20 years. This is an intermediate 5-mile hike with an elevation change of 500 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–12:30 PM. (Descanso) From I-8 E, exit at CA-79. Turn left and go 2.6 miles. Turn left to stay on CA-79 and go 10.7 miles to the Trout Pond parking area on the right (0.5 mile past Stonewall Mine turnoff). Facilities. (GPS N32.976487, W116.580996)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.New, midweek hike! Dramatic ocean views and impressive cliffs overlooking pocket beaches are the hallmark of this park. The sandstone cliffs erode naturally with wave action. This is a great spot to watch pelicans, western gulls, and cormorants glide above the ocean’s surface.
The stairs at the corner of Ladera Street and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard offer a breathtaking journey down the cliffs to the north end of Garbage Beach which can be explored at low tide. This is an easy 2-mile hike with an elevation change of 450 feet. The hike is scheduled from 10 AM–noon. (Point Loma) Take I-8 W to the end and turn left on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Keep right to remain on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and go 3.1 miles. Turn left on Ladera St. and go 0.1 mile. Park in the signed parking lot towards the end of Ladera St. on the right. Facilities. (GPS N32.719175, W117.254516)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.This hike passes under large pine and oak trees as it winds through Laguna Meadow and then loops behind the ridge on the Sunset Trail for some spectacular views.
Stop at Water-of-the-Woods, an ephemeral pond, for a snack break before heading back to the parking location. This is an intermediate 6-mile hike with an elevation change of 600 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–1 PM. (Mount Laguna) From I-8 E, exit on the Sunrise Highway (S-1). Turn left and go 5.5 miles. Park along the side of the road. Meet the Canyoneer host on the left side of the road opposite the wooden information platform on the right. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cleveland/passes-permits/recreation#adventure for more information. No facilities. (GPS N32.860806, W116.462050)
Capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration will open to members five weeks prior to the hike date and to non-members one month prior to the hike date.