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September 12, 2011 (San Diego County) – September is a beautiful time to head outdoors and enjoy over 350 miles of hiking and biking trails at more than 90 parks in San Diego County spanning 44,000 acres—mostly in East County and our region’s inland areas. Many have organized activities, as do local community and recreation centers. Below are listings for some of the fun activities planned this month. The listings contain the information needed to go to the activities and recreation centers: maps, phone numbers, dates, and special interests.
William Heise Park
4945 Heise Park Road
Julian | (760) 765-0650
Sky Hunters presented by Shawnie Williams
Saturday, Sept 24, 6 p.m.
Meet in the amphitheater. Join Nancy Conney of Sky Hunters as she presents live birds of prey and learn how we can help protect these beautiful birds and their habitat.
4945 Heise Park Road
Julian | (760) 765-0650
Sky Hunters presented by Shawnie Williams
Saturday, Sept 24, 6 p.m.
Meet in the amphitheater. Join Nancy Conney of Sky Hunters as she presents live birds of prey and learn how we can help protect these beautiful birds and their habitat.
Camp with the stars
Friday, Sept. 9 and and Saturday, Sept. 10, Nightfall—check with ranger for exact time. Join Doug McFarland of the San Diego Astronomy Association. Friday’s program features a slideshow in the amphitheater followed by telescope viewing, while Saturday will be just telescope viewing.
Friday, Sept. 9 and and Saturday, Sept. 10, Nightfall—check with ranger for exact time. Join Doug McFarland of the San Diego Astronomy Association. Friday’s program features a slideshow in the amphitheater followed by telescope viewing, while Saturday will be just telescope viewing.
4S Ranch Sports Park 
16118 4S Ranch Parkway
San Diego | (858) 673-3900
16118 4S Ranch Parkway
San Diego | (858) 673-3900
Summer Movies in the Park: Toy Story 3 and Toy Drive
Saturday, Sept. 17, Dusk
Enjoy this family-friendly movie under the stars, and bring a toy for the young patients at the UCSD Burn Center. We'll collect new, unused toys; suggested donations include infant and toddler toys, stuffed animals, action figures, Barbie dolls, Lego and blocks, puzzles, board games, toy cars, video games and children's DVDs.
Saturday, Sept. 17, Dusk
Enjoy this family-friendly movie under the stars, and bring a toy for the young patients at the UCSD Burn Center. We'll collect new, unused toys; suggested donations include infant and toddler toys, stuffed animals, action figures, Barbie dolls, Lego and blocks, puzzles, board games, toy cars, video games and children's DVDs.
Adult Roller Hockey League
Tuesdays, Sept. 20-Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Ages: 18 and up
Cost: $700 Team Fee for a 10-week session plus playoffs and championships.
Tuesday night roller hockey is designed to provide a league for medium-skilled players to slightly higher-skilled players. This league is meant for those who wish to play at a level that is more competitive and geared towards those who wish to have a more competitive game.
Tuesdays, Sept. 20-Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Ages: 18 and up
Cost: $700 Team Fee for a 10-week session plus playoffs and championships.
Tuesday night roller hockey is designed to provide a league for medium-skilled players to slightly higher-skilled players. This league is meant for those who wish to play at a level that is more competitive and geared towards those who wish to have a more competitive game.
Los Peñasquitos Ranch House 
12020 Black Mountain Road
San Diego | (858) 484-7504
Los Peñasquitos Tracking Team
Saturday, Sept. 10. Call (858) 672-0584 for time.
The Los Peñasquitos Tracking Team provides focused wildlife studies in and around the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. They offer a number of classes in the art of wildlife tracking and naturalist skills development. Free monthly tracking walk on the second Saturday each month.
12020 Black Mountain Road
San Diego | (858) 484-7504
Los Peñasquitos Tracking Team
Saturday, Sept. 10. Call (858) 672-0584 for time.
The Los Peñasquitos Tracking Team provides focused wildlife studies in and around the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. They offer a number of classes in the art of wildlife tracking and naturalist skills development. Free monthly tracking walk on the second Saturday each month.
Docent Led Tours
Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Step back in time and visit the historic Johnson-Taylor Adobe led by our Los Peñasquitos rancho tour guides. Immerse yourself in the various cultures, people and architecture that shaped San Diego. Call (858) 484-7504 for more information.
Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Step back in time and visit the historic Johnson-Taylor Adobe led by our Los Peñasquitos rancho tour guides. Immerse yourself in the various cultures, people and architecture that shaped San Diego. Call (858) 484-7504 for more information.
Guided Hikes and Activities
The Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve schedule a variety of hikes into the Preserve. Become a Friend of the canyon. Call (858) 484-3219 for schedule.
The Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve schedule a variety of hikes into the Preserve. Become a Friend of the canyon. Call (858) 484-3219 for schedule.
Rancho Guajome Adobe
2210 North Santa Fe Avenue
Vista | (760) 724-4082
(760) 940-8260 Gift Shop
2210 North Santa Fe Avenue
Vista | (760) 724-4082
(760) 940-8260 Gift Shop
Guided tours: Wednesday-Friday, 12 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Self guided tours: Wednesday – Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tour Fees: $3 for adults, $1 for children (ages 4-12) and free for children 3 and under
Self guided tours: Wednesday – Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tour Fees: $3 for adults, $1 for children (ages 4-12) and free for children 3 and under
Santa Ysabel Preserve
500 Farmer Road
Julian (Farmer staging area)
23000 block of Hwy 79 (Highway 79 staging area)
Santa Ysabel | (760) 765-4098
500 Farmer Road
Julian (Farmer staging area)
23000 block of Hwy 79 (Highway 79 staging area)
Santa Ysabel | (760) 765-4098
Guided Hike
Sunday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Join our ranger for a guided hike in the beautiful Santa Ysabel Preserve. Learn about the plants and animals that surround you. Meet at the Highway 79 staging area.
Sunday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Join our ranger for a guided hike in the beautiful Santa Ysabel Preserve. Learn about the plants and animals that surround you. Meet at the Highway 79 staging area.
Sweetwater Summit Regional Park 
3218 Summit Meadow Road
Bonita | (619) 472-7572
3218 Summit Meadow Road
Bonita | (619) 472-7572
Nature Hike
Sundays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Take a stroll along the beautiful Sweetwater trails with a ranger and get sweeping views of the Sweetwater Reservoir and the canyons and hills beside it. The walk will be 3 miles with fascinating information about the plants and wildlife that surround you. Meet at the ranger station; bring water and hiking shoes. Please contact Louis Chertkow, Supervising Park Ranger, at the ranger station for more information.
Sundays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Take a stroll along the beautiful Sweetwater trails with a ranger and get sweeping views of the Sweetwater Reservoir and the canyons and hills beside it. The walk will be 3 miles with fascinating information about the plants and wildlife that surround you. Meet at the ranger station; bring water and hiking shoes. Please contact Louis Chertkow, Supervising Park Ranger, at the ranger station for more information.
Volunteering in County Parks
Third Thursday of each month, 6 p.m.
Meet at the Provence House, 4370 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. This is a 30-minute orientation for citizens who are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities in our County parks, including the popular Sweetwater Volunteer Trail Patrol and community service hours for students. All ages welcome.
Third Thursday of each month, 6 p.m.
Meet at the Provence House, 4370 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. This is a 30-minute orientation for citizens who are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities in our County parks, including the popular Sweetwater Volunteer Trail Patrol and community service hours for students. All ages welcome.
Guided Hike
Sunday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.– 12 p.m.
Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve offers approximately 2,900 acres of mixed conifer forest. Hikes to the Volcan Summit are 5 miles round-trip and offer spectacular views from the desert to the coast. Please bring water, snacks, a hat that provides good shade, sunscreen, sunglasses and a camera. Please wear a long sleeve shirt and closed-toe shoes.
Sunday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.– 12 p.m.
Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve offers approximately 2,900 acres of mixed conifer forest. Hikes to the Volcan Summit are 5 miles round-trip and offer spectacular views from the desert to the coast. Please bring water, snacks, a hat that provides good shade, sunscreen, sunglasses and a camera. Please wear a long sleeve shirt and closed-toe shoes.
Park home page
Hellhole Canyon Preserve
19324 Santee Lane
Valley Center | (760) 742-1631
Hellhole Canyon Preserve
19324 Santee Lane
Valley Center | (760) 742-1631
Docent-led Hike
Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m.
Meet at the Preserve parking lot. Hikes are led monthly on every third Saturday by a volunteer from Friends of Hellhole Canyon (hellholecanyon.org). Hellhole Canyon Preserve is located in Valley Center at the end of Paradise Mountain Road. For a safe, rewarding hike, we ask you to bring drinking water, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, snack foods, binoculars and a camera and wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants and sturdy hiking shoes. Hikes at Hellhole can be strenuous, and temperatures can get very hot.
Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m.
Meet at the Preserve parking lot. Hikes are led monthly on every third Saturday by a volunteer from Friends of Hellhole Canyon (hellholecanyon.org). Hellhole Canyon Preserve is located in Valley Center at the end of Paradise Mountain Road. For a safe, rewarding hike, we ask you to bring drinking water, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, snack foods, binoculars and a camera and wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants and sturdy hiking shoes. Hikes at Hellhole can be strenuous, and temperatures can get very hot.
Park home page
Featured Park: Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch Preserve
16281 Sycamore Canyon Road
Poway, California 92061 | (858) 513-4737
Featured Park: Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch Preserve
16281 Sycamore Canyon Road
Poway, California 92061 | (858) 513-4737
Sycamore Canyon Preserve comprises 2,272 acres of coastal sage scrub and chaparral-covered hills, including the 325-acre Goodan Ranch, and a mix of grassland, riparian, coastal sage, oak woodland and mixed chaparral ecosystems. More than 10 miles of trails lead to grand vistas, abundant wildlife and interesting reminders of the history of human life in the area.
The Preserve includes the Goodan Ranch Visitor Center, built next to the original ranch house that was scorched in the 2003 Cedar Fire. The center houses a multipurpose demonstration room and exhibit rooms. A seasonal creek bed lies within the site, and other features site features include an outdoor amphitheater, a horse trough and hitching post. The center’s focus is to stress the value of the region's natural and cultural resources while respecting the pristine natural setting of the preserve's ecologies. The building was designed for minimal environmental impacts and high energy efficiency. Programs and hikes are offered year-round.
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