Someday the Coast to Crest Trail will run continuously from the summit of Volcan Mountain to the ocean, but for now the longest contiguous segment of the trail is the 22-mile span between Highway 78 and Santa Fe Valley. A 22-mile point-to-point hike makes for an awfully long day hike, so we’ve been tackling this section in smaller segments.
We had recently done the portion from the Old Coach staging area up to Raptor Ridge and back, and were ready to tackle the next section – the eastern side of Raptor Ridge, beginning from the staging area on Ysabel Creek Road.
We headed out on a warm, sunny day, and found the parking area almost empty. The trailhead was located on the south end of the parking lot.
After passing the kiosk we turned right and crossed Ysabel Creek Road to pick up the trail on the other side.
From here the trail paralleled Bandy Canyon Road on our left. Fortunately it wasn’t a terribly busy road so traffic noise was minimal.
Around .34 mile an old jeep track led off to the right while the trail continued on the left.
Around .5 miles the trail veered downhill to the right, finally leaving the road.
Shortly beyond we crossed a gravel road and picked up the trail on the other side.
The trail led us through a mix of grasslands and coastal sage scrub, with plenty of invasives mixed in.
To the north were the sprawling fields of the San Pasqual Agricultural Preserve, and across Highway 78 was the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We could see the park’s yellow hot air balloon as it floated up and came back down.
Around 1.5 miles the trail, which had so far been pretty flat, began to climb as we began ascending to Raptor Ridge.
The grade wasn’t especially steep, and we enjoyed the expansive views we got as we gained elevation.
We rounded a bend and found a viewpoint with a picnic table, a lovely spot to enjoy a snack and take in the views.
Raptor Ridge viewpoint was just a short distance up the hill.
From Raptor Ridge we had sweeping views of the fields below and Ramona’s Black Mountain in the distance.
If you’re looking for a longer hike, you can continue on to the Old Coach staging area from here, but after taking in the views we turned around and headed back.
Directions:
From I-15, take the W Bernardo Dr/Pomerado Rd exit. Head east on Pomerado Road to Highland Valley Road. Turn left onto Highland Valley Road. Continue on Highland Valley Road for approximately 4 miles, then turn left onto Bandy Canyon Road. After another .3 miles, turn left to stay on Bandy Canyon Road. Continue on Bandy Canyon Road for another 1.4 miles, then turn left onto Ysabel Creek Road. The parking area will be almost immediately on your right. map
| Total Distance: | 4.4 miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Total Ascent: | 540 feet |
| Dog Friendly?: | Leashed dogs allowed |
| Bike Friendly?: | Bikes allowed |
| Facilities: | None |
| Fees/Permits: | None |
For more information, visit:
San Dieguito River Park
Trail Map
View route or download GPX from CalTopo
