Once this was known as a valley of eagles and to the natives and later the pioneers who settled here, the eagles were a familiar sight gliding gracefully through the air beneath the clouds.  Golden Eagles still reside in San Pasqual Valley, but more recently Bald Eagles have been spotted around Lake Hodges. ( Photographs by Robert Harrington)  See his bird photography here.
 

 The bike path that connects the south end of the David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge to the Bernardo Bay Natural Area and Rancho Bernardo Community Park is now open.  Enjoy!

Saturday, March 5th
8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

If you didn't make the hike to Bernardo Mountain on Super Bowl Sunday (and we don't really blame you) here's your second chance!  Jack Pomeroy, a retired geologist and member of the Escondido Citizens Ecological Committee will be your guide, so put on your hiking shoes, stuff your snacks and water in your day pack, and join in this moderate to strenuous 7-mile roundtrip trek to the top of Bernardo Mountain.

This hike passes through the pristine beauty of Felicita Creek where you can spend some additional time enjoying the Felicita Creek sights and taking notice of the habitat management areas where the cactus wren is making a comeback through this Pacific Flyway route.



We will officially begin at 8:30 but because we are meeting at the north end of the 990 foot Ribbon Bridge (Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge) some will choose to park in the Bernardo Bay Natural Area and use the newly opened cantilever access to cross the lake, while others may opt to park at the Sunset Drive staging area and walk under the I-15 underpass to meet at the north end of the bridge. Take your pick! No reservations necessary.

Sunset Staging Area (see directions in left column)

Bernardo Bay Natural Area (see directions in left column)

Saturday, March 5th
9:00 a.m. till 10:30 a.m.

If you're interested in the old 395 route that ran through here and once crossed Lake Hodges, then this is the group and hike for you! We're going to spot the old "C" Block markers used between 1914 and 1934, as we traverse a portion of asphalt known as Highway 395. Our walk will end at the Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge, and we'll talk history along the way. This is an excellent opportunity to get in with a group that is trying to preserve the old road, similar to those who helped save the El Camino Real route! The hike is easy on flat surface. We'll meet at the kiosk to the North Shore Trail on Sunset.  No reservations necessary and all are welcome.

Meet at the Sunset Staging Area (see directions in left column).

Saturday, March 12th
9:00 a.m. till 10:15 a.m.  

Do you want to talk to a Ranger about the Coastal Restoration Project, the Railroad Bridge Upgrades, the Riverbend Revetment, the Eelgrass Transplanting, the Inlet Dredging, or the plans for extending the trail eastward . . . It's all going on!

Walk the Lagoon Trail at the San Dieguito Lagoon and learn about progress at the western gateway to the River Park!

Meet at the San Andres Kiosk (see directions in left column)

And don't forget - if you're interested in being a Citizen Scientist and performing Water Quality Checks at the Lagoon please email Barbara@sdrp.org for information about training.

If you are interested in having a Trails Event in the San Dieguito River Park, please visit our website and fill out the application online or mail it to us.

Dave Hekel,

Senior Ranger and Marathon Athlete.

One of the prettiest trails in the River Park is tucked away on Highland Valley Road.  Take a stroll of discovery and notice how quiet it is out here.

Begin at Highland Valley Trail Staging Area (see left column)

March is the perfect time to get out and get active!  This book, written by long-time River Park supporter Tom Leech, can be purchased online.  It is an excellent guide to open space throughout San Diego County. 

Salty Susan, Jaumea carnosa, is a perennial low-growing species in the sunflower family and has small inconspicuous flowers. This plant is native to the west coast of North America and found on the lagoon-side of the trail in saline habitats. Because of its long stems and creeping rootstocks, salty susan susan spreads easily making it a beneficial species to plant in restoration sites. It helps to out-compete non-native species, increasing native plant coverage.

Tumbleweed or Russian Thistle, Salsola pestifer, is native to Russia and Siberia and was first introduced to the United States accidentally in 1873 as a contaminate in flax seed. It quickly spread by railroad cars and windblown patterns of seed dissemination. When the plant is mature and dry it breaks loose and disperses over a wide area. Today it is common throughout the Western United States and has invaded over 100 million acres!  Well adapted to California's climate of winter rainfall and summer drought, it is also salt tolerant thus causing an increasing problem at the San Diego Lagoon, where it is found near the trail in disturbed areas.