The Yaqui Well Nature Trail is an easy self-guided interpretive trail that leads to a natural spring. The spring supports abundant plant and animal life in the otherwise harsh and arid desert. In the late 1800’s, a well was built at the site of the spring to improve access to water for mule-driven freight wagon teams transporting goods through the area. Later, cattle ranchers took advantage of the water source for their herds. Today, it is frequented by squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, bobcats, birds, and the occasional hiker. Continue reading Yaqui Well Trail (Anza Borrego State Park)
Category Archives: Birding
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Northeast)
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (which is NOT actually in Tijuana) is an almost 1700 acre park in the South Bay region of San Diego. The park hosts over 20 miles of interconnected dog-friendly trails open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians. The park is adjacent to the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve and offers some great opportunities for bird-watching. Continue reading Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Northeast)
Lakeside River Park
Lakeside River Park is a small, yet scenic stretch of the San Diego River. This trail is something of a work in progress. The original groundbreaking took place in 2006, and since then workers and volunteers have built a nice little trail and restored a substantial amount of native vegetation along the river. Future plans include additional removal of invasive plants and planting of natives, as well as extending the trail in both directions. We visited the trail on a warm summer evening shortly before sunset, and found the trail provided a pleasant little stroll with lots of birds and other wildlife. Continue reading Lakeside River Park
Tijuana Estuary/Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge – North Coast Trail
We had recently hiked the coast on the southern side of the Tijuana River in our visit to Border Field State Park, and decided today that we’d check out the north side. The North Coast trail is part of the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, which, along with Border Field State Park and some county owned land to the east, make up the the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR). Continue reading Tijuana Estuary/Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge – North Coast Trail
Ramona Grasslands Preserve
The Ramona Grasslands Preserve is a relatively new addition to San Diego’s roster of County Parks. Originally acquired by the Nature Conservancy, the land was later given to the County and a portion was opened to the public in 2011. In addition to hikers, the Preserve is a popular destination for horseback riders (we encountered quite a few equestrians on our visit) and is open to mountain bikers as well.
Winter may be the best time to visit the preserve, as numerous hawks and other large birds overwinter in the area. But the trail is an easy hike with views of wide plains and rolling hills topped with oak trees and boulders that can be enjoyed year round, although it does get rather hot during the summer. Continue reading Ramona Grasslands Preserve
Cabrillo National Monument Bayside Trail
Cabrillo National Monument is San Diego’s only National Park property. Originally established in 1913, it memorializes the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542 – the first time a European expedition landed on the west coast of the United States. Continue reading Cabrillo National Monument Bayside Trail
San Elijo Lagoon
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is a 1000 acre reserve situated between Solana Beach and Encinitas. The Reserve has seven miles of interconnecting trails passing through diverse ecological habitats including a riparian creekside, dry coastal sage scrub, boggy marshes, open grasslands, and coastal wetlands. San Elijo is home to numerous species of plants and animals, and provides an important stopover point for migrating birds. Continue reading San Elijo Lagoon
Border Field State Park – Coast Trail
Confession time: I’ve lived in San Diego for 18 years, and I hardly ever go to the beach. You have to find parking, there’s frequently large groups of people, you get sand in weird places, and hanging out at the beach usually means long periods of sitting still in the hot sun… I mean, I don’t hate it or anything, but aside from taking the dogs to run loose on Fiesta Island, when we’re looking to get outside we pretty much always choose to go hiking rather than hitting the beach.
But then comes summer, and it gets too hot to enjoy most of our favorite hiking trails. If only there were some magical way to combine the cooler temperatures and refreshing ocean waters found at the beach with our preferred activity of hiking… Duh. We can hike at the beach! Continue reading Border Field State Park – Coast Trail
Rose Canyon
One of things I think is really neat about San Diego is the number of hikeable little nooks and crannies that can be found just about everywhere. If you’re itching to go hiking but don’t have all day, fear not. Chances are there’s a decent hike within a few minutes of your house.
Rose Canyon is one of seventeen canyons and open space parks managed by the City of San Diego. Tucked in between the 5 and 805 freeways, just north of the 52 and south of the Coaster tracks, this hike won’t win any awards for seclusion, but it offers a nice little jaunt with a mix of exposed chaparral, riparian habitat, and shady oaks. Continue reading Rose Canyon
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge – Sweetwater River Trail
Across the road from a sprawling strip mall in Rancho San Diego lies a hidden gem of San Diego Hiking. The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge encompasses the majority of San Miguel Mountain (aka Mount Miguel, Mount San Miguel, etc) and surrounding areas. The Sweetwater River runs along the northwestern edge of the Refuge which provides riparian as well as coastal scrub habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species. This is a short, easy hike that provides a surprising amount of quiet solitude considering how close it is to civilization. Continue reading San Diego National Wildlife Refuge – Sweetwater River Trail