Trail Information

Distance: Approximately 3/4 mile, one way

Grade: Level

Surface: Suitable for walking, running, bicycling. Leashed dogs and horses are welcome on the trail, but please be sure to pick up any droppings and deposit them in an appropriate container.

Hours: Monday through Sunday, dawn to dusk (starting Sunday, May 18, 2008)

Trail Description

Entry

In a beautiful combination of organic, natural materials, the Hubbell Monument will act as the gateway into Lakeside's River Park. Located on Channel Road and Lakeside Avenue, the monument depicts a great egret with wings spread overlooking a mosaic stream of fish created by Lakeside's schoolchildren. The egret is surrounded by large natural boulders and is beautifully lit at night by solar energy.

The land on which the monument is located is scheduled to be donated by Hanson Aggregates to the Park and will become the site of the Park's recreational and educational facilities.

To reach the trail fom the Hubbell Monument, go north on Channel Road for about 75 yards. The trail is on your left, just over the bridge.

Hanson Reach

General Description: Easy, level trail that runs just north of the river on land donated by Hanson Aggregates.

Look for: newly planted willow and mulefat cuttings in the river bed. These plants will eventually fill in and look similar to the area just on the other side of the river. This will create more habitat for riverine species. Along the rocks (called rip-rap) on the side of the channel you can see native plants such as laurel sumac and toyon that will grow to cover most of the rocks.

Wildlife: This open area is your best chance to see land-dwelling species such as jackrabbits and reptiles. Greater roadrunners have also been spotted here. You may see butterflies such as swallowtails and occasionally red-tailed hawks can been seen soaring about or sitting in the trees.

Greater roadrunner	Swallowtail	Red-tailed hawk	Mulefat

Willowbrook Reach

General description: After you pass by the fence marking the end of the Hanson property, you enter the Eucalyptus Grove, with the Willowbrook Golf Course on your right. Although eucalyptus trees are not native to California, these trees are being thinned gradually as more oak and sycamore trees mature, since some raptors need tall trees for nesting. As you leave the Eucalyptus Grove you will see the East Pond on your left. The stucture floating in the pond is a remote water quality sensor. After the East Pond you will see a thick grove of trees called the Cathedral. At the end of this section of the trail there is an overlook on your left. This overlook puts you at the top level of the plants growing in this section of the river. Looking west from the trail above the overlook you can see the West Pond.

Look for: birds, butterflies, and insects all along this section of the trail. Depending on the season of the year, you will probably see goldfinches, yellow warblers, and various sparrows. In more open areas you may see black phoebes and hummingbirds, among others. Look in the pond to see mallards, coots, egrets, and blue herons (which often perch on top of the water quality monitor). Osprey sometimes fish in the pond. Dragonflies are common. In the Cathedral, look for the large nest of the red-tailed hawk. The overlook is an excellent place to listen to wildlife as well as spot it; red-wing blackbirds are often seen here.

Anna's Hummingbird

Also notice the plants along the trail and on the slope, and don't forget to stop and smell them too. The large, fragrant bushes with purple flowers are sages. The red or orange tube-shaped flowers are monkeyflower and the dark green bushes with purple flower clusters are California lilac. Other native plants used here are artemesia and California sunflower, in addition to the sycamore and oak trees. All of these plants thrive in inland San Diego's climate with little water; the irrigation that you see is only used for the first few years while the plants are being established. Consider using California native plants on your own property!

Mallards	Red-Winged Blackbird	California Lilac	Goldfinch

Lakeside Land Reach

General Description: As you leave the overlook, the trail makes a right-hand (northward) turn onto the newest part of the trail., which runs behind buildings owned by Lakeside Land Company. After you cross the little bridge, there is a short spur trail to your left. The main trail narrows here and eventually ends at Riverside Drive.

Look for: restoration in progress, as we place plants along the fence on the right that will eventually screen the trail from the golf course and replace invasive non-natives in the culvert with suitable native plants. The spur trail has (non-native) rosemary bushes that will be replaced with sages and artenesia. In the culvert, look for lizards sunning on the rocks.