Daley Ranch Guided Hikes

Escondido’s beautiful Daley Ranch offers some of the best hiking opportunities in San Diego County. With trails for beginning, intermediate, and advanced hikers, exploring Daley Ranch on foot is family-friendly, and a great way to get some exercise and experience the natural beauty of Southern California.

Daley Ranch is located in the northeastern portion of the City of Escondido, north of Dixon Lake and west of Valley Center Road. Access is provided via La Honda Drive to the south, Valley Center Road to the east, and Cougar Pass Road to the west. See below for directions.

Saturday, March 23, 2019, 7:00 a.m.   Discover Daley Ranch 5-7 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 – 3 hours. Bring plenty of water, as there isn’t any water source on the trails. There are plenty of spots to turn back to the parking lot if you wish to shorten the hike.

Sunday, March 24, 9:00 a.m. Daley Ranch Scenery
A diverse plant population and expansive views are waiting to be enjoyed on Naturalist Rick Paul’s occasionally strenuous 4-mile hike, leaving from Cougar Pass. MEET AT THE COUGAR PASS PARKING LOT.  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 about one mile. Park in the asphalt lot on left.

Sunday, March 24, 2019, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  – Daley Ranch Open House
Approximately 1 mile from the La Honda entry is the Historic Daley Ranch House. From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m, the Ranch House will be open to the public, and Daley Ranch Docent Lee Dezan will be available to provide information. Please note that steady rain cancels.

Daley Ranch Naturalist-guided Hikes
General Info

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 be sure to carry a sufficient supply. Please wear layered clothing as it may be cool in the mornings and warmer as the hike continues. Reservations are not required, unless otherwise stated. Dogs leashed to adults are allowed.

Download/View Daley Ranch Trail Map PDF
Directions to Hike Locations below.

Want to be a volunteer?  If you are interested in volunteering as a Trail Patrol, Hike Leader, Trail Maintenance or Litter-Abatement Team Member, please stop by the Dixon Lake Ranger Station for information and an application—or call (760) 839-4345.

For more information, please contact Ranger Kathy:  (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 1.9 miles to Oakvale Road.  Turn slightly right onto Oakvale and go about one mile.  Turn left into the fenced parking lot.

About Daley Ranch:
Daley Ranch is a 3,058-acre conservation area acquired in 1996 by the City of Escondido and is managed in perpetuity for the preservation of a biologically unique and diverse habitat area of regional importance. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational and educational opportunities and experiences in a historically significant setting. The property contains a number of natural vegetation communities including lush oak woodlands, coastal sage scrub and chaparral, grasslands, and riparian areas.

Approximately 1.5 miles from the La Honda entry is the redwood ranch house (currently a private caretaker’s residence), redwood barn, and numerous outbuildings of historical interest.

Daley Ranch offers over 20 miles of multipurpose trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use. Six distinct trails cover most of the property. Most popular are the Boulder Loop Trail (2.4 miles) which affords outstanding views of Escondido, and the Ranch House Loop (2.5 miles), which passes two small ponds and the site of Daley’s original log cabin.

NOTE: Leashed dogs are allowed.

More information… rules & regs, map, history, volunteer, etc.:
City of Escondido
Friends of Daley Ranch