Daley Ranch - Escondido, CA

Daley Ranch - Escondido, CA Daley Ranch is a 3,058-acre preserve offering over 20 miles of multipurpose trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use. No entry fee.
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Open dawn to dusk every day. Directions to Hike Locations

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

We’re at The Grape Day Festival!Come by and say hi!
09/05/2026

We’re at The Grape Day Festival!

Come by and say hi!

We'll be here! WIll you??Drop by our table and say hi!!
08/25/2026

We'll be here! WIll you??

Drop by our table and say hi!!

Donna Leon, a former preserve manager at The Escondido Creek Conservancy and current board member of FODR, gave an inter...
07/13/2026

Donna Leon, a former preserve manager at The Escondido Creek Conservancy and current board member of FODR, gave an interesting presentation on turtles today. She talked about their habitat, food and life cycles of turtles and how to identify different types you may encounter. The southwestern pond turtle is the only freshwater turtle native to the southern California coast and is threatened due to habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Turtles are important not only because they eat insects, such as mosquitoes, and help disperse seeds, but they also are health barometers of their environment.

The audience responded well to the talk and asked a lot of questions. What would you like to learn about next?

07/06/2026

~ Cougar Fire contained ~

The Cougar fire has been updated to 4.3 acres. Crews will remain on scene throughout the day conducting mop-up operations. This will be the final update, unless conditions change, Per CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire on Facebook.

~ Cougar Fire update ~Forward progress of the Cougar fire has been stopped at approximately 10 acres. Crews will remain ...
07/06/2026

~ Cougar Fire update ~

Forward progress of the Cougar fire has been stopped at approximately 10 acres. Crews will remain on scene through the night and into tomorrow per CAL FIRE San Diego on Facebook.

A fire has broken out this afternoon at the Cougar Pass trail head. Visitors and neighbors of Daley Ranch please exercise necessary precaution for safety and look for evacuation orders.

The Cougar Fire is at 27000 Block of Cougar Pass Rd, Escondido. According to Watch List (https://app.watchduty.org/i/106525), the fire is approx 8 to 10 acres running upslope with wind and topography at a moderate rate of spread in medium fuels, the fire is on both sides of Cougar Pass Rd and no structures are threatened - per radio traffic.
Both ground crews and air tankers are actively managing the situation. An additional 2 type 3 air tankers have been requested.

July Friends of Daley Ranch Discussion has reached max number of registrations. However, we are starting a waitlist.
07/02/2026

July Friends of Daley Ranch Discussion has reached max number of registrations.

However, we are starting a waitlist.

Please join our Daley Ranch Discussions With Friends to learn lots more about this important native creature. FODR Board Member and habitat expert Donna Leon will present at 11 a.m. at the Ranch House on Sunday, July 12. For details, visit our News & Events page.You will be contacted if someone who....

When you picture Southern California's wildlife, you may think of mountain lions or sea lions, but tucked away in our lo...
06/21/2026

When you picture Southern California's wildlife, you may think of mountain lions or sea lions, but tucked away in our local streams is a quiet, ancient survivor that is rapidly running out of time. The Southwestern Pond Turtle is our region's only native freshwater turtle, a fascinating creature that splits its life between hunting in rushing creeks and hiking deep into dry, sandy hillsides to nest. Sadly, this local icon has quietly vanished from up to 80% of its historic home.

Please join our Daley Ranch Discussions With Friends to learn lots more about this important native creature. FODR Board Member and habitat expert Donna Leon will present at 11 a.m. at the Ranch House on Sunday, July 12. You may hike up to the Ranch House or take a complimentary shuttle from the main parking lot at the top of La Honda Drive. You must RSVP by visiting https://daleyranch.org/rsvp-july-friends-of-daley-ranch-discussions/. We have a strict limit of 45 attendees due to Fire Department Regulations. First come, first served!

Donna Leon is an ecologist with over seven years of experience dedicated to studying and protecting California's delicate ecosystems. Drawing from her background as a former Preserve Manager, she brings a wealth of hands-on habitat conservation
management expertise to the fight for our native species.

FODR Discussions with FriendsWhen: Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 11 amWhat: All things About TurtlesWhere: The Ranch HouseDon...
06/12/2026

FODR Discussions with Friends

When: Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 11 am
What: All things About Turtles
Where: The Ranch House

Donna Michelle Leon will talk all things about turtles in the next Friends of Daley Ranch Discussion with Friends. The event will take place in the Ranch House of Daley Ranch on Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 11 am.

Shuttle Services will be provided from the La Honda Gate to the Ranch House and back starting at 9:15 am.

RSVPs are required. Seating is limited, please use the following link to sign up.

Please join our Daley Ranch Discussions With Friends to learn lots more about this important native creature. FODR Board Member and habitat expert Donna Leon will present at 11 a.m. at the Ranch House on Sunday, July 12. For details, visit our News & Events page.

It has been a cool and pleasant Spring in Escondido this year. A refreshing hike in Daley Ranch with blooming flowers.
05/17/2026

It has been a cool and pleasant Spring in Escondido this year. A refreshing hike in Daley Ranch with blooming flowers.

7th graders visit Daley Ranch All the 7th-grade students from Escondido Union School District’s middle schools visit Dal...
05/11/2026

7th graders visit Daley Ranch

All the 7th-grade students from Escondido Union School District’s middle schools visit Daley Ranch for a full-day of learning about nature and history of Daley Ranch as well as its preservation. This year there were 11 days of field trips.

Students are bused from their school to the entrance gate of Daley Ranch. They then hike to the Ranch House. The education program is divided into five learning stations which are led by volunteer educators and rangers. The program includes:
​
1. Nature hike exploring native plants and Habitats including chaparral, oak woodlands, and grasslands.
2. The mammals of Daley Ranch including taxidermy specimens.*
3. Native American Culture: Explore the history of the original inhabitants of the area.
4. All About Daley Ranch: its history and concepts of preservation and conservation
5. Smaller animals: reptiles, amphibians, insects including encounters with live snakes and a tarantula

Students rotate between stations with a break for lunch. Friends of Daley Ranch (FODR) has been sponsoring the outdoor educational program at Daley Ranch for the 7th graders from the EUSD for the past 20 years. It was initiated and run by Fred Woods, a former FODR president and science teacher, and Rick Mercurio, a long-time board member of FODR. Both were long-time teachers.

FODR welcomes volunteers and donations for the ongoing program.

Address

3024 La Honda Drive
Escondido, CA
92027

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