Have a Good Time – Have a Safe Time

Hiking Safety

   Mountain lions are occasionally encountered in both parks. The following suggestions are based upon studies of mountain lion behavior.

VISITORS:

  Please make sure that when hiking you have plenty of drinking water. One .5 liter bottle of water will not be enough. We recommend a minimum of 2 liters of water for each hiker for a two hour hike.

Mountain Biking Safety

  All the fire roads are multi-use trails: users should be aware that they may encounter others and all users, particularly bicyclists, must anticipate this and yield to both hikers and horseback riders. Mountain Bikes are only allowed on trails in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park When riding in the park:

Trail Updates

DISCLAIMER:

  The following report is compiled and written by park volunteers. The information contained therein is obtained from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, other volunteers and park staff. Therefore, some (or possibly all) information contained in this report may not have been personally verified by the writers. Every effort is made by the writers of this report to ensure its accuracy, but no guarantees can be made. With this understanding, and also understanding that some trails in the park are more challenging than others, all users of the park's trails should exercise common sense about using the trails. Regardless of the information contained in this report, any park user should be prepared to turn around if any adverse condition is encountered.

  Finally, we highly recommend that you always check with park staff for latest conditions before using any park trail.

Road and Trail Reports:

If you find a trail condition that has not yet been reported, please email trails.

Hold your cursor over a road name below to read about its most current trail conditions:

IMPORTANT TRAIL ADVISORY:

   (03/27/2013) Ceonothus Chaparral clearing in the area of Paso Picacho / Azalea Glen Trail has been completed and heavy equipment removed from the park. Controlled Burns are scheduled soon. Work is almost complete on the areas off Fern Flat Fire Road. Crews should be out of the area by this coming weekend.   

Arroyo Seco Fire Road

Arroyo Seco Trail

Azalea Glen Fire Road

Azalea Glen Road

Azalea Glen Trail /CRHT

Azalea Glen Loop Trail

Azalea Springs Fire Road

B-13 Trail

Black Oak Trail

Blue Ribbon Trail

Burnt Pine Trail

C-11 Trail

California Riding & Hiking Trail (aka CRHT)

Cold Spring Trail

Cold Stream Trail

Conejos Trail

CRHT

Dead Horse Trail

Descanso Creek Trail

Dyar Springs Trail

E-16 Trail

East Mesa Fire Road

East Side Connector Trail

"F-12" Trail

"F-15" Trail

"F-16" Trail

Falls Fire Road

Fern Flat Fire Road

Fir Trail (aka C-11)

Fox Trail (aka B-13)

Grass Trail (aka H-17)

Green Valley Falls Trail

H-17 Trail:

Harvey Moore Trail

Hill Trail (aka F-12)

Japacha Fire Road

Juaquapin Trail

Juaquapin - East Side Connector Trail

Kelley's Ditch Fire Road

Kelly's Ditch Trail

Los Caballos Trail

La Cima Trail

Los Vaqueros Trail

Lower Descanso Creek Trail

Marty Minshall Trail

Merrigan Fire Road

Middle Peak Fire Road

Nature Trail (at Paso Picacho Day Use area)

Oak Trail (aka E-16)

Oakzanita Trail

Paso Campground / West Side Connector Trail

Peak Fire Road

Pine Ridge Trail

Pine Trail (aka F-15)

Saddleback Trail

Soapstone Grade Fire Road

South Boundry Fire Road

Stonewall Creek Fire Road

Stonewall Peak Trail

Sugar Pine Trail

Sweetwater Trail

Upper Descanso Creek Trail

Upper Green Valley Fire Road

Upper Green Valley Trail

Vern Whittaker Trail

West Mesa Fire Road

West Mesa Trail

West Side Trail

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  Arroyo Seco Fire Road

  (3/20/2013) Road is clear and in good condition.  

  Arroyo Seco Trail

  (2/23/2012) No reported issues.   

  Azalea Glen Fire Road

  (7/18/2012) Clear and open.  

  Azalea Glen Road

  (03/27/13) There are several down trees reported.   

  Azalea Glen Trail / CRHT

  (03/27/13) There are reports of several fallen trees between Paso and the top.   

  Azalea Glen Loop Trail

  From Paso Site 80 to Azalea Glen Road

  (02/09/2013) No reported issues. See above note regarding reforestation project.   

  ADA Section

  (12/22/2012) No reported issues. See above note regarding reforestation project.   

  Azalea Springs Fire Road

  (9/18/2012) Clear and open.  

  B-13 Trail:

  SEE FOX TRAIL   

  Black Oak Trail

  East Branch

  (3/19/2013) No reported issues.   

  West Branch

 (3/19/2013) No reported issues.   

  Blue Ribbon Trail

  (03/27/2013) No reported issues.   

  Burnt Pine Trail

  (03/27/2013) There are several down trees across the trail near the West Mesa Trail terminus and several more down trees across the trail between the Peak Road and Conejos Trail junction.   

  C-11 Trail

  SEE FIR TRAIL.  

  California Riding & Hiking Trail (aka CRHT)

  (03/27/2013) A down tree off the Soapstone Grade FR junction has been reported.   

  Cold Spring Trail

  (03/27/2013) 2 down trees were cleared near the western terminus.   

  Cold Stream Trail

  (10/10/2012) A down tree has been cleared south of the Paso area.  

  TRAIL ADVISORY 1: The section of trail south of Paso Picacho almost to the switchbacks is in poor condition. Hikers should use caution here. This section is not recommended for equestrians at this time.  

  TRAIL ADVISORY #2: There is copious poison oak along the trail from Paso Picacho all the way down past the switchbacks until you reach the meadow area. There are several areas where the poison oak is right next to the trail. Watch for it and stay on the trail and you should be OK.  

  Conejos Trail

  (8/25//2012) The section from Lookout Road to Springs Fire Road was walked on this date and is in good condition.   

  From Lookout Road to Springs Fire Road: No reported issues.  

  From Lookout Road and Burnt Pine Trail: 2 small trees down across the trail. These impose no impediment to hikers.

  CRHT

  SEE CALIFORNIA RIDING & HIKING TRAIL  

  Dead Horse Trail

  No reported issues.   

  ADVISORY Trail Advisory: Copious poison oak in the area of the river crossing.   

  Descanso Creek Trail

  Lower

  No reported issues.   

  Upper (AKA "Bernie's Trail")  

  No reported issues.   

  Dyar Springs Trail

  (03/27/2013) A report of a fallen tree between East Side Trail and Juaquapin Trail.   

  E-16 Trail

  SEE OAK TRAIL   

  East Mesa Fire Road

  (3/20/2013) No reported issues.   

.
  East Side Trail

  No reported issues.  

  TRAIL ADVISORY: There are patches of poison oak along the trail just north of Sweetwater Parking.   

  "F-12" Trail

  SEE HILL TRAIL   

  "F-15" Trail

  SEE PINE TRAIL   

  "F-16" Trail

  SEE OAK TRAIL   

  Falls Fire Road

  (3/20/2013) No reported issues.   

  TRAIL ADVISORY: There is a large patch of poison oak on the north side of the road just west of the Falls Connector Trail. Stay well into the road and away from the edge here and you will be OK.

  Fern Flat Fire Road

  (03/27/2013) There is a down tree across the road near the Fir Trail junction.   

  ADVISORY 1: Reforestation projects are in progress along the north side Fern Flat Fire Road east of the “dog leg” turn.  

  Fir Trail (aka C-11)

  (03/27/2013) 2 down trees across the trail.  

  Fox Trail (aka B-13)

  (3/13/2013) No reported issues; brushing work continuing.   

  Grass Trail (aka H-17)

  No reported issues.   

  Green Valley Falls Trail

  UPPER

  SEE UPPER GREEN VALLEY TRAIL.   

  H-17 Trail:

  SEE GRASS TRAIL  

  Harvey Moore Trail

  (03/27/2013) A report of a fallen tree west of the Dyar Springs Trail junction and another fallen tree north of the Deer Springs Trail junction.   

  Hill Trail (aka F-12)

  No reported issues.   

  Japacha Fire Road

  (3/25/2013) Has been cleared of all fallen trees.   

  Juaquapin Trail

  (3/27/2013) Has been cleared of all fallen trees.   

  Juaquapin - East Side Connector Trail

  (03/27/2013) Tree reported down south of the East Side Trail junction.   

  TRAIL ADVISORY: There are some areas of Poison Oak along here - mostly along the downhill side. Stay on the trail and you will be OK.   

  Kelly's Ditch Trail

  (2/6/2013) This trail is closed between the end of the Fire Road and the North Park Boundary.  

  Kelley's Ditch Fire Road

  (03/25/2013) Has been cleared of all fallen trees.   

  Los Caballos Trail

  No reported issues.   

  La Cima Trail

  No reported issues.   

  Los Vaqueros Trail

  No reported issues.   

  Lower Descanso Creek Trail

  SEE DESCANSO CREEK TRAIL   

  Marty Minshall Trail

  No reported issues.   

  Merrigan Fire Road

  (2/27/2013) No reported issues.   

  Middle Peak Fire Road

  No reported issues.   

  Nature Trail (at Paso Picacho Day Use area)

  No reported issues.   

  Oak Trail (aka E-16)

  No reported issues.   

  Oakzanita Trail

  No reported issues.   

  Paso Campground / West Side Connector Trail   

  No reported issues.   

  Peak Fire Road

  No reported issues.   

  Pine Ridge Trail

  (3/16/2013) No reported issues.   

  Pine Trail (aka F-15)

  (No reported issues.   

  Saddleback Trail

  No reported issues.   

  Soapstone Grade Fire Road  

  No reported issues.   

  South Boundry Fire Road

  (3/20/2013) No reported issues.   

  Stonewall Creek Fire Road   

  (03/27/2013) Has been cleared of all fallen trees.   

  Stonewall Peak Trail 

  Front

  (3/27/2013) Report of 2 trees down near the peak.   

  Back

  (3/13/2013) no reported issues.   

  Sugar Pine Trail

  (03/27/2013) several down trees across the trail; OK for hikers, not passable for equestrians.   

  Sweetwater Trail

  No reported issues.   

  Upper Descanso Creek Trail

  SEE DESCANSO CREEK TRAIL   

  Upper Green Valley Fire Road

  No reported issues.   

  Upper Green Valley Trail

  No reported issues.   

  Vern Whittaker Trail  

  No reported issues.   

  West Mesa Fire Road

  (03/25/2013) has been cleared of all fallen trees.   

  West Mesa Trail

  The section of West Mesa Trail between the Monument and Fern Flat Fire Road is in good condition and usable.   

  TRAIL ADVISORY: West Mesa Trail between the Japacha/West Mesa Fire Roads junction and the Monument is extremely brushy and has a number of fallen trees across it. Additionally, we have received several reports of heavy tick infestation along this section. This section of trail is NOT ADVISED FOR USE at this time. See map scan below.   

 West Side Trail

  No reported issues.