Want to learn more about interpretive programs throughout the San Dieguito River Park? Contact Senior Interpretive Ranger, Leana Bulay at Leana@sdrp.org for more information, or click here to schedule a trip.
Rangers lead hikes throughout the year, but you can also explore the interpretive features of the San Dieguito River Park on your own! In addition to numerous interpretive panels along the trails, we have three self-guided interpretive walks. Below is a list of these self-guided interpretive walks within the River Park.
San Dieguito Lagoon Interpretive Walk
The San Dieguito Lagoon Interpretive Walk begins at the San Dieguito River Park Entry Monument on Jimmy Durante Boulevard and continues east for 1.5 miles with 20 stops along the way. Bring your smartphone or tablet to scan numbered QR codes along the trail, or pick up a booklet and read the corresponding numbered content. The walk covers the history of the Lagoon and its restoration, as well as information about wildlife and coastal habitats.
To view the San Dieguito Lagoon Interpretive Walk visit our StoryMap.
San Dieguito Lagoon Tidal Trail
The San Dieguito Lagoon Tidal Trail provides an opportunity to experience a restored coastal wetland shaped by daily ocean tides. As water levels rise and fall, mudflats emerge, channels shift, and wildlife activity changes throughout the lagoon.
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, creating predictable changes in sea level along our coast. The restoration of the lagoon reconnected tidal flow to support estuarine habitat, improve resilience to flooding, and benefit species such as the Light-footed Ridgway’s rail.
Check Today’s Tide Predictions
Whether planning a visit or standing on the trail now, tide conditions help explain what you may see in the lagoon at any given moment.
Ruth Merrill Children’s Interpretive Walk
The Children’s Interpretive Walk travels along the first mile of the Highland Valley Trail, where trail users can discover the importance of the San Dieguito River to plants, animals, and the people that live there. It was dedicated in 1999 to Ruth Merrill, who contributed greatly to the preservation of open space in the San Dieguito River Valley through her dedicated volunteerism.
As you begin the walk, look for numbered wooden posts indicating Discovery Points along the trail. These numbers correspond to information provided in the illustrated Interpretive Walk booklet. This walk is 1.5 miles round trip, with a 2 mile option for those who want to learn more about the area. You will travel out and back on the same trail. There are 15 Discovery Points on the 2 mile option. The 1.5 mile option skips Discovery Points 9 and 10.
Booklets are available at the Highland Valley Trail Staging Area interpretive kiosk, or you can download a PDF copy.
Piedras Pintadas Interpretive Trail
Learn how the Kumeyaay of the past used and managed the resources of the area along the entire 2.2 miles (3.65 miles round trip) of the Piedras Pintadas Trail. Stop at 19 interpretive panels to learn about Kumeyaay lifestyles and 17 more interpretive panels to learn about ethnobotany.
All of the interpretive information is available on the panels, so a separate booklet is not required.