3 min
Overview
On the north end of sprawling Cuyamaca Rancho State Park lies one of the loveliest landscapes in San Diego County. With manmade Lake Cuyamaca at the center-point, this area boasts miles of grassy meadows strewn with wildflowers and bewhiskered with an open forest of Jeffrey pine and black oak. Although beautiful year-round, this hike takes on a special quality during spring when Lake Cuyamaca fills to the brim and carpets of wildflowers blanket the meadows. The fall season is nearly equal in beauty, as the area’s black oaks put on a surprising fall color display in late October and early November. Mule deer Lake Cuyamaca was created in 1888, and the dam holding in the water is the second oldest in California. The reservoir was originally created to provide water to a very thirsty San Diego, and it wasn’t long before several species of fish were introduced, turning the lake into a mountain fishery. When San Diego County introduced the larger El Capitan Reservoir, Lake Cuyamaca’s primary use as a reservoir fell by the wayside. The lake remained unused for a long period of time until the Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District began governing the lake and reintroducing trout into the cool, serene waters. The lake remains a haven for local fisherman. Waterfowl in the marshy area south of the lake Meanwhile, gold strikes in the 1870’s led to the opening of the Stonewall Mine, which was named after General “Stonewall” Jackson. Stonewall was the county’s most productive mine, producing the modern equivalent of about $60 million in gold. The town of Cuyamaca, population 500, sprung up around the mine and disappeared just as quickly when the mine shut down. Today, there’s a lot of evidence of mining gear, as well as some informational displays that will tell you about the area’s history. Pine woodlands during an April storm Today, the mine and some of the area around Lake Cuyamaca are part of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. The park protects 26,000 acres of San Diego’s “high country,” although much of the park, includin
Trail Stats
7.6 km
121 m
1468 m
1412 m
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Photos
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