Once slated for a large housing development, Daley Ranch was set aside for conservation and recreation in 1997, and has since become a favorite spot for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. With over 20 miles of trails, there are lots of options for hikes of varying lengths and difficulties. The Jack Creek Meadow Loop travels the paved Ranch House Road to the historic Daley Ranch House, then makes a loop around the Jack Creek Meadow through a mix of non-native grasslands and riparian oak woodland.
We arrived early, hoping to beat the crowds as well as the heat. Daley Ranch can get very hot, so check the weather report before you head out and always make sure to carry plenty of water. We set off along the Ranch House Road trail at the north end of the parking lot.
The road immediately began a steep ascent.
There were a few flowers beginning to show along the trail, and perhaps more interestingly we saw a fair amount of “Witches Hair” (California dodder) – a parasitic orange plant that grows on some of the plants in the area, including buckwheat and sage.
We also spotted some friendly lizards hanging out in the sunshine.
We reached the top of the hill around .4 mile and enjoyed a nice level stretch.
Around .5 mile we passed the turn-off for the Middle Pond/Middle Creek trail on our right, and continued straight along the paved roadway.
The road dropped down into a beautiful riparian stretch with towering oak trees shading the trail.
Around .7 mile, still amid the oaks, the Boulder Loop Trail branched off to the left. We continued straight.
We quickly came to the end of the oak grove and the other end of the Boulder Loop Trail.
On our right we had some great views of the beautiful Middle Pond.
Around 1.08 miles we passed the East Ridge Trail on our right, and once again continued straight. We could see an old, dilapidated house on the hill in front of us, partially obscured by trees.
Just beyond, on the left side of the road, was the Daley Ranch House – once a summer home for the Daley Family who used to own the land. Nowadays, you can tour the ranch house on the second Sunday of each month from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm courtesy of The Friends of Daley Ranch and local Rangers. There are bathrooms and water on the right side of the road across from the Ranch House.
Continuing up the road we found some old outbuildings.
At 1.25 miles we came to a “Y” junction and the start of the Jack Creek Meadow Loop. You can go either direction here, but we stayed straight to go in a clockwise direction.
This was a very long, very straight stretch of trail through open grassland with occasional oaks.
Around 2.5 miles we passed an unmarked junction leading to the right but continued straight. Around 2.7 miles there was another junction where the Hidden Springs Trail branched off to the left. We continued straight.
The trees were thicker here in the northern side of the loop. We spotted a rabbit in the brush, sitting very still hoping to avoid attention.
Finally, around 2.8 miles we found a chain-link fence and gate marking the preserve’s boundary. The trail continued to the right, which we followed.
The trail quickly turned south, heading back towards our starting point.
As we made our way down the wide road, we spotted a group of horseback riders coming towards us. We exchanged greetings as they got close, and then they invited us to feed their horses some carrots they provided. We had a lot of fun meeting the horses and giving them treats!
We said goodbye to our new equestrian friends and continued down the trail. The surroundings were much the same as the other side of the loop – grasses and oaks.
Eventually, the trail began to bend westward as we headed back towards the Ranch House.
Around 4.4 miles the Sage Trail branched off to our left. If you want a longer hike, you can take that trail and cobble together a longer loop, but we continued straight.
It was just a short distance back to the Ranch House Road where we had begun our loop. From here, we turned left to retrace our route back to the car.
Directions:
From I-15, take the exit for El Norte Parkway and head east on El Norte Parkway for approximately 3.2 miles. Turn left onto La Honda Drive and follow La Honda for approximately 1.3 miles to the Daley Ranch entrance. Parking for Daley Ranch will be on the left at the end of the road, additional parking can be found to the right at Dixon Lake, however there is a fee ($5) to park there during weekends and holidays. map
| Total Distance: | 5.7 miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Total Ascent: | 610 feet |
| Dog Friendly?: | Leashed dogs allowed |
| Bike Friendly?: | Bikes allowed |
| Facilities: | Water spigot at trailhead, restrooms at Dixon Lake. Water and restrooms across from Ranch House at approximately 1 mile. |
| Fees/Permits: | None |
For more information, visit:
City of Escondido: Daley Ranch
Friends of Daley Ranch
Trail Map
View route or download GPX from CalTopo
