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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)
Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve Near Julian, turn north from the Farmer Road - Wynola Road intersection. Drive several hundred feet and park on the shoulder of the road. The Preserve is closed November through March.
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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VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTENANCE
YSABEL CREEK
 Date: Sunday, December 8 Time: 8:00am ~ 11:00am Location: Ysabel Creek Staging Area (see directions in left column)
Join Park Rangers for this trail maintenance event. Work on clearing brush from trail and improving trail conditions! Please bring drinking water, sun protection and wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes. RSVP to [email protected] or (858) 674-2275 x14. Hosted by SDRP Park Ranger David Hekel |
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FESTIVE FARMHOUSE
 Date: Sunday, December 8 Time: 11:00am ~ 2:00pm Location: Sikes Adobe Historic Farmhouse (see directions in left column)
Remember making colored paper chains, stringing popcorn, and making homemade ornaments from recycled cards? Remember the smell of cloves in oranges? Come decorate the 1880s Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead, and make decorations similar to those of the San Pasqual Valley pioneers to take home with you! The 4th annual Festive Farmhouse will be held on Sunday, December 8th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead. We will have farmhouse tours, materials for decorating, hot drinks and cookies. Listen to Christmas music played on an 1884 organette and spend some time relaxing in our Victorian parlor. All Ages! Suggested donation: $5.00 for families; $3.00 individuals. Any questions, please email [email protected], or call (760) 432-8318 and please leave a message. |
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SECOND SATURDAY RANGER-LED WALK
AT THE SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON
 Date: Saturday, December 14 Time: 9:00am ~ 10:30am Location: San Andres Drive Interpretive Kiosk (see directions in left column) 2 miles out and back. Easy.
Hosted by SDRP Park Ranger Natalie Borchardt.
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63RD ANNUAL ESCONDIDO JAYCEES
CHRISTMAS PARADE
 Date: Saturday, December 14 Time: 9:30am ~ Noon Location: Escondido, down Broadway, from Escondido High School to Grape Day Park
The San Dieguito River Park is proud to participate in the Escondido Jaycees Christmas Parade for the fourth year in a row. This year's theme is "Christmas Across the Galaxy." Join Park Ranger Bryan Ward and Interpretive Ranger Leana Bulay in their float down the parade route! For more information about the Escondido Jaycees or the Christmas Parade, visit the Escondido Jaycees website. |
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SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON BIRD WALK
 Date: Saturday, December 21 Time: 8:00am - 10:00am Location: San Andres Drive Interpretive Kiosk (see directions in left column)
2 miles out and back. Easy. Co-hosted by SDRP Park Rangers and Buena Vista Audubon Society Member John Haddock.
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COAST TO CREST CHALLENGE SERIES
SOLSTICE HIKE UP VOLCAN MOUNTAIN
 Date: Sunday, December 22 Time: 8:00am ~ 11:00am Location: Hubbell Gateway off of Farmer Road in Julian (see directions in left column)
Strenuous. Special access hike - summit closed Nov. - Apr.
Hosted by SDRVC Conservation Manager David O'Connor.
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PEOPLE AND PLACES OF THE PARK
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KIDS KORPS VOLUNTEERS AT THE LAGOON
by Ranger Bryan Ward
 The San Dieguito River Park has partnered with Kids Korps USA to bring families out to the San Dieguito Lagoon on the third Sunday of every month for volunteer projects. One project brought 24 members of the Del Sur Elementary School Chapter to our habitat restoration site at the Dust Devil Nature Trail to remove invasive iceplant and weed piles, mulch native plants, and dig holes in preparation of this winter's planting. Other projects have centered on litter removal along the Coast to Crest Trail and habitat restoration areas. The kids and parents have a fun time while helping clean up the San Dieguito Lagoon. |
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PROGRESS ON SIKES ADOBE 'CREAMERY'
 Thanks to the work of many hands, replication of the historic adobe outbuilding is moving forward. Under the direction of contractor, David Phillips, and the instruction of mason, Pete Camarda, apprentice masons and students have completed the construction of the adobe walls. Mr. Camarda, representing the Bricklayers of San Diego and Imperial Counties Apprenticeship Trust, donated his time and that of his students, some of whom are working toward journeyman status. Much of the work was also completed thanks to the donation of materials from RCP Block in Escondido, which assisted with masonry sand and Portland cement. These materials were mixed with adobe soil from the Sikes property to create the mortar used.  Next phase will be the construction of the design feature which made this an unusual building: a double roof! Sikes Adobe Creamery is being made in part from a generous donation from Ron Hall in memory of his wife Marilyn Hall. |
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BEETLE DISPLAY
 Robyn Waayers spent the last year collecting beetles in the San Dieguito River Valley for a display portraying the beetles found in the Park. The display can be seen at our main office in Escondido. Robyn is a local community college instructor of biology and has studied beetles as a serious avocation since 2001. She has discovered several beetle species new to California over the past several years, and is a regular contributor to Bugguide.net. She also has her own beetle web site: " Beetles of the Cuyamaca Mountains". |
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VOLUNTEER VOICE
by: Ginni Kitchen
 I became an SDRP trail patroller just over two years ago. I moved my almost-daily neighborhood walk to the Lagoon trail, and eventually I started patrolling some of the inland trails too. I've really enjoyed watching distinctive birds such as the western grebes on Lake Hodges. These grebes have a magnificent courtship display known as "rushing," where two birds rear up out of the water and race side by side with their necks curved gracefully forward. The only mammals I ever saw were bunnies and ground squirrels... until Saturday morning, November 23. I started east on the North Shore trail from the parking lot opposite Hernandez Hideaway and was near Del Dios Community Park when I spotted a bobcat relaxing at the mouth of a large drainage pipe. I stopped in my tracks while my fingers fumbled to get the camera out of my pocket for just one shot to prove I had really seen him. I needn't have worried.
The cat didn't mind people on foot at all and calmly watched half a dozen other hikers pass in front of him for the next 10 minutes. He didn't like bicycles, though. When two cyclists came down the trail, he turned tail and disappeared out the other end of the pipe, then I saw him cross Lake Drive and head down to the lake at a fast clip. Hiking an SDRP trail is always a pleasure, but seeing a bobcat was the icing on the cake!
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UNTIL NEXT TIME.......
 Happy Holidays from the San Dieguito River Park and Staff!
Interpretive Ranger and Riverscape Editor, Leana Bulay.
[email protected] or
(858) 674-2275 x14.
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