Remember the Cedar Fire of 2003? It dramatically reshaped Sycamore Canyon Park. The fire burned over 95 percent of the preserve. Now, it has come back beautifully.
Sycamore Canyon Park in Scripps Ranch offers many things. It has a playground with slides and a tot lot. You will also find a walking-hiking trail. A large grassy area and ball fields are available. Restrooms are on site for your convenience.
This park is good for events and birthday parties. You can reserve space by calling 858-538-8085. The park’s capacity is about 200 people. Sycamore Canyon Park spans 7 acres. There are no alcohol restrictions here.
The Sycamore Canyon Open Space Preserve covers 2272 acres. Goodan Ranch adds another 325 acres. It is jointly owned. Poway, Santee, and the CA Department of Fish and Game also own it. Together, they provide over 10 miles of hiking trails. You’ll find diverse habitats here. Coastal sage, chaparral, oak woodland, riparian areas, and grasslands thrive.
Look for spice bush. It’s San Diego’s wild citrus. Also, find flowering chamise and ceanothus. Manzanita, buckwheat, and laurel sumac add to the beauty. Bush monkey flower blooms in season. Notice the rounded rocks. They look tumbled in water.
The Ridge Trail offers outstanding views. See rolling hills and Sycamore Canyon below. Bring water. Start early. There is little shade. At 1.2 miles, watch for a wooden sign. A trail leads to the historic Stowe Trail. It’s about half a mile down to Sycamore Canyon.
In the 1800s, Stowe was a town in Sycamore Canyon. A dirt road connected Santee to Stowe. Stowe is gone now. The road still exists. However, entering from Mission Trails is illegal.
Follow the trail north. Go about 0.25 miles to another trail. Cross the stream. Join the West Boundary Trail. It parallels the road. Continue north. You will see sycamore trees, willows, and coast live oaks. Cottonwoods line the flowing stream in winter and spring. About 0.5 miles up, cross to the road. Visit the Goodan Ranch Center.
The Goodan Ranch Center has toilets and drinking water. There is a small museum. Find a place to relax in the shade. It is west of the ranch house ruins. The Cedar Fire destroyed the ranch house.
Imagine living in this isolated place. Continue north on the West Boundary Trail for 0.5 mile. You can go east up Cardiac Hill. This route is a little over 1.3 miles to the staging area. Or, continue to the Goodan Staging Area. This leads to Martha’s Grove trailhead.
Martha’s Grove trail goes through a shady oak woodland. About 0.75 miles in, find the Martha Harville Oak Grove Memorial. It’s a cool oasis with picnic tables. It honors a park ranger.
After resting, walk south and west. The trail becomes a dirt road. It leads back into the grassland. At about 1.75 miles from the trailhead, there is a junction. The road to the left goes up Cardiac Hill. It’s not very challenging. In a little over 1 mile is the junction with Sycamore Park Drive.
For a guided nature walk, contact the San Diego Natural History Museum. Their volunteers, called Canyoneers, lead hikes. They teach about the outdoors.
Remember this landscape. It tells a story of resilience. From fire’s devastation to nature’s rebirth, Sycamore Canyon Park invites exploration and reflection.