Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

    4.4 (67 reviews)

    Blue Sky Ecological Reserve Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

    Recommended Reviews - Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Many species of birds can be observed
    Robin P.

    My friend and I hike blue sky weekly and enjoy all the trail selections. Whether you want a leisurely stroll or a grueling hike, blue sky has it all. We meet up around 8 AM and there's always plenty of parking - by the time we leave people are waiting for our spots. The views and wildlife are beautiful and you often run into a docent on the weekends.

    Krajicek K.

    Parking available when we arrived at 12:30PM on an early March Sunday. The trail to Lake Ramona is well maintained and an easy, wide trail; except the last 15 mins or so was a steep incline to the top. Good view of Lake Poway and Lake Ramona at the top. Wild flowers are also blooming at this time of the year. Not much shade on this trail; however this early March Sunday was cool with temperature at mid 50s. Actually it was windy and cold at the top. It was a good hike if you have never been in n this trail. But I feel once is enough for me.

    Approaching the midpoint of where you turn around for the out-and-back portion of the hike. Just over the climb is Lake Ramona
    Nancy H.

    We did the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve Hike to Lake Ramona, approximately 6mi moderate intensity. It was a convenient hike to get to (it's in Poway) but gets very busy really early on Temperature: The majority of the hike is unshaded. We did the hike on a winter morning and for the first mile, my nose and lips were so cold I couldn't move them. I should have worn a mask to keep my face warm. Thereafter, I was able to shed my sweatshirt and build up a very light sweat. I wore sunglasses almost the whole time because there was a lot of glare from the sun. Difficulty: All sorts of terrain but primarily clearly marked dirt trail covered with pebbles. There were several sections with steep incline (my favorite part of hiking) but it was interspersed with more than enough periods of flat ground. Parking: Free lot. We arrived at 730 AM on a weekend and the lot was empty. By the time we left at 10:30 a.m., the lot was completely full.

    Oak Grove is a dead end, but lovely for deer watching.
    Char C.

    I haven't been here in years, but it's still a magical place. If you don't see wildlife here, you may have been sprayed with wildlife repellent. The Overlook trail is a short out and back with a great view of the area, but there is no shade. Only Porta potties in the parking lot, and another on the trail. Farther up towards poway lake are bathrooms but they've never been open when we've been here.

    Trail
    Lisa W.

    If you don't want to pay the $10 Lake Poway parking fee, you can park here! You'll have to walk 2 miles to the lake... so it's not useful if you want to like have a picnic or bring things to hang out. We do this because we love the extra 4 miles (round trip) added on top of Mount Woodson/Potato Chip hike. Parking here and starting here elevates our hike to 11 miles round trip (instead of the 7 miles to the rock)! It's a damn good hike, burns like over 1200 calories. Also the reserve is beautiful. It easy to walk to, just flat until you ascend up to the lake.

    Acorn Woodpeckers
    GT W.

    Really nicely done habitat conversation area albeit a bit small. Parking lot is a big plus vs. some other reserves where it's street parking only. One caveat, when you hike through here, most trails end up leaving the Blue Sky Reserve. The trail to Lake Poway ends up connecting up with the trailhead to Mt. Woodson, the most crowded trail in SD County. The trail to Lake Ramona also leaves the reserve. So, inside the reserve itself, there's only a small out and back trail. But the trail is unusually shaded by native oak forest. It's a great place for an easy, flat nature walk where you can spot acorn woodpeckers, etc. There are several informational placards, fairly wide and easily marked trails, and good signage too. Overall, Blue Sky nice place to enjoy the outdoors, but limited in terms of trails.

    Mukhambika A.

    This is a very beautiful reserve. The views are impressive and it is not a long hike. We didn't do the full distance.

    Nice and shaded for part of the trail.
    Aaron S.

    This is a very nice open trail. It is located very close to Mt. Woodson and I believe you can get to the Mt. Woodson hike on one of the side trails. If you feel like changing it up or adding 2+ miles, start here. The flat part is nice and shaded most of the way. At least 3 different routes to take off the main trail. If you do not take the side trail to Ramona or Lake Poway this is an easy 2.67 mile round trip walk. Took it easy this time since we did Iron Mountain the day before but next time we will hit a side trail for sure.

    Poppies
    Rou M.

    Gorgeous hiking area. Very well maintained south a dg path so you don't really need hiking shoes. Lake Ramona trail gets pretty steep so make sure you have packable layers if it's cold. You're going to get hot. There are porter potties at the beginning and middle of the trail and placards naming some of the plants. Right now there's a massive poppy bloom. It's really unbelievable, with the south facing hills on the Ramona trail looking completely orange. From the top of the trail near lake Ramona you can see the ocean. The end of the trail gets pretty steep so prepare for a cardio workout! Very beautiful trail. I think the poppies are going to be blooming for a while in a wave. Btw dogs allowed in leash.

    Marcus F.

    A challenging family-friendly trail that can offer you a warm up to the other more challenging Poway hikes. Blue Sky Reserve starts off on the right foot with a nice parking lot. The trails here are wide and time tested. At about a mile in you'll get a path choice. I suggest you take the Ramona Lake path if you're looking for a nice uphill climb with great views on top of the Dam. The one bummer is that the trail itself is pretty crowded but not too bad. - There's a side trail called the Creekside Trail which should be considered mandatory because it's a great walk along oaks and thick green vegetation. The annoying - People blasting music while they hike. The stupid - People taking strollers to the top.

    Parking right next door
    Felipe G.

    I've been looking for a running trail for a long time. This one is perfect. Beginning is pretty flat but if you want a challenge you will eventually get some nice hill work. Views are beautiful. Many hikers on the trail with their dogs. This trail can get really hot so bring water for hydration and lots of sun screen. The poway sun can really beat down on ya. Have been back multiple times to run this trail. Plenty of parking and a clean portable potty at the entrance.

    Alejandra S.

    In order to find reeeeally beautiful hikes in San Diego, it always seems that you have to go fairly far from the city. Blue Sky Reserve is one of those unassuming spots that you would never expect would feel "nature-y," and yet some parts of it definitely make you feel like you're far from civilization. I checked out both lakes (Poway and Ramona) and the views were definitely worth it. I guess that San Diegans crave bodies of water (that are not the ocean), so maybe I was easily impressed, but if the cool lake views are not your thing, it was also a decent walk/workout towards the end. I would definitely recommend it!

    A quick pic of our hike
    Abigail D.

    Such a beautiful hike! We went last Saturday with my sister and her three little ones, it was perfect for the kids and our four-legged family members! It's an easy enough trail to where you don't need super fancy hiking shoes, I wore my trainers and they worked perfectly! I definitely recommend this hike.

    See all

    8 months ago

    Helpful 56
    Thanks 12
    Love this 38
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ed T.
    101
    354
    2806

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Need T.
    16
    235
    919

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa W.
    3668
    3460
    18465

    6 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0
    Photo of GT W.
    508
    2348
    1103

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sunshine L.
    65
    990
    420

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gabi V.
    168
    59
    24

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rothy C.
    46
    244
    79

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul R.
    257
    1361
    855

    8 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anthony M.
    143
    46
    90

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Banu S.
    682
    599
    1503

    9 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelsey B.
    134
    76
    72

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nive J.
    0
    20
    62

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara S.
    22
    91
    154

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenny S.
    0
    108
    14

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andrew M.
    79
    145
    295

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Simmy S.
    106
    216
    99

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Phillip W.
    39
    820
    130

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

    Review Highlights - Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

    The way to Lake Poway I call a miniature Iron Mountain and try way to Lake Ramona is like a mini Mt.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hiking 3,207 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Twin Peaks

    Twin Peaks

    3.9(13 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Great moderate hike! There are several trails to choose from, but the one we did was just over 3…read moremiles with over 800 ft of elevation gain. The trail is well maintained and rewards you with a beautiful panoramic view of Poway.

    Short and sweet out-and-back trail. ~1.9 miles total, can finish in about an hour. Start in…read moreSilverset Park where there's a nice parking lot, a bathroom and a lot of families walking around. The hike itself is very quiet, I was expecting bigger crowds on a Sunday afternoon with beautiful weather but only ran into 2 solo hikers the entire trail. This could be a pro or a con depending on if you're seeking solitude or have some concerns about safety (e.g. a female solo hiker), but the area itself feels extremely peaceful and safe and embedded in a lovely suburban neighborhood. I also had cell service the whole time on this trail too which was nice. Gets steeper closer to the top and might have to climb over a good number of rocks (some of which are a bit loose) but nothing that you can't handle with a good pair of hiking shoes and a bit of caution. Agree with the other posted reviews that there's a network of trails that is not super well labeled and the signs are not helpful. Still, you can see the summit from the trail pretty much the entire time and that helped me orient myself, just choose the path leading in the direction of that summit. Great workout, views at the top are beautiful and completely worth it!

    Photos
    Twin Peaks - Poway

    Poway

    Twin Peaks
    Twin Peaks - Poway

    See all

    Poway

    Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve - The falls area

    Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve

    4.2(394 reviews)
    8.2 miMira Mesa, Torrey Hills

    I've done this trail/hike quite a few times already since I grew up in the area. It's been a few…read moreyears since I had last done it and I went alone with my little dog a few months ago during the summer. BRING ALOT OF WATER. If you're new to this trail/hike, I would recommend the north trail. The south trail can be a bit confusing and you may get lost if you're inexperienced. Parking: I take a little shortcut and I park closer to Park Village elementary school and there's a little parking lot area roundabout that you can park in. Plenty of little trails , little critters, and people riding their horses through. A calming sight to see. there is good amount of water during the summertime when I went. Hiking shoes are not needed. When you get to the waterfall, there's plenty of rocks you can climb onto and it's pretty fun. Dog friendly, but make sure they're on a leash during the trail.

    Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve is a set of flat hiking trails along a dry creek bed stretching…read morefrom Black Mountain Road on the east to Sorrento Valley on the west. The round trip from one end to the other was just under 12 miles. From the east, you start at Canyonside Community Park. The parking spaces closest to the trailhead were adjacent to baseball field #8 so keep that in mind. You can actually take one of two parallel trails westward, one north of the creek bed and one south of the creek bed, towards the "waterfall" which was about a three-mile distance. I have done both before with different groups of friends. There was quite a bit of shade on certain parts of the trek. You will need to watch out for dung as horse riding was permitted on the trails. The waterfall was an area of boulders where the creek has flowing water that descends maybe 20 feet over a distance of about 50 yards. At this junction, you can cross the creek from the north trail to the south trail or vice versa to head back east to Canyonside Community Park. I have never gone west of the waterfall, but one of these days I will do so or start from the Sorrento Valley side and head eastward. If you like a long hike without much elevation, then this will be for you.

    Photos
    Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve - Path across a ridge

    Path across a ridge

    Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
    Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve

    See all

    Mount Woodson Trail

    Mount Woodson Trail

    4.5(834 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    If you're thinking about hiking Mount Woodson trail aka the famous Potato Chip Rock--just know…read more.. your legs are about to file a formal complaint. This hike is a little over 7 miles (round trip) and definitely on the "hard but worth it" side, with steady climbs, and rocky steps that will have you questioning "who's idea was this?" For trail details, I'd suggest checking out Alltrails before you go. Things to know: the trailhead starts at Lake Poway Recreation Area and there's a $10 entrance fee. Weather can be unpredictable--our hike started wet and ended sunny, so dress smart. Bring plenty of water, good shoes with traction, and a snack to reward yourself at the top (you earned it). The trail is fairly well marked, but pro tip: take pics at each fork unless you enjoy "bonus miles" on the way down. At the summit, expect a line to snap that iconic photo. And yes--you'll need to do a tiny "jump" onto the rock... which suddenly turns very intimidating when it's your turn. Some people bail, but it's totally doable. Challenging, a little chaotic, and 100% one of my favorite hikes. Your calves won't forgive you--but your camera roll will.

    I know this trail as potato chip rock!…read more We started the hike at 730am, ended at 11 All incline! There are a couple portable bathrooms along the trail. Beautiful view of the lake. Beautiful view of all SD on a clear day! Once you make it to the top you can take a picture on the chip! It's a little scary, but worth it just to say you did it! There's a 10 dollar parking fee. Bathrooms are clean. It's a very diverse park with lots to do!

    Photos
    Mount Woodson Trail - Someone made a wood sign for everyone to enjoy!!  Love this.

    Someone made a wood sign for everyone to enjoy!! Love this.

    Mount Woodson Trail
    Mount Woodson Trail - Finally took a photo on this rock- together.

    See all

    Finally took a photo on this rock- together.

    Blue Sky Ecological Reserve - hiking - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...