2.  River Park Overview

The ESP Café will NOT be open, but consider refreshments at Dudley's Bakery.

Recommended Reading  

SAN DIEGO:  An Introduction to the Region by Philip R. Pryde

• Chapter 1: Introduction: The Uniqueness of the Region.

• Chapter 3: The Nature of the County: San Diego’s Climate, Vegetation, and Wildlife.

COAST TO CREST AND BEYOND: Across San Diego by car along the San Dieguito River

by Wolf Berger, Ph.D.

• Preface: Pages 4 - 10.

• Chapter 1: The Basics.

• Chapter 6: Julian and Volcan Mountain. 

• Appendix I: Geologic Time Scale: Page 135.

• Appendix II: Nature Notes by Karen Berger: Pages 136 - 137.

We will meet in the parking lot on the southwest side of Dudley’s Bakery in Santa Ysabel.  Plan to arrive at about 8:30 am so that you will have the opportunity to purchase bakery and lunch items and beverages at Dudley’s.  Also note that this will be the last opportunity for an indoor toilet. 

In the parking lot at 9:00, Chris Khoury will explain the day. We will then carpool to the trailhead on Farmer Road (1 mile past Volcan Mountain Preserve Trail and just opposite the turn to Cedar Glen). Travel east on Highway 78 through Santa Ysabel and toward Julian. 3.2 miles east of Dudley's Bakery, turn left on Wynola Road and travel approximately 3.3 miles on Wynola Road. Past the intersection of Julian Orchards Drive/Farmer Road, drive less than .1 mile, then turn left onto Farmer Road then continue 1 mile to our trailhead. We will hike about 1/4 mile to a lovely overlook of the Santa Ysabel East Preserve. In the shade of an oak tree, our expert, Chris Khoury, will speak to us for about 30 minutes about the origin of the San Dieguito River Valley and its early inhabitants. Temperature allowing, we will hike 1/3 mile further to an impressive archeological site; this additional round trip will take about 30 minutes.

We will then backtrack to the parking area. Proceeding through a locked gate in vehicles in an area not open to the public, we will first stop at Ironside Springs, the headwaters of the San Dieguito River. We will then stop at the Hunter's Camp, where a compost toilet is available, and hike on the Sky Island Trail (1.5 miles round trip), which affords beautiful vistas to the west. We will then carpool to Ferguson Flats where we will enjoy the truly incredible view from the Great Western Divide, and have lunch, reflection, and discussion, a leisurely hike in the area, and take a group photo by a massive Canyon oak tree. We will then drive down, though the locked gates, and return to Dudley's.

We will be hiking in several different climate zones.  At a minimum, bring a hearty lunch, extra water, and layers of clothing. This will be a long day so be prepared to drive home in the dark.