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Santa Ysabel County Preserves Trail Guide

Part of Hiking Trails, our guide to hiking trails across San Diego County, from city peaks to desert canyons.

Santa Ysabel East and West Preserves form a combined 4,600-acre sanctuary with more than 15 miles of trails, including two loops. They are open 8 a.m. to sunset daily. Overnight camping is not allowed. The County lists three staging addresses and a nature center.Checked October 23, 2026.

4,600acres
15+miles of trails
8 a.m.to sunset daily
East staging500 Farmer Road, Julian, CA 92036
West29510 Hwy. 78, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Hwy 79 staging23000 Hwy. 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Phone(760) 765-4098
Hours8 a.m. to sunset daily; Dec. 25 no public vehicle access or restrooms
Nature CenterNov. 1 to Mar. 31: Mon to Thu 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri to Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apr. 1 to Oct. 31: Mon to Thu 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri to Sun 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Who it suitsHikers, cyclists and equestrians
DogsNot confirmed
Official pageCounty Parks: Santa Ysabel

Trails and Safety

The County lists picnic tables and a rest area. Its advice: “stay on trails and avoid playing in the creek. Carry plenty of water, dress in layers, and wear sunscreen.” The San Dieguito River Park list shows West at 3.88 miles and East at 7.40 miles, both strenuous; the basis of those mileages is not stated.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Dog rule, per-loop lengths and a rain-closure threshold (seen only in a search excerpt) are not confirmed. County Parks can confirm.
  • Coordinates are not confirmed.

More in Hiking Trails

FAQ

Can I camp at Santa Ysabel?

No. The County page says overnight camping is not allowed.

Sources

  1. County Parks: Santa Ysabel

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.