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Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Part of Julian, Mountains & Anza-Borrego, our guide to Julian, Descanso, Pine Valley, the Laguna Mountains and Borrego Springs.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, at 13652 Highway 79 near Julian, charges $10 per vehicle for day use and has more than 100 miles of riding and hiking trails. The park page gives two different hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in its status box and 8 AM to sunset in its fee text. Call 760-765-3020.Checked October 23, 2026.

$10Vehicle Day Use
100+Miles of Trails
2Conflicting Hours Lines
NoneRestrictions Listed Oct. 23
The stone headquarters building and entrance sign of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park headquarters. Ryuch, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Address13652 Highway 79, Julian, CA 92036. Phone (760) 765-3020. About 50 miles east of San Diego, five miles north of I-8 and 15 miles south of Julian, per the park page.
HoursThe status box says “Park Hours 6 a.m – 8 p.m.” The fee-schedule text on the same page says “Day Use Hours are: 8 AM to Sunset.” We quote both because the state page shows both.
Admission“Vehicle Day Use: $10.00”; “Senior Day Use (62 or Older): $9”; “Disabled Discount Day Use: $5 with State Parks Disabled Discount Pass.” The receipt is good for the whole park for the day, and visitors may also park in legal highway turnouts and hike free. The page lists the “Free Fourth Grade Pass” among passes accepted.
Fire and Dogs, Read October 23, 2026The page said “Current Restrictions – Last Checked: 10/23/2026 1:39 PM” and showed no restriction text. “For current fire restrictions, please call (760)767-4037.” “Fire is not allowed anywhere except in the developed picnic areas and campgrounds.” Dogs are “allowed in the campgrounds and on designated paved park roads,” not on trails.
EventsThe page said “No upcoming events are listed for this park” when read.

Places Inside The Park

Stonewall and Cuyamaca Peak trails start at Paso Picacho. Green Valley has cascades and shallow pools. The park also lists a visitor center and museum. Lake Cuyamaca is just north of the park and has its own operator and fees.

Nearby Picnic Sites

Two Forest Service picnic sites on the same mountain highways are listed under East County: Pioneer Mail Picnic Site and Desert View Picnic Site.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Which hours line is current: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. or 8 AM to sunset. The state page shows both; call 760-765-3020.
  • Free days: not confirmed.
  • Whether every picnic area on the page is open, and any 2026 fire or storm damage closures beyond the “Current Restrictions” box, which showed none when read.
  • Map point is Cuyamaca Peak (OpenStreetMap), not an entrance; the park has no single point.

More in Julian, Mountains & Anza-Borrego

FAQ

How much does Cuyamaca Rancho State Park cost?

Vehicle day use is $10, seniors 62 and older $9, and $5 with a State Parks Disabled Discount Pass, per the park page read October 23, 2026.

What are the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park hours?

The state page gives two lines that disagree: “Park Hours 6 a.m – 8 p.m.” and “Day Use Hours are: 8 AM to Sunset.” Call 760-765-3020 to confirm.

Are dogs allowed on the trails at Cuyamaca Rancho?

No. The park says dogs are allowed in the campgrounds and on designated paved park roads.

Sources

  1. California State Parks: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

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.