Old Survey Road 97 was once a main thoroughfare connecting Ramona and Escondido. Established in the late 1800’s, the road was used for mail deliveries, gold miners travelling to Julian, and General Stephen Kearney and Kit Carson as they made their way to the Battle of San Pasqual. The road fell into disuse when it was replaced by Highway 78 in 1930. A section of the old road lies on the northern side of the Ramona Grasslands Preserve. Until recently it has been closed to public access due to the presence of sensitive species, particularly the Golden Eagle who has been seen nesting nearby.
But the County of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department has opened the trail on a limited, trial basis for hikers, bikers, and equestrians (note: unfortunately, dogs are not allowed). The trail is open on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 8 am to sunset until November 15th, 2018. Trail users need to watch a quick educational video on the rules of and pass a short test in order to get a free permit required to access the trail (go to the website here for everything you need to get the permit). Once you get the permit you can save it to your phone or print it out. A ranger is posted at the trailhead actively checking permits.
The primary rule for doing this hike is to STAY ON THE TRAIL. Whether or not this trail is open to the public in the future will likely depend on everyone following the rules, so please keep that in mind when you visit.
We picked a nice cool, overcast day for our hike and arrived mid-morning. After checking in with the ranger we set off down the trail. It was a wide, dirt road, leading straight west. There were wire fences along either side of the road, and a herd of placid cows grazed on our right.
Around .5 mile, the trail made a sharp right turn, passing through an open gate.
The trail meandered north alongside some beautiful oak trees.
As we continued on, we spotted what looked like an old gauging station along a dry creek bed on our left.
Around .75 miles we encountered a fork in the road – the main trail continued to the left while the right fork led to the edge of a fenced-off field where cattle grazed. There was a picnic table under the oaks here, offering a nice spot to relax and enjoy the day.
We continued along the trail, going up a small incline. To the left of the trail we spotted the remains of an old building.
The trail wound its way through clumps of buckwheat and sage. We were happy to have cloudy skies and cooler temperatures since there was no shade for much of the hike.
Behind us, we could see the antenna-topped peak of Mount Woodson rising in the distance.
As we continued, around 1.5 miles we started to find a few steeper slopes.
We crested a rise and found some beautiful views looking towards the San Pasqual Valley. We could even see the hot air balloon from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park far in the distance.
The trail then descended steeply, making me regret that I hadn’t brought my trekking poles. Fortunately, recent rains had left the soil firm and soft, so I didn’t have any issues with slipping.
Finally, around 2.7 miles we reached the end of the trail. A wooden rail fence and prominent sign clearly indicated our turnaround point. We stopped for a few minutes to admire the views and dramatic skies before heading back.
Directions:
Take Highway 67 North to Archie Moore Road (just a little past the Mount Woodson trailhead). Turn left onto Archie Moore Road and follow it, continuing as it turns into Highland Valley Road. Continue past the main Ramona Grasslands for about .8 miles to Rangeland Road. Turn left onto Rangeland Road and go approximately 1.2 miles to find the staging area on your left. Park along Rangeland Road. map
| Total Distance: | 5.4 miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Total Ascent: | 938 feet |
| Dog Friendly?: | No dogs allowed |
| Bike Friendly?: | Bikes allowed |
| Facilities: | Port-a-potty near trailhead; no water |
| Fees/Permits: | Free permit required – click here for more info |
For more information, visit:
View route or download GPX from CalTopo