Distance: 7.4 miles without the loops, 10 miles with the loops ; West Loop is 1.3 Miles, & Kanaka Loop is 2.3 miles Elevation Gain: 1200 feet. Time to complete: 4 hours
Directions To The Preserve: East – Farmer Staging: Take Highway 78/79 into Julian, to Main Street. Going north, Main Street turns into Farmer Road. Take Farmer Road to Wynola Road and turn right, then a quick left back on to Farmer Road. Pass the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve sign on your right. Santa Ysabel Preserve will be on the left side, approximately one mile from the Volcan sign. Parking is available in the staging area. West: Take Highway 78 to Santa Ysabel. Staging Area is one mile west of Santa Ysabel on Highway 78 at call box #495 or across the street from 29313 Hwy 78.
The Coast to Crest Trail and the trail we took this day, the Kanaka Loop Trail, which is the East approach off of Farmers Rd. One of the benefits of hiking Santa Ysabel Preserve is just getting out there, driving the one lane country roads through Ramona past the hill, into Julian you definitely get the feel of being in the back country surrounded by vast open beauty, pine and oak trees and of course a mountainous terrain.
The Santa Ysabel Preserve really reflects the area, both in vastness and vegetation as well as offering views at many spots along the trail of other hikes in the county, including, Mt. Woodson and Iron Mountain, Mt. Gower, and far off in the distance Palomar Mountain.
The first thing that strikes you about the Kanaka Loop trail-head start, is that you are greeted by the local 4-legged creatures. In fact as you walk through the gate that starts you onto the trail, you will more than likely be greeted by a bovine friend chopping away at the grasses and vegetation along the trail. The start of this trail is pretty flat and open but soon you are heading uphill through a covered forested area with a creek on your left.
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Palomar Mountain and observatory in distance
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The trail continues to climb to a point where looking to the north far off in the distance is Palomar Mountain and if clear the white dome of the observatory. As you continue to the left a wide-open expanse of a meadow/field is upon you, at this point the trail makes a huge loop and is marked guiding you to veer off to the right beginning the loop section of the hike.
From here you can take a small detour up an easily climbable grade to get good views of Mt. Woodson and Mt Gower off in the distance.
As you wind back down you come upon a small herd of resting cows that gather at a watering hole. Continuing on you will come across good-sized downed burnt charred trees, which are left over remnants of the Cedar Creek fire of 2005. From here you will climb a steep grade through pines and other vegetation, the trail will wind down and then will lead you to an open area that provides amazing views of the surrounding hills and mountains.
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Charred trees from 2005 Cedar Fire
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and done
You can see Volcan Mountain, which trail-head start is just down farmers road from Santa Ysabel Reserve. Ascending from this point you will so join up with the start point of the loop and the ascent down and back to where you started.
On this day that we hiked the sky was blue, no clouds and the temp was high 60’s when we started and near 80 when we ended in early afternoon. Bring at least 2 quarts of water, snacks a lunch and as always good hiking shoes/boots. …..A gorgeous day for hiking and a gorgeous hike to do. Have fun…..Next… the hike up the road from Santa Ysabel…Volcan Mountain.. See you on the summit…..Hike on!
Here’s a secret tip for the best pie shop in Julian
