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One of the major goals of the San Dieguito River Park is to establish a continuous open space corridor throughout the length of the Park that preserves natural habitats, protects linkages for wildlife movement, and provides compatible areas for recreational opportunities.
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RIVER PARK EVENTS
Here is a link to the San Dieguito River Park Activity Calendar.
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Located at the Sikes Adobe (see directions to the Sunset Staging area in the left column).
Every Sunday:
10:30am ~ 3:30pm
(except if Easter, 4th of July, or Christmas).
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DIRECTIONS
Bernardo Bay Natural/Staging Area: (for access to East and South Lake Hodges Trails and the Ribbon Bridge)
Take I-15 to the West Bernardo Dr./Pomerado Rd. exit. Turn left onto West Bernardo Dr. Within a half mile, you will come to the parking area on the right side of the road.
( click here for a map)
Crest Canyon:
At the San Dieguito Lagoon, turn south from Jimmy Durante onto San Dieguito Dr., which will morph into Racetrack View Drive. Crest Canyon is about 2/3 miles south from Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Dios Gorge/
Santa Fe Valley Staging Area: On Del Dios Highway, across the street from the Cielo Shopping Center, is the Lemon Twist Stand. The road to the staging area is within the Lemon Twist pullout, immediately south and west of the Lemon Twist stand. ( click here for a map) Dog Beach: Dog Beach is
located to the west of Highway 101, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, between the communities of Solana Beach and Del Mar. As in any coast city, parking is a challenge near the beach. Metered parking on Highway 101 exists and may be available. Dust Devil Nature Trail Staging Area: From Del Mar Heights Road go north on El Camino Real. The staging area will be at the edge of the San Dieguito Lagoon on your left. You will continue past the staging area, making a U-turn at San Dieguito Road, then driving south on El Camino Real to the staging area. Highland Valley Trail Staging Area: From I-15 head east on Pomerado Road about 1/4 mile. Turn left onto Highland Valley Drive. Within about 300 feet, turn right into the parking area. (click here for a map) Highland Valley - Old Coach Trail Staging Area:
From I-15 head east on Pomerado Road. After about 1/4 mile, turn left onto Highland Valley Drive. Drive 2.3 miles. The staging area will be on your right. 12460 Highland Valley Road. (click here for a map) Ramona Grasslands Staging Area:
From I-15 head east on Pomerado Road. After about 1/4 mile, turn left onto Highland Valley Road. Drive approximately 10.5 miles up Highland Valley Road to the Ramona Grasslands. You will see the staging area and trail head on the north side of the road.
( click here for a map)
Sunset Staging Area: (access for Ribbon Bridge, Sikes Adobe, Mule Hill Trail, North Shore Trail, Bernardo Mountain) Directions: Take I-15 to Via Rancho Parkway exit, and at the exit ramp turn right at the light. Go to the light at Sunset Drive (less than a 1/4 mile) and turn right onto Sunset Drive. North County Fair Mall is on the left side of the road. This is a cul-de-sac with plenty of parking in the gated staging/parking area on the left side of the street or along the street and in the lot at the end of the cul-de-sac.
(click here for a map)
San Andres Drive Interpretive Kiosk: (for east end Lagoon Trail access)
End of San Andres Drive in Del Mar, off Via de la Valle, behind the Albertsons Shopping Center.
(click here for a map)
SYOSP West:
The Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve West Trailhead and Staging Area are located on Highway 78, 1.3 miles west of Santa Ysabel, on the north side of the road. Lots of parking. Porta Potty.
SYOSP East-West:
The Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve East -West Trailhead is located on Highway 79 just south of Mission Santa Ysabel and 1.3 miles north of the town of Santa Ysabel. Another way to describe this would be to stay on Highway 79, 1.3 miles north of the Highway 78/79 intersection in Santa Ysabel. You will park on the shoulder of the road, on the east side of Highway 79.
SYOSP East-East:
The Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve East -East Trailhead is located on Farmer Road, 1.25 miles north of the Farmer Road - Wynola Road intersection. You will pass the Volcan Mountain Preserve parking area immediately after turning onto Farmer Road. The SYOSP East Farmer Road Trailhead is 1.25 miles further, on the left.
(click here for a map)
Ysabel Creek Staging Area:
(for access to the middle of the San Pasqual Valley Trail system)
I-15 North towards Escondido, exit Pomerado Rd/West Rancho Bernardo Road. Take Pomerado Dr. East. After 1/4 mile, turn left from Pomerado onto Highland Valley Road, continue on Highland Valley Road for 4 miles, take left on Bandy Canyon Road to Ysabel Creek Road. Trailhead is on the corner.
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DOWNLOADPDF TRAIL MAPSfrom the links below:
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LAKE HODGES BIRDING FIELD TRIP
 Date: Saturday, October 12 Time: 8:00am Location: Del Dios Community Park, 20185 Lake Dr., Escondido Rating: Moderate
Hosted by Palomar Audubon Society Member Jim Beckman. |
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SECOND SATURDAY
RANGER-LED WALK AT THE SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON
 Date: Saturday, October 12 Time: 9:00am - 10:30am Location: San Andres Dr. Interpretive Kiosk (see directions in left column)
Rating: Easy - 2 miles out and back
Hosted by SDRP Park Ranger Natalie Borchardt.
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CREST CANYON
a CANYONEERS WALK
 Date: Saturday, October 12 Time: 1:00pm ~ 3:00pm Rating: Easy - 2 mile loop Location: Meet at the Crest Canyon North Trailhead (see directions in left column)
Sponsored by San Diego Natural History Museum Volunteers
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VOLCAN MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION FIRST-EVER
FOUNDER'S DAY
 Date: Sunday, October 13 Time: 11:00am ~ 4:00pm Location: Meet at Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian
Celebrating the 25th Anniversay of the Volcan Mountain Foundation.
This event is sponsored by the Volcan Mountain Foundation.
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FOURTH ANNUAL RIVER VALLEY FEST
 Date: Sunday, October 13 Time: 2:00pm ~ sunset Location: Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe
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SAN DIEGUITO RUNNING CLUB
SELF-GUIDED RUN
 Date: Saturday, October 19 Time: 6:30am Location: Del Dios Gorge Trailhead
Rating: Moderate or strenuous - 10 or 20 miles point to point
Hosted by SDRVC Conservation Manager David O'Connor.
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SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON BIRD WALK
 Date: Saturday, October 19 Time: 8:00am - 10:00am Location: San Andres Dr. Interpretive Kiosk (see directions in left column)
Rating: Easy - 2 miles out and back
Co-Hosted by SDRP Park Rangers and Buena Vista Audubon Member John Haddock.
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SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON FULL MOON HIKE
 Date: Saturday, October 19 Time: 6:45pm ~ 7:45pm Location: San Andres Interpretive Kiosk (see directions in left column)
Rating: Easy - 2.5 miles out and back
Hosted by the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy
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COAST TO CREST
CHALLENGE SERIES HIKE
 Date: Sunday, October 20 Location: Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve West (see directions in left column) Rating: Strenuous This 5.5 mile (loop) hike is co-hosted by SDRVC Conservation Manager David O'Connor and SDRP Park Ranger Bryan Ward.
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HIGHLAND VALLEY TRAIL
a CANYONEERS WALK
 Date: Sunday, October 20 Time: 9:30am ~ 11:30am Location: Highland Valley Trailhead (see directions in left column) Rating: Moderate
This 4 mile hike is sponsored by the San Diego Natural History Museum Volunteers.
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LOCAL BIRD LECTURE AND WORKSHOP
Date: Saturday, October 26
Time: 10:00am ~ 11:30am
Location: Julian Library Community Room, 1850 Highway 78, Julian
Hosted by VMF Naturalist, Outdoor Educator, and Board Member, Sharyl Massey.
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SIKES SPOOKTACULAR
A FARMSTEAD HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION
 Date: Sunday, October 27 Time: 11:00am ~ 3:30pm Location: Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead
Join us out at the River Park's historic farmstead for the 'Sikes Spook-tacular.' The Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead is celebrating Halloween this year by partnering with the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy to bring you 'Spooky Science' opportunities to learn about bats, owls, skulls, the moon and pumpkin science, while having fun! There will be pumpkins to decorate and purchase in addition to farmhouse archaeology talks at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Bring goodie bags for 'trick or treating' at the North San Diego Certified Farmers' Market. A scarecrow contest challenges you to make your own scarecrow, either brought from home or made on the farmhouse grounds. Contest winner announced at 2:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Anne Cooper at anne@sdrp.org. |
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PEOPLE AND PLACES OF THE PARK
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CONNECTING PEOPLE AND NATURE
a GRANT
The San Dieguito River Park, in partnership with the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, was awarded $10,000 from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and $10,000 from SDG&E to expand the Citizen Science Program at the San Dieguito Lagoon to local high schools.
The grants will produce a stand-alone classroom curriculum manual directed at encouraging high school students to become citizen scientists or environmental artists. They also provide for the design and creation of the field research curriculum that is associated with our upcoming digital field notebook that will align the methodologies to Citizen Science program and expose students to tools and technologies of the trade.
The grants allow students to monitor an active habitat restoration site, to measure progress (and to gain an attachment / investment in the site). Plus, they allow the design and construction of a website where students can place data and field projects and present results of their work to other students, teachers, parents, SDRP and SDRVC at a school symposium.
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WHY I VOLUNTEER WITH THE DUST DEVILS
by Carol Dickinson Carr
 My first experience with volunteer trail maintenance at the San Dieguito River Park was in 2007, soon after the Witch Creek wildfire consumed over 60% of the park. I came out on a Sunday morning at Lake Hodges with the park's once-a-month trail maintenance crew. Our task that day was to rebuild a culvert. Heavy rains after the fire had caused mud slides and damaged trail surfaces because the bushes and small plants had burnt to a crisp and loosened the soil. This culvert was completely blocked by mud.
Several Park Rangers were there, lifting the rocks out of the way so we could shovel the mud blocking the culvert. In particular, I remember being amazed watching Ranger Natalie pick up the huge rocks one by one and put them to the side. I couldn't begin to lift these myself! Three hours later, the culvert had been cleaned out, the rock liner was rebuilt, and all the rocks were back in place. I felt pretty proud of myself for helping to get a tiny piece of the park back working properly. (I also learned how to build a culvert.) I was pretty tired when I got home.
I kept coming out for the monthly trail maintenance crew that winter, enjoying the feeling of doing something good to rebuild my favorite park and also for the exercise. When the opportunity came to join the Friday Dust Devils at the Lagoon, I was there. Part of the fun for me is the camaraderie among the Dust Devils. While we work we tell stories, catch up on each other's lives, laugh a lot, and learn about the native plants and animals. Mostly we put in plants, but we also take cuttings from mature plants, grow new ones, trim bushes, and sometimes build culverts, or whatever the rangers need that day.
When I'm off alone working, I listen to the birds and watch them cruising overhead. When trail users walk by they often say "thanks for doing this!" When I hike the trails I look for the plants I put in and admire those that are alive and prospering. All in all, it's a simple, feel-good activity that helps everyone who enjoys our trails.
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COASTAL CLEANUP EVENT
 California Coastal Cleanup Day, an annual beach and inland waterway cleanup, is the state's largest volunteer event. When combined with the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Cleanup Day becomes part of one of the largest volunteer events in the world.
This year the River Park participated in partnership with SDG&E and the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy at the San Dieguito Lagoon. Over 70 volunteers from SDG&E and the community came to the event. Six miles was covered, 85 pounds of trash and 2,660 pounds of green waste was collected. Last year 510 pounds of trash and 3,020 pounds of green waste were removed from the area.
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19th CENTURY CABINET DONATED TO SIKES
The Sikes Adobe received a donation of a mid-19th century cabinet from Coronado residents, Marvin and Jill Olen Heinze this past month. The Sikes Adobe was brought to their attention by master furniture restorer, William Patrick Edwards, of San Diego. The cabinet exhibits the appropriate design elements and features for the historic adobe farmhouse and will be a welcome and useful addition to its further interpretation.
Originally purchased at an old farm in Michigan in the 1960s, the cabinet had been in the donor's family since that time. Its back was built with tongue-in-groove construction, and the piece divides into two sections. Square nails are visible in the back and top portions of both sections, indicating its age.
Please take the next opportunity to come out and see this piece for yourself!
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GIVING BACK HAS NEVER BEEN SO BEAUTIFUL
VOLUNTEER VOICE ~ by Ann
 Six years ago my husband and I discovered mountain biking. As new riders we didn't think much about how the trails got there or who maintained them. It was about 5 or 6 months in that the light went on "we do" and we joined organized trail clean up days.
When Ranger Dave Hekel put out the word that SDRP was about to start the volunteer bike patrol I thought there couldn't be a better fit. Trail clean up and patrolling! what a way to give back. With much excitement and enthusiasm both Jack and I signed up. What I look forward to the most when patrolling is the contact with the hikers and families. They move slower than the bikers and usually have the most interest in us. It is so fulfilling to be able to provide answers to questions regarding the park.
Just recently there was an event in the park sharing popular trails. Many guests appreciated being stopped and informed of the event. This made me feel so proud to be wearing my patrol jersey. Both Jack and I look forward to our patrol time and enjoying the beauty that is the San Dieguito River Park.
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UNTIL NEXT TIME.......
 All of us in the San Dieguito River Park office are working hard to improve your Park and to make it available to you for recreation and education. Please feel free to contact me with Riverscape comments or requests.
Leana@sdrp.org or (858) 674-2275 x14.
Interpretive Ranger and Riverscape Editor, Leana Bulay.
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