Few places remain in coastal Southern California where chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodlands dominate the landscape as they had for millennia. Developments, housing projects, and wildfires have stripped most coastal lands of these magnificent stands of native vegetation that once thrived. A bold exception to this norm though is at Daley Ranch, a city-owned 3,300 acre nature preserve, in Escondido. Here, the cool sea breezes rush up the park's hills, while frequent moisture-laden fogs blanket the hillsides overlooking North County. The result is a place that holds among the finest examples of native coastal plant diversity left in the state. Numerous species of endemic plants flourish in this pure land, including two of the rarest in the state, the noble Engelmann Oak, and ahardy population of Native Bunchgrasses. For those who appreciate botanical beauty, including an array of diverse wildflowers lasting long past the blooms in other parts of Southern California, a visit to Daley Ranch will be thoroughly enjoyed.
Stats:
Category: Strenuous
Miles: 13
Elevation Gain: 1,700'
Location: Daley Ranch Preserve
The Hike: ***This trip, I had intended to be a smaller, shorter trek, but the mountains kept calling--so I answered. Given I had not much to do this day, I decided to trek the entire preserve, which ended up being quite a substantial hike. There are numerous shorter trips in this park, but I do recommend an entire park trek, as it showcases all the botanical diversity at once. My general route was Ranch House Trail, Boulder Loop Trail, Cougar Ridge Trail, Englemann Oak Trail, Burnt Mountain Trail, Hidden Spring Trail, Sage Trail, Stanley Peak Trail, and Sage Trail back to the trailhead. Given the fact I had no "destination", I will narrate this account more as a slideshow with pictures, than a trail report.
Hiked 5/21/2018, San Diego County, CA
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| La Honda Trailhead path |
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| First views... |
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| The rare Englemann Oak. Read more on this tree HERE |
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| Steeper section |
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| Some Medium-felsic granite in the back |
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| Our Lord's Candle (Chaparral) Yucca in full bloom. After the bloom, this plant will die. |
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| Up-close of the Yucca flower. The flowers actually taste really good. |
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| Yucca flower with pistil in middle, with stamen surronding |
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| Purple Nightshade; poisonous. Same Family as Tomatoes! |
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| Yerba Santa blossoms |
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| Popcorn Flower |
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| The Mighty Ant |
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| Chamise in bloom |
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| Mexican Blue Elderberry in bloom |
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| The rarest plant in the state, Native Bunchgrass |
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| A healthy population of Native bunchgrasses |
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| Observe: Left-Invasive, flammable, annual weeds, Right: Native, less-flammable, perennial bunchgrasses |
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| A CA Ground Squirrel habitat |
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| Darkling Beetle |
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| Native Grasslands |
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| San Diego Pocket Gopher |
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| Historic ranch work rooms |
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| Circa 1930's |
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| Sage trail to Stanley Peak |
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| Mallard Pond |
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| Stanley Peak trail-view |
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| View into Valley Center |
The Hike: ***This trip, I had intended to be a smaller, shorter trek, but the mountains kept calling--so I answered. Given I had not much to do this day, I decided to trek the entire preserve, which ended up being quite a substantial hike. There are numerous shorter trips in this park, but I do recommend an entire park trek, as it showcases all the botanical diversity at once. My general route was Ranch House Trail, Boulder Loop Trail, Cougar Ridge Trail, Englemann Oak Trail, Burnt Mountain Trail, Hidden Spring Trail, Sage Trail, Stanley Peak Trail, and Sage Trail back to the trailhead. Given the fact I had no "destination", I will narrate this account more as a slideshow with pictures, than a trail report. 
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