Park Ranger Updates

If you have questions regarding the opening or closing of the preserve during the rainy season please give the Rangers a call at 858-538-8066.

April 29, 2008
Hi all, I thought I’d share a bit about the fire that occurred in Los Pen on Sunday, April 27. The fire started in the early afternoon about 1p.m. It burned the north slope on the west end between the two power lines that run across the canyon. It burned mostly mustard and grasses and just a bit of sage…

February 11, 2008
I just met with Pardee and the grading contractor this morning and we have good news.

“Side Hill” will remain open for the duration of the project. Access will be provided by going to the end of Carmel Mountain Road, past the construction trailer office where a trail will be delineated with orange fence and signs behind the newest construction site up to the power line tower, and follow the newly installed signs to “Side Hill”.

Cobbles/Queens will remain open with a slight variation at the entrance/exit onto Del Vino; ALL USERS will have to enter from the east side of Del Vino on the d.g. path through the wooden bollards.

Shaw Valley Trail will be OPEN WEEKENDS ONLY (Saturday and Sunday). This is a little more difficult to explain, but once all the work is done and signs are in it should be easy to follow. The grading contractor will be installing a road from the end of Carmel Mountain Rd. winding east down into the valley and then back up to the mesa, this would obviously cause an impassable berm; however they will install a ramp on the north side of the berm from the trail that will be open on weekends for equestrians and hikers to get up to the newly constructed road, turn west toward Carmel Mountain Rd and link onto the new trail access to “Side Hill”. This will all be signed and fenced.

THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS TO THE CENTER OF THE MESA FROM ANY OF THE TRAILS FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT. DO NOT VANDALIZE/PASS THE ORANGE FENCE INTO THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE FOR YOUR SAFETY!!! Some of the orange fence will be protecting vernal pools that are being restored, so it is very important that you STAY OUT.

The developer assured me that trails are a high priority, they want to get the grading done and the new trails in as soon as possible. The new trail will go along the rim of the canyon and then a bit through the neighborhood past and through the vernal pool sites that are being preserved. It won’t be the winding ups and downs that are there now, but it will be a nice link between Cobbles and Side Hill/Shaw Valley.

Now I know there is concern that even though Cobbles and Side Hill are open, having no way to connect by way of the mesa seemingly doesn’t do any good unless you live in the neighborhood. However, I have to disagree with that view. Once you pop out of Cobbles, go out to Del Vino and then down Del Mar Mesa Rd to the west (there are multi use trails along the road, or just ride the road) until you get to Carmel Country Rd go south up the hill to Carmel Mountain Rd and turn east to the end where you can access Side Hill. I know it’s not Open Space, but you’ll get a good work out and it is a great loop. Also, you can access the Neighborhood 10 trails and “Eucalyptus” from Carmel Country Road. It will be something new…

I really want to emphasize again how important it is to not build/cut any new trails through the open space areas. This is a transition we all have to deal with, so let’s make it as easy and uneventful as possible.

Please pass this email on to everyone you know that uses the Del Mar Mesa trails so they won’t be caught off guard Monday morning when they go out for their daily run. Thanks, BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN.

Gina Washington
Senior Park Ranger
City of San Diego, Open Space Division
858.538.8066 (PH)