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Daley Ranch offers eight hikes in March


Daley Ranch is offering eight more hikes this month.

All hikes begin at the Daley Ranch entrance on La Honda Drive unless otherwise noted.

Bring water, sun hat, sunscreen, and proper hiking boots or treaded footwear.

All trails include steep and/or slippery sections. Please do not leave valuables in your car.  Steady rain cancels a hike. The hike schedule is also available at www.escondido.org and www.visitescondido.com. Please note that drinking water is not available in many areas of Daley Ranch so carry a sufficient supply.

Saturday, March 11, 7 a.m. Discover Daley Ranch 5 to 7 Miles

Meet Naturalist William Sherrard for a slow to moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is between five and seven miles in length and will last about 2.5 to 3.0 hours. He will be happy to map out a hike for those wishing to go longer distances. Choices are hikes of 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16 or 18 miles in length.

Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m. – noon Daley Ranch Tracking Team Training

You can take the first step to becoming a Daley Ranch Tracker Naturalist by attending a free tracking training in the field. Join Daley Ranch Wildlife Tracking Team Leader Denise Harter at the Rattlesnake Trailhead to learn to recognize the signs that animals leave all around us. She will have some neat tracker naturalist resources for you to use and keep, so organizers need firm RSVPs to make sure we have enough. You can RSVP to the event listing on the Daley Ranch Tracking Team Facebook page, or email the tracking team leader at: denisetracks@gmail.com. Location details will be provided to those who RSVP.

Sunday, March 12, 8:30 a.m. Wintering and Resident Birds of Lake Wohlford

MEET AT THE LAKE WOHLFORD/OAKVALE TRAILHEAD AT 8:30AM

Naturalist Sally Sanderson will lead an easy-paced bird walk of about 3 miles, lasting two to three hours at Lake Wohlford. The group will follow the southern and eastern shoreline from the parking lot on Oakvale Road. They hope to see a Bald Eagle perching on its favorite tree or hunting over the lake. The Common Mergansers as well as a number of other duck species should be back from their northern breeding grounds. They often find American White Pelicans on the lake at this time of the year. Bring binoculars, hat, water and wear layered clothing. To get to Lake Wohlford from Escondido, travel east on Valley Parkway. At Washington Avenue, Valley Parkway becomes Valley Center Road. Continue another 0.8 mile to Lake Wohlford Road and turn right. Drive 1.9 miles uphill to Oakvale Drive, again on the right. Drive 0.7 mile on Oakvale to a gated dirt road on the left, which leads to a parking area for public access to the south shore of Lake Wohlford. Heavy rain cancels.

Tuesday, March 14,  8 a.m.

Water, water everywhere!

Join Naturalist Lee Dezan for a 3-4 hour, 4-mile slow paced hike, including some hills. The group will visit two vernal pools, three ponds and the Ranch House area. Treaded footwear, a wide brimmed hat and binoculars are recommended. Leashed dogs are welcome. This hike is not suitable for small children. Rain never cancels.

Saturday, March 18,  8 a.m. Discover Daley Ranch 5 to 7 Miles

Meet Naturalist William Sherrard for a slow to moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is between five and seven miles in length and will last about 2.5 to 3.0 hours. He will be happy to map out a hike for those wishing to go longer distances. Choices are hikes of 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16 or 18 miles in length.

Sunday, March 19, 7 a.m. 

Early Morning Fitness Hike

Join Rita as she covers most of the perimeter of Daley Ranch. This hike uses the wide trails with one exception which is the Bobcat trail. The total distance is about 10.5 miles and there are steep uphill and downhill sections. This hike is at a brisk pace. Not suited for children.

Saturday, March  25,  7 a.m. Discover Daley Ranch 5 to 7 Miles

Meet Naturalist William Sherrard for a slow to moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is between five and seven miles in length and will last about 2.5 to 3.0 hours. He will be happy to map out a hike for those wishing to go longer distances. Choices are hikes of 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16 or 18 miles in length.

Saturday, March 25, 9 – 11 a.m. Spring Clean

What is the Lifespan of Litter? Orange peel: five weeks. Monofilament fishing line: 800 years. Styrofoam: 5,000 years. It can take just a moment for an American Coot to get tangled up in fishing line or for a coyote to ingest a candy wrapper. You are invited to come pick it up before they do. Bags, trash pickers, vests, water will be provided. Long sleeves, pants, closed-toe shoes and sun protection are recommended. Minors must bring a guardian. Rain cancels.

For more information, contact Ranger Kathy at 760-839-4345 or kboyd@escondido.org.


Directions to Hike Locations

La Honda Trailhead—From Interstate 15, take the El Norte Parkway exit in Escondido.

Go east four miles to La Honda Drive, turn left, drive one mile to Daley Ranch entrance and park in dirt lot on left.

Cougar Pass Trailhead—From Interstate 15, take the El Norte Parkway exit in Escondido east about a half mile to Broadway. Take Broadway north four miles to Cougar Pass (dirt road), turn right, and drive one mile. Park in the asphalt lot on left.

Caballo Trailhead—From Interstate 15, take the Valley Parkway exit in Escondido and go northeast about 5 miles. Turn left at Bevin into the Eureka Springs development. Follow the road toward the filtration plant entrance and turn right at the Escondido Humane Society sign (Volunteer Lane). Park in the dirt parking lot.

Lake Wohlford Trailhead—From Interstate 15, take the Valley Parkway exit in Escondido and go northeast about 5.5 miles. Turn right on Lake Wohlford Road and go about a mile to Oakvale Road. Turn slightly right onto Oakvale and go about one mile. Turn left into the fenced parking lot.

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