“Did you know that Del Dios Community Park offers more than just swings and slides?” I ask you. Del Dios Community Park sits amid 774 acres of open space. It is in Escondido. This inviting place allows you to experience nature firsthand.
Del Dios Community Park is part of the County of San Diego’s Multiple Species Conservation Program. The County partnered with the Escondido Creek Conservancy. They also partnered with the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority. Their goal was to acquire the parkland. They wanted to restore it. They aimed to coordinate a plan to preserve it for future generations.
The preserve includes coastal sage scrub. It also has mixed chaparral habitats. These habitats welcome various mammals and reptiles. Birds of prey are common here. You can often see them overhead. They sometimes perch in the park’s trees.
Those seeking an active outdoor experience will find it here at Del Dios Community Park. The preserve includes a QR Fit exercise trail. There is a 1.5-mile multi-use non-motorized trail. This trail is open for hiking. It is also great for mountain biking and horseback riding. The Del Dios Highland Trail straddles the San Dieguito and Escondido Creek Watersheds. It runs between the communities of Del Dios and Elfin Forest.
Make your way halfway up the trail. You will be at the Del Dios Highway staging area. It offers an inspiring view of Lake Hodges. Venture further up the trail. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The Del Dios trail is part of the Coast to Crest Trail of the San Dieguito River Park. The 70-mile planned Coast to Crest Trail will extend from Volcan Mountain near Julian to the shore at Del Mar one day. Del Dios Gorge is within this planned area. Only part of it is accessible. Del Dios Gorge is partly inundated by the Lake Hodges Reservoir. It was created in 1918 after completion of the Lake Hodges Dam.
Different plant communities thrive along the Del Dios trail. From the parking area head east toward the dam. The plants found on the early part of the trail are common to the coastal chaparral habitat. These include sagebrush, white sage, and some large coast prickly pear cactus. Several interpretive panels describe the history and fauna of the area. Bats are also included.
At about the 1.5-mile mark, the trail descends to a steel-railed bridge. It crosses the San Dieguito River. It enters a riparian area paralleling the riverbed. Although it is a riverbed, you may see only a couple of stagnant pools. They sit among the many large granitic boulders. There is enough water to support groupings of coast live oaks. Various species of willow are also found here.
One of the historic highlights of the trail is the Hodges Flume. It is along the north side of the gorge. Look to the left as you proceed to the dam. It is not used today. It once was a gravity water transporter to the San Dieguito Reservoir. It was four miles to the west.
The trail is undoubtedly at its best after some rain. Rain should provide some water flow in the river. It will awaken the coast chaparral and riparian plants. These plants might come into flower. A drawback of this hike is the background vehicle noise from the Del Dios Highway.
The Rattlesnake Viewing Platform is the turnaround point. It is a good spot for lunch. The platform was named for native rock. It was shaped into the form of a rattlesnake. It was not named for rattlesnakes in the area.
Here you will find an interpretive panel. It explains the place of rattlesnakes in the ecosystem. A burned dead black oak tree is on the platform. It addresses the impacts of wildfires. There is a sculpture with a pipe ring scope. It lines up features at the dam. These include the spillway, the bulwarks, and the river below. The view is the concrete-arch Lake Hodges Dam. It impounds the San Dieguito River.
After taking in the views return to the parking lot along the same route. Remember to leave no trace. Take everything you brought with you. If you see trash, please remove it. You are not picking up trash from another person. You are cleaning up for Mother Nature. Whether you seek a relaxing stroll or an invigorating hike, Del Dios Community Park promises an unforgettable experience.