Second Volcan Mountain Trail Opened
by Bobbi Zane

The view from Volcan Mountain just got more expansive. Hikes are now being offered to Volcan Summit, where you can take in a nearly 360-degree view that includes both the desert and the coast. The new 5-mile round-trip trail was opened in April in conjunction with the opening of portions of Heise Park. It is the second hiking trail available on the mountain.

Access to the new trail is with a docent-guided hike; upcoming ones are scheduled for Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. and Aug. 21 at 5:30, a trek that should yield a stunning sunset view. The trail passes through the stone gates created by artists James Hubbell, Bill Porter, and Mirko Mrikajek along with a crew of local volunteers. It passes through a mixed evergreen forest, southern oak badlands, and along mixed chaparral slopes. There are several ponds along the way and hikers might spot a golden eagle or hear the hoot of one of a variety of owls that make the mountain their home.

While access is limited to the guided walks on the Summit trail, hikers can take the 3-mile round-trip Five-Oak trail that goes along the southeast side of the mountain. It’s open daily from sunrise to sunset. "There are wonderful vistas of Julian, the mountains and the desert," according to Susan Cary, executive director of the Volcan Mountain Foundation.

Ultimately, according to Cary, these trails will be part of the projected 55-mile Coast to Crest trail. "The trail follows the San Dieguito River from its origin at Ironside Spring on Volcan Mountain to become Santa Ysabel Creek " which eventually becomes the river. It hugs the river flowing west through the county and empties into the ocean at Del Mar. Much of the property required for the trail and surrounding areas has been acquired by preservation organizations, including two parcels near Del Mar that were added recently.

Many consider Volcan Mountain the last true mountain wilderness in San Diego County. With a summit reaching an altitude of 5000 feet, Volcan is one of the highest mountains in here. It’s topped by a distinctive 15-mile-long ridge that stretches from Lake Henshaw to the Anza Borrego desert. Threatened by development in 1988, much of the mountain has been saved through the efforts of Julian-based Volcan Mountain Foundation, which has financed the purchase of many privately held parcels.

For information on the Summit hike schedule call (760) 765-4098.