One of the highlights of my trip to Julian! Loved seeing the cows peacefully grazing about 15 minutes into our hike. The path was not paved but still easily hiked as it was pretty level. The scenery was breathtaking with hills, trees, and the cows!! We even saw some horses by the entrance read more

See all

This review is for the West Vista Loop which was a ~4.2 mile round trip that took ~2 hours to complete. This was a relaxing and peaceful hike with cows. There were some nice open views throughout the trail. The first mile or so was a steep incline before reaching the loop. A little muddy in some areas. Free parking on the side of the road. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/3nMnKb84G6M read more

See all

Typical SoCal hiking experience except... there are free roaming cows around! Despite cows being present, there wasn't an overpowering farm smell at all. There are also patches of wild flowers that smell amazing around the trail. Another bonus is that this hike is dog friendly! My crew, human and furry, enjoyed this beautiful hike. You can make this hike as short (4miles) or as long (12.5miles) you want. **Parking lot opens at 8:00am. No entrance/permit fees. read more

See all

EAST Preserve Review You get a bit of everything when hiking the trails of the East Santa Ysabel preserve. You'll walk along rolling hills, creeks and of course all the cows grazing right next to you. If you want a long hike it's 15 miles from one end of the preserve to the other and back. If you're looking to hike a loop trail maybe 5-7 miles total. Keep in mind that these trails are not always flat so expect a few up-hill treks. Family-Friendly? Yes! But I would advise starting at the trailhead off Farmer Rd and not the trailhead off the 79 Highway. That one is all uphill for the first mile or so. Pros- - Wide trails that are easy to hike - Cows on the trail - The Kanaka loop Trail ( 7.4 mile lollipop trail ) is the perfect day hike for the family. You get a bit of everything on it, there are long flat stretches through the pastures and a few up-hills thrown in for good measure. Cons - Susceptible to harsh weather conditions. It gets very hot during the late summer and windy in the winter. - Cow pies everywhere Tips - Red flag warnings should be taken seriously out here. On one of our visits the wind was so strong at times ( 60mph) that we had to go off trail to take shelter. read more

See all

Address may take you to middle of no where... Type "Santa Ysabel East Preserve" and it will give you the right place. I had an opportunity to pick black berry, which is an invasive plant in this area today... it seems like they only allow once a year but the park is open all year long. The parking is simple to find once you "Santa Ysabel East Preserve" enough for 20 or more cars,... no need to pay for parking. Porta-potty and little bench you can sit... the trails are simple but scattered with cow dung... there are also cows there roaming free... please leave wild life alone... there are lot of posting about snakes... The trail is intermittent shade and sun but easy trail. Remember to bring and drink water. read more

Santa Ysabel Preserves - Hiking Near Me - Julian, California

See all

This is a great, easy trail near Julian. Santa Ysabel West is very strenuous. If you're looking for an easy hike with beautiful views, Santa Ysabel East is for you! Perfect if you're taking kids or pets with you. We saw cows and wild turkeys. There's a cool chair carved out of a fallen oak tree and a bench, too. Definitely recommended if you're a beginner or you just want something easier after conquering Volcán Mountain! read more

See all

This is a great little hike... It's mostly rolling hills, a couple of steep ones, a few trees thrown around, and lots of cows! I went through the west entrance (after stopping by for a slice of Julian pie), and took my dogs around the area to get some exercise. I didn't encounter another human in the two hours we toured around, and it was a beautiful day. We actually felt a drizzle or two, but it was still a pleasant day. I'll definitely go back and tour the whole place when I have more time. It was great for a leisurely afternoon, and it was unexpected since I had no idea it was there, and it wasn't what I was in the area for at all. Just watch out for the cow pies! Those are slightly less than pleasant... read more

Santa Ysabel Preserves - Time to walk those dogs! - Hiking Near Me - Julian, California

Yup, there's cows. Not everywhere today, but enough and they were close to the trail. Great hike. Has flat areas, some elevation, small creeks (with nice pedestrian bridges), picnic tables along the route, and some signage. Ample parking with maps, port-a-potty, and trash cans. Vistas cannot be beat. Will definitely be back to do the entire 13 miles. read more

See all

Santa Ysabel Preserves is an exceptional East County hiking venue! It's got oak trees, rolling meadows, and streams, and it's just about an hour from Interstate 8/Interstate 5. Parking is free and plentiful, and no hiking permits are required. Last time I visited, I went in through the East Entrance and hiked the loop to Kanaka Flat. The scenary was beautiful! Tip: very few people seem to come here; I was there on a gorgeous Saturday, and ran across less than half a dozen people :-) read more

This is a great hike! I came in from the west entrance off the 78, just before the 78/79 intersection. Started out around 9 am and finished around 12 doing the whole loop starting from the freeway. Bring some water and wear sunscreen-- today was particularly windy, but you warm up as you go up and down a couple of the steeper hills. Lots and lots of cow pies all over the place, but nothing stinky or unavoidable. Cool views of the surrounding area, and one the guys in our group spotted a mama and baby bear climbing up a tree! It was a super day to be out, and I would recommend this hike on a sunny, wintry/spring day. Afterwards my friend and I went and got a slice of pie from the Julian Pie Co. which has a shop just a short way down the 78- right where it intersects with the 79. Great way to wind down after a beautiful hike! read more

See all

I go running out here a great deal. It is a nice place for a run or walk. It is has some easy terrain, a creek, and some more difficult terrain. It is a pretty walk on a wide path/road. There are only a limited amount of trails. So, not much variety from this end of the preserve. It can get fairly windy at times. During the summer, with the cows and creek, the bugs can get pretty bad. Open for limited hours - opens too late in the am for me; closes up around sunset. read more

See all

Came out here for a run on a crisp, windy day. The preserve is awesome, and doesn't seem to get alot of visitors. The eastern trail head is on Farmer's Road, and the western one is on the 79, just north of Santa Ysabel. The park used to be open only on weekends, but the website now states "8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (daylight savings time) and 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (standard time)", although the posted hours at the trail heads still say saturday and sunday only. There is one main trail (actually, an old two track dirt road) from one end to the other, with an option for a longer loop near the eastern end, and a shortcut trail on the western side. Taking the longest route is about 10 miles end to end. Round trip is 20 miles with almost 4000 feet of elevation gain. Starting from the western end, you will encounter some good uphills right away. After 2 miles it evens out into some nice rolling fields. The one thing to be aware of is COWS. They are allowed to roam freely about the preserve, and will frequently be on the trail. As the signs at the trail head state 'Do Not Feed or Pet the Cattle!' read more

Santa Ysabel Preserves - Running with the cows - Hiking Near Me - Julian, California

See all

(This is for the East Preserve) Be careful of the fire ants nested in armies at the base of the map at the trailhead of the main trail! Those suckers are fiesty and the bites sting! (I unfortunately got a bite...Ouch!) After the potential ant attack, the rest of the hike is fairly calm, nice views, and maintained path. It's a fairly hilly hike, with a steady incline in the beginning, and then evening out in the middle. Then you can make a short detour to the right to see a non-existent San Diego River and then loop back to the start where it's up and down till you make it to the beginning again. Overall, nice hike, good exercise...and you can bring your dog! read more

See all

We are fairly avid hikers although we stick to short hikes now because of our three year old. Planning a day in Julian, we decided to start out by hiking at the Santa Ysabel preserve from the east side of the park (the trail head off of Farmer Road). If you like cows, cow flops and flies, this is the hike for you. We turned around after a mile, because the flies were so darn bad. At least the kiddie was impressed with the cows. I do have to say the scenery was nice. I would like to try this preserve from the west end (and away from the cows). read more

Dogs allowed on 6 foot leash Very hilly hiking Stream bed on trail with bridge Views of ponds, local mountains, and gorgeous valleys. Views of Santa Ysabel from the top of the hill Local wildlife includes wild turkeys and mule deer read more

Santa Ysabel Preserves - Hiking Near Me - Julian, California

I really enjoyed my hike at Santa Ysabel today! I started out from the Farmer Rd trailhead and was surprised how easygoing it is for the first 2 miles as it is rated "moderately strenuous" in my hiking book. There are some moderately steep inclines after 2 miles but nothing the average person couldn't handle. There are some cow pies to watch for here and there but not too many. I actually enjoyed the surprise encounters I had with a few cows along the way, especially when I came upon a big group with several calves. They don't bother anyone and it makes for a unique experience. The trail from the east end has some great views of rolling hills, oak and sycamore trees, and mountains off in the distance. It's a well-maintained trail and you can tell this preserve is relatively new (2006). After a couple easygoing miles from the east end the trail rises to Kanaka Flat, which is beautiful (although the trail is definitely hilly in parts here, though the name wouldn't suggest it). You can see the flat in the picture above with the guy running next to the cow. The trail at the flat is a loop and you can keep going on the "Coast to Crest" trail that I want to learn more about, or circle back the way you came. Hopefully I can try from the west end soon. A couple of things to keep in mind: As of today the preserve is open 7 days a week, but it does not open until 8:00. Unless you want to park 1/2 a mile away and sneak in like I did, I wouldn't arrive before then :) Also, the first stretch of the hike from the east end was extremely windy, but the wind died down about a mile into the hike and stayed low the rest of the way (until I hit it again on the way back, damnit). I can't take credit for this comparison, but my hiking book compared sections of this preserve to Montana's Big Sky Country. It's a wonderfully unique part of San Diego County to hike, and as long as you don't mind the occasional milk dud, I recommend checking it out. read more

We were looking for an easy walk and didn't have much time before sunset. It was beautiful. Entering the Preserve at the East entrance, near Julian, it was an easy walk. The first half mile was open and exposed and then the path/road took us through oak trees. We didn't get too far because we were warned that they lock the gates promptly and we didn't want to spend the night in our car. 7 minutes after sunset, we passed the Ranger on the road heading going over to lock the gates. The photos tell the rest of the story. Google this trail for lots more detail and info. read more

See all

Did a few hour hike at the East preserve and loved it! Feels very remote, with views of rolling hills in all directions. Cows everywhere (next to trails), which was special, and we also saw coyotes and a skunk. The only downside is they seem very strict about closing the parking lot gate at the stated time (5 pm this time of year), so definitely give yourself enough time to get back in time. read more

It's really pretty and lots of creatures surrounding you. Saw turkeys, free roaming cows, and squirrels. read more

See all

The west unit of the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve complements the east unit up in the Wynola area. There are only a couple miles of hiking and horse trails, but it's very accessible, free, and has beautiful scenery. The free-roaming cattle add a bit of Old West ambiance. This PR is that these open spaces are part of the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), which preserves a network of habitat and open space, protects bio-diversity, and enhances the region's quality of life. The more cynical view from this Native Californian is that the MSCP allows people to continue building in San Diego, even though we've already paved over far too much land, and even though we already have far too many in-migrants living here. *** Bird-wise, our recent 1-1/2 hour hike turned up: Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 3 Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 1 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 2 American Coot - Fulica americana 1 Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivorus 6 Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher - Myiarchus cinerascens 4! Western Kingbird - Tyrannus verticalis 5 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 4 Western Bluebird - Sialia mexicana 5 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 15 Lark Sparrow - Chondestes grammacus 9 Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana 2 House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 1 read more

I love this place!! The beauty that surrounds you as you walk along the path is breathtaking. The rolling hills with the beautiful trees and white rocks that cover the lovely green hills make it so hard to not keep stopping to take pictures. Lots of cows! They are great and will walk right with you but the bull could be kind of intimidating with his super loud moo calls I will def be going back! read more

See all

This review is for Santa Ysabel preserve EAST. Gorgeous hike, but be careful for poison oak! Wear long pants along this trail! The first 1.2miles after the fences are all uphill and very strenuous, you also will pass some free cows just roaming and eating grass which was the highlight for me. I was pretty bummed on the 1.2 all uphill climb which took a solid 30mins to complete, however at the top you'll see amazing views. Once you pass the uphill climb of death, you'll see a quaint lake and a nice little loop which makes the short version of this 16mile hike sum up to about five miles. Since we had a lot of rain this winter be prepared for lots of bugs and mosquitoes, but you'll see lots of lush sage growing everywhere and beautiful trees along this meadow. I will totally come back and attempt to do all 16miles! Also, as part of your reward for that insane climb, you can pick up some pies your way back in Julien which has the best apples! read more

See all

We hiked from the East parking lot and did a 5-mile "out and back." It's was very nice. It's a "rolly" hike with some climbing the last part. We saw lots of woodpeckers and other birds. Lots of cows hanging out. Sometimes your in the shade of the trees with a couple creek crossings, but it's mostly an open hike. It warm weather, it's best to get out early. We like to be back at the parking lot by noon so we can head over the the Julian Drug store for a BLT and an amazing chocolate malt! read more

Magical place. This is such a different landscape than the woods of the local mountains which we had been accustomed to so much prior to this visit. The vistas and vast space and cows and bulls are truly something special. The "secret" picnic table in the middle of the parking lot loop is almost as sweet as the trails. Take some time and walk far here. Every minute in these trails is a minute well spent. read more

See all

This is definitely one of the best trail spots in SD! My girlfriend and I planned this trail all week. It was warm, but the breeze was so nice! Not a single person on the trail. Kind of bummed we didn't get to see any water in the creek but we did get to see some cows and nice views. We will be back! read more

Santa Ysabel Preserves - Hiking Near Me - Julian, California

Great place for peace of mind. Connected with nature and the animals that we encountered. Loved this place

Such a gorgeous hike. If you ever feel the need to leave the hustle and bustle of San Diego then go up to Julian for a walk on the trails or a hike! I took my two dogs and we had such a refreshing and relaxing time. I would recommend bringing a friend with you because they do have bob cats and mountain lions up there. Beautiful scenery and they really maintain their trails beautifully. read more

We hiked the preserve from the east (Farmer Road) trail-head and were enchanted with the area. There is still a little fire damage, especially to the south, from the 2003 Cedar fire, but not the thoroughly torched landscape that is now so typical of Cuyamaca and much of our mountain back-country. The hike starts from Farmer road and proceeds west through a nice creek-canyon filled with oaks, green meadows... and cattle. (They are not penned, but are docile enough that they will not bother you. They just gave us bemused, if somewhat uninterested looks as we passed.) After about a mile and a half you start climbing up to Kanaka Flat, an area which really reminds me of areas to the north in the Western Sierra or Coastal Range foothills. There were more cattle, but Kanaka was more plains-like, punctuated by the occasional rolling hills and isolated stands of oak. The grass was really short from the constant grazing, giving it a truly unique look. We hiked about half way to 79 (the west trail-head), pausing for lunch at a picnic table about 4 miles in. From there we turned back, deviating a bit on the return by taking the Kanaka Flat loop south from the main trail , then east back to the trail head. That was nice because it took us closer to Volcan Mountain and gave us our first significant pockets of conifers during the hike. But the best part was we saw no other people at all on the trail until the return last mile (and that was only one group). I think the preserve is still a bit of a secret, though it has been around for few years. The only company we had were each other, some cows, and the sounds of birds, insects and the wind. If you want a nice get-away-from-it-all stroll through the San Diego County back-country with some classic California back-country scenery, Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve is a good choice. Enjoy. We sure did. Note: The County website states the preserve is open only during the Spring and Summer months. That is old information. It is open year round beginning at 8 AM daily. I believe they lock the trail-head gates at dusk. read more

We did not do the entire hike, but what we did do was quiet and serene. A great, easy hike close to Julian.

On second thought, I'm giving this place a one. Only because I don't want to be passing you on the trail. Watch out for the killer jungle cows and the poison oak, ivy, gas, and darts. No offense, of course. read more

BF wanted to go down to this trail to check it out. We went 2 X-mas' ago and it was sooo cold! I'm a Jersey girl, I know what cold is like. After moving to SoCal, I kinda forgot what windchill was. We stopped at the intersection of the 78/79 (there is a market there) because BF had to pee. I open the door of the car and get this gust of 20 degree air...holy crap batman! Glad I wore my scarf and peacoat hahaha Anyway, we stopped at this preserve and found it very quiet and inviting. Even though the warning about rattlesnakes was a bit unnerving hahah Next time we went to Julian, we stopped again at the preserve, this time it was like 50 degrees warmer and I didn't have to wear a coat. We went down to the little stream that runs through it and were apparently standing on the fault line. BF was amazed, I was more concerned about the little blue butterfly that was fluttering around. Then we saw this big shadow under one of the trees. Ummm big cow under tree! It was kinda weird but he was just hanging out and not bothering anyone else. Cool place to just walk around and explore. read more

We got an early start to our hike (Saturday, October 26) and pulled into the Santa Ysabel parking lot off Farmer's Road a little bit after 7am. Luckily, Ranger Roger was opening up the Preserve about an hour earlier than normal due to having to head out to Borrego to patrol their Preserve there (Ranger Roger happens to be the Ranger in charge of the Preserve so he had lots of information). I'm glad we bumped into him (We met him during a previous stay at William Heise County Park. He was giving a talk there, which, if you have the chance, I would recommend hearing. Very informative!) because he gave us some suggestions not only about our hike today, but for future hikes (He gave me his business card and told me to give him a call sometime and he would give me a list of walks in the Julian area. Now that is what I call customer service!). I guess he had noticed that my party came in 2 cars. He suggested doing a shuttle with one car going to the Highway 79 lot and hiking from here to there on the "Coast to Crest" Trail. Glad we took him up on his suggestion. We started from this parking lot of Farmer's Road and heading down a slightly downhill trail that parallel the creek. The south side of the trail, near the creek, has lots of oaks. The trail then heads up to the Kanaka ridge. I must say that the hike on the Kanaka ridge was breathtaking with fantastic views of Vulcan Mountain (That is going to be our next hike!) to the east and you can see the white Palomar Observatory to the Northwest. About the half-way point, we hit a fairly open area with lots of chaparral and very limited shade. The last ¼ was a nice downhill with lots of oaks (The map calls it the "West Vista Loop Trail") and great views looking down into the Santa Ysabel valley and Mesa Grande. We got down to our shuttle car and headed back to the parking lot at Farmers Road. It was a very nice hike and I would suggest that you do the shuttle like we did. Watch out for the cow patties (The County leases grazing rights). read more

On my Veteran's Day hike I was told by a volunteer that Santa Ysabel West was open. I couldn't go that day but returned last Tuesday. Unfortunately, the area was closed. It doesn't seem to be active yet and I'm dying to explore the area. There is almost no information on the Internet. As soon as I find out who to contact, I'll post more info. It might have been a very disappointing day had it not been for beautiful Volcan Mtn. read more

This beautiful preserve is worth a visit. We took our dog and hiked for 3 hours, roughly a five mile loop. The climb to the loop can be steep and a great cardio workout, just bring lots of sunscreen, water and take breaks as needed. We had a nice lunch at a picnic table at the top of the mountain, on the loop trail. We didn't see another human being for 3 hours and the sights and peaceful sounds are wonderful. Lots of sage plants. Some cow pies and flies and red ants -- so beware. On the drive on 78, we stopped for pie at Julian's Pies. Awesome cherry and peach apple crumb. Also, they have camels on 79 and great fruit stands, also a fresh egg place where you can order your dozen of eggs at a drive thru. Awesome day. read more

Wow. This place is awesome. Beautiful meadows, oaks, and streams. About 1hr from the I5-I8 area. Easy parking, no hassles w parking or trailhead permits. Took the eastern entrance to the eastern preserve and did the loop to Kanaka Flat. Beautiful scenery, great for a hike or a run. Found a nice shady spot under a tree and cooked lunch. I think no one knows about this place...on a picture-perfect Saturday we ran across only 6-8 other people. read more