Santa Ysabel East County Preserve

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SANTA YSABEL EAST COUNTY PRESERVE 

A hike through Santa Ysabel East County Preserve offers multiple views of the Santa Ysabel Valley, rock formations, and grazing cattle! This trail is rated "tough" on the SD County Tour Our Trails passport, but may actually feel moderate as the surrounding nature calms your steps. 

Begin at the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified Santa Ysabel Nature Center. I just had to ask one of the park rangers, "Do you really not rely on power plants?" And the answer is, "zero net energy." And they have restrooms! 

Check-out the sundial before your trek to mark your start-time.

Head back to the parking lot and take the trail to your left (facing the Nature Center) parallel to Highway 79. This trail is part of the Santa Ysabel Loop. 


As you follow this trail, Highway 79 becomes smaller and the beautiful Santa Ysabel Valley opens up before your eyes. We climbed California Live Oaks and  rock formations.


Nothing beats seeing Mama Cow and her calf freely grazing, though that calf eyed us suspiciously. 


The Santa Ysabel Loop connects to the Coast to Crest Trail. At this point, you have choices: complete the Santa Ysabel Loop which heads back to the Nature Center, return the way you came, or follow the Coast to Crest Trail. 


Following the Coast to Crest Trail (at least part of it), this is where our hike becomes "tough" as the trail goes uphill.


At the top, remember to take your picture with the Santa Ysabel Valley behind you as the photo-op proof for the Tour Our Trails Challenge. 


The next marker will direct you back to the Nature Center. This trail is simply beautiful. Wildflowers and canopy of tress surround you. 


Once again, this becomes a relaxing hike. The place has beautifully bounced back from the Cedar Fire of 2003 and this tree trunk was the only evidence we could see. 


Ring the bell at the Nature Center to proclaim you did it! 




Address: 22135 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Parking: Free
Restrooms: Yes, in Nature Center