Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
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Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is a state park located forty miles east of San Diego, California in the Peninsular Range. The park's 25,000 acres features pine and oak forests, and even some cedars on cuyamaca peak with meadows and streams that exist due to the relatively high elevation of the area compared to its surroundings. The park includes 6,512 foot Cuyamaca Peak, the second highest point in San Diego County, as well as an exhibit at the Stonewall Mine, a former gold mine.
Park services include trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, as well as campgrounds for family, group, equestrian, and primitive trail camping.
Wildlife in the area includes mountain lions, which have been known to attack humans, and park literature emphasizes avoiding encounters with them. Numerous other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are known to reside within the park. The park was closed due to massive damage incurred in the Cedar Fire of 2003, but much of the park has been reopened since then.
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[edit] Trees
Cuyamaca is blessed with many conifers and broadleaf trees. The conifers include the white fir, incense cedar, Coulter pine, Jeffrey pine, sugar pine and ponderosa pine. The broadleaves include the white alder, Arizona ash, California sycamore, Fremont cottonwood, coast live oak, canyon live oak, Engelmann oak, California black oak, oracle oak, Wislizenus oak, and red willow. Detailed information about Cuyamaca area oak and pine trees is available at the park headquarters: Ask for a copy of the "Summary of the Natural and Cultural History of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park."
[edit] Shrubs
The shrubs in Cuyamaca include both large (4-15 feet) and small (1-4 feet). On the large size, are the chamise, Eastwood manzanita, Cuyamaca manzanita, Mexican manzanita, cupleaf mountain lilac, whitebark mountain lilac, Pamer mountain lilac, mountain mahogany, creek dogwood, Parish goldenbush, yerba santa, Parish burning bush, toyon, California barberry, laurel sumac, hollyleaf cherry, western choke cherry, scrub oak, coffeeberry, western azalea, white sage, and elderberry.
The small shrubs in the Park include California buckwheat, Wright buckwheat, chaparral honeysuckle, basketbush, California rose, creeping sage, snowberry, and poison oak.
About poison oak: Usually found in moist, shady areas below 5000 feet. Many people develop severe dermatitis from coming into contact with its leaves or stems. Young leaves are usually reddish, turning glossy green, then red again in the fall. Flowers are tiny and white and the fruit is a small whitish berry.
See Michael Curto's 1987 "Conspicuous Plants of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park" for a list of 30 of the Park's shrubs, with their scientific names.
[edit] Wild Flowers
| Early Season | Middle Season | Late Season |
|---|---|---|
| Milkmaids | Purple Nightshade | Penstemon |
| Peony | Monkey Flower | Locoweed |
| Goldfields | Mule's Ears | Southern Pink |
| Cream Cups | Milkweed | Cudweed Aster |
| Checker Bloom | Wallflower | Red Paintbrush |
| Splendid Mariposa Lily | Golden Bowl Mariposa | California Fuchsia |
| Tidy Tips | Virgin's Bower | Goldenrod |
| Golden Yarrow | Thistle | |
| Columbine | San Diego Tiger Lily | |
| Baby Blue Eyes | ||
| Purple Lupine | ||
| Golden Stars |
[edit] Mountain Lions
The mountain lion, also known as cougar, panther, or puma, is tawny-colored with black tipped ears and tail. Adult males may be up to eight feet long from nose to end of tail, and generally weigh between 130 and 150 pounds, but can get to as much as 228 pounds. Adult females can be seven feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds.
The mountain lion lives in many different types of habitat in California, from deserts to humid coast range forest, and from sea level to 10,000 foot elevations. They are generally most abundant in areas with plentiful deer and adequate cover. Mountain lions are important members of the natural community and may be found in the Park. Normally, lions are very elusive and people rarely get more than a brief glimpse of a mountain lion in the wild. They are, however, unpredictable and have been known to attack people. The predatory behavior of a mountain lion is very similar to the domestic cat. The lion will attempt to conceal itself for a surprise attack while stalking its prey. A crouched position is assumed with the tail twitching and the ears upright. An agitated lion may snarl and lay its ears back.
[edit] Mountain Lion Attacks in the Park.
January 1994. Three bicyclists were menaced by a mountain lion at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. The lion was killed on a ranch north of Descanso, California 11 days later. It was a young 65-pound male. Source: (San Diego Union-Tribune; 12/11/94, A-1)
September 1993. Park officials closed Cuyamaca Rancho State Park for two weeks in September after a cougar chased two horseback riders, behavior that was considered unacceptable. The cougar subsequently attacked a girl and her dog (report HERE?). Source: (Mountain Lions and California State Parks; 01/19/94)
9 May 1994. A couple visiting from Yuma, Arizona, with a 3-year-old boy saw a lion approaching at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in California. State park officials said the lion rushed within five feet of the youngster on the Azalea Glen Trail at the Paso Picacho campground. The lion bared its teeth and crouched to spring, but the boy's father said he drove the animal away by waving a stick and shouting. Patrol Lt. Bob Turner, of Pine Valley, California went to the area the next day. "The lion was lying right where the park people said they saw it," Turner said. "We walked up to it with five adults and two dogs, and it made no attempt to move. That lion had no fear of people whatsoever." He fired one shot and killed the animal from about 20 yards away. He found the 83-pound male had been feeding on a fresh deer kill nearby. Source: (Ed Zieralski, San Diego Union-Tribune; 05/10/94, A-1)
10 December 1994, Iris M. Kenna (1938-1994) was killed by a cougar near the bench dedicated to her while hiking to Cuyamaca Peak alone in the early morning. The bench is at the intersection of the Lookout Fire Road and Azalea Springs Fire Road / Fern Flat Fire Road. Although Kenna was in excellent physical condition, she was slight -- about 5-foot-4 and no more than 115 pounds.
25 June 1996. Two lions chased a German couple with a small son in the Green Valley Campground area of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in California. They reported one large lion with a smaller one. The Game Warden found both together, and neither moved when he approached. He shot the bigger one -- an 80-pound male -- first, and the smaller one didn't move. He then shot that one, a 63-pound male. Source; (San Diego Union-Tribune; 02/11/96, C-14)
28 January 1995 Back to main attacks page January. A mountain lion, estimated to weigh at least 100 pounds, charged 17-year-old Michelle Rossmiller, as she bent down to get books out of her car parked in the driveway of her house. Her mother Lisa Rossmiller said: She saw it coming at her, thought fast and closed the door before it reached her. It was running straight at her. It's not afraid of us at all. It just snarls and hisses at us. Then when it goes away, it doesn't run. It just saunters off as if to say, "OK, not this time." The family first saw this lion in about December, and the encounters with it escalated. It became increasingly aggressive toward Lisa Rosmiller's children at their 4.5 acre home near Julian, California on Volcan Mountain in San Diego County, California, about 10 miles north of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Rossmiller finally called the state Department of Fish and Game when the lion charged her daughter. Source: (San Diego Union-Tribune; 01/28/95, B-3)
In early August, 1998, the park was closed for about a week after a woman encountered a cougar near Stonewall Peak. In that incident, a woman used pepper spray on an aggressive cougar and finally repelled it from attacking her and a female friend after a 15-minute ordeal.
16 January 1996. A woman on horseback at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in California reported an aggressive lion. She likely saved herself by baring her teeth, growling and staring the lion down as it approached her. Two Game Wardens and an Animal Damage Control specialist went to that spot the next day, and the lion charged them, getting to within 15 feet before the 62-pound male was shot twice. "What bothered me about this one is the veterinarian said it was a cub," Game Warden Turner said. "It was a 1 1/2 - to 2-year-old that probably was just booted out by its mother and was trying to make it on its own." Turner said he'd never had a lion charge like this one. Source: (San Diego Union-Tribune; 02/11/96; C-14)
08 October 1998. Early Thursday morning, a lion threatened Betty Wensloff of Banning, California, a member of the Yucaipa Valley Riding Club, as she went to check on her stock at the Los Vaqueros horse camp in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California. A horse, whirling around in it's camp stall in reaction to a lion on some hay bales, alerted Wensloff who then saw it. She yelled at it and grabbed a rake to defend herself. The lion left when other members of the group came to her aid.
09 October 1998. Lt. Game Warden Bob Turner of the state Department of Fish and Game returned to the Los Vaqueros horse camp in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Friday afternoon and learned that a camper had kicked a lion out of the way earlier in the day for attempting to attack his pet dog. Turner hiked into the woods, spotted a 90-pound male sitting near the campground, and he shot it. Then suddenly the campers yelled that another one was running toward him. Turner said another 90-pound male stopped and glared at him, and he fired.
"I cannot believe this," Turner said. "I'm dumbfounded. People there were so glad I killed these lions so they could stay there, but believe me, this is not fun." Recently, more such encounters with multiple lions had been reported. Source: (Ed Zieralski, San Diego Union-Tribune; 10/10/98, B-1)
[edit] Other Mammals
Frequently seen mammals in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park include the southern mule deer, Coyote, California ground squirrel, Merriam chipmunk, black tailed jackrabbit, brush rabbit and Audubon cottontail rabbit.
[edit] Amphibians and Reptiles
There are many varieties of amphibians and reptiles that call CRSP home. A few of them are the canyon tree frog, Pacific tree frog, red-legged frog, western toad, common king snake, gopher snake, mountain king snake, racer, striped racer and western garter snake.
[edit] Birds
The Cuyamaca bird list, available at the Park museum, contains about 200 different species! Several of the most commonly seen bird residents and migrants are the Wild Turkey, acorn woodpecker, Nuttall's woodpecker, northern flicker,Steller's jay, western bluebird, white-breasted nuthatch, mountain chickadee, plain titmouse, American robin, red-tailed hawk and red-shouldered hawk. MIGRANTS AND SUMMER RESIDENTS include the black-headed grosbeak, northern oriole, ash-throated flycatcher, western wood peewee, house wren, several warblers,and the lesser goldfinch.
[edit] Insects
California has over 25,000 identified insect species with several THOUSAND calling Cuyamaca their home. A good place to look for insects is among the plants along fire roads and wide trails. Due to the large number of insect species in the parks, it is not currently possible to provide a list of commonly seen insects. However, the results of a one-day insect walk in Cuyamaca on July 23, 1993 are an indication of the variety of insects in the Park. This survey is included in the "Summary of the Natural and Cultural History of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, August 1993."
[edit] History of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Historical features date from prehistoric man through the Southern California gold rush. Indian residence in the area extends back at least 7000 years. We can still see traces of their ancient civilization within the Park where bedrock mortars mark the sites of summer camps and villages. Even the name "Cuyamaca" is a Spanish version of the name the native Kumeyaay Indians used for this place. In water-short Southern California, the Indians called the area Ah-Ha Kwe-Ah Mac, meaning "the place where it rains."
Bands of Kumeyaay Indians ranged from San Diego east through the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains to what is now called Anza Borrego Desert State Park to beyond the Salton Sea in the east, and south beyond current day Ensenada in Mexico. A typical band's ideal range was a 20 mile radius from their winter home.
With the discovery of gold in Julian in 1869, the Spanish, Mexican, and American governments and settlers changed the Kumeyaay's way of life forever. Disease spread through the Kumeyaay, traditional ways of life were destroyed, and promises broken as the indians were expelled in 1875 from ancestral lands and taxed without representation. Currently there are about 20,000 Kumeyaay descendants in San Diego county, 10% of whom live on the 18 reservations which range from 6.3 to over 122,000 acres.
The Stonewall Mine opened in 1870 and started the boomtown of Cuyamaca City. Peak production at the mine occurred between 1886 and 1891 while employing over 200 workers. In 1889, Cuyamaca Dam was completed and in 1892, Stonewall mine was permanently sealed after large losses.
In 1923, Ralph Dyar bought the Cuyamaca Rancho and built a summer home. In 1933, he sold his property to the State, thereby creating Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Now the park is over 25,000 acres of protected wildlife habitat, watershed, archeological sites, botanical reserve, and recreational land with roughly half of the Park classified as Wilderness area.
[edit] Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Geology
[edit] Geological Basics
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is located in the mountains called the Peninsular Range, which extends from the San Jacinto Mountains north of the park, southward to the typ of Baja California. At the western edge of the most seismically active area in North America, the range is a great uplifted plateau, cut off from the Colorado Desert to the east by the Elsinore fault system, where vertical movement over the last two million years has amounted to thousands of feet of gained elevation.
[edit] Quartz and Granite
Metamorphosed sediments such as schist, gneiss, and quartzite are abundant in the Cuyamacas, particularly in the Stonewall Mine area. Most of the rocks now seen in the Park are plutonic: Either the granodiorite comprising Stonewall Peak, or the gabbro comprising Cuyamaca Peak. As these bedrocks weather, they become the parent material of the coarse, acidic, red soil found throughout the area. Gabbro weathers to a darker red soil than granodiorite or other quartz-rich rock.
Gold is a natural element that appears around granite formations because gold forms during cooling and solidification of igneous rock. Gold commonly occurs in association with quartz, either as pure gold or as an ore. In the Cuyamaca area, gold is associated with the metasediment called Julian schist. At mines in this area, including the Stonewall Mine in the Park, veins of gold were followed into the bedrock and the surrounding ore excavated. Most streams in the Park have small amounts of gold, since it is constantly being removed from the quartz exposures by weathering.
[edit] Camping in the Park
CAMPSITE RESERVATIONS can be made up to seven months in advance by calling 800-444-7275 and using your VISA, Mastercard, or American Express account. Group campsites reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance.
Camping with DOGS is permitted and there is no extra charge for the dog(s). However, dogs must be kept on a leash at all times (six-foot maximum.) Dogs must be kept in your tent or vehicle at night. Dogs are allowed in picnic areas and in the campgrounds (except primitive and environmental campgrounds.) Dogs are not allowed in park buildings or on the trails, except for the Cuyamaca Peak Fire Road and the Los Caballos/Stonewall Mine road, which are paved roads. Both the United States Forest Service and Lake Cuyamaca allow dogs on leash on their trails.
FAMILY CAMPSITES are available at PASO PICACHO Campground(85 sites) and the Green Valley Campground(81 sites). Individual sites have tables and fire rings. Piped drinking water and restrooms with hot pay showers are nearby. The sites at both campgrounds will accommodate trailers up to 30 feet long and motorhomes up to 30 feet. No hookups are available at either campground. A trailer sanitation station is located at both campsites. One motorized vehicle is included with the fee per night for camping. Each extra vehicle after that will be charged a fee and must fit on the driveway with each campsite or are to be parked in the Day Use area. Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available at both campgrounds.
FIVE CABINS are available at Paso Picacho campground. The pine cabins are 12' by 12' with a deck and wood box. Each cabin has bunk beds that sleep four (no mattresses, you must bring your own bedding.) Outside each, there is a picnic table, fire ring, barbecue and room for a small tent. Restrooms with pay showers and water are located near each site. The fee includes two motorized vehicles. There is an eight person maximum per site. If more than eight persons are camping, you must reserve another campsite or second cabin. You may bring your own padlock if you wish to lock the cabin during your stay. CHECK IN TIME IS 2 PM, CHECK OUT TIME IS 12 NOON. These times are strictly enforced. Wood gathering is not permitted in the park; you may bring wood from home or purchase it in the park. Dogs are allowed in the cabin but may not be left unattended. The cabins must be left clean by the campers.
Appaloosa Cabin at Los Caballos Campground is approximately one mile north of Paso Picacho Campground. It is identical to the cabins described above, with the same rules. Equestrian skill is not necessary to rent Appaloosa Cabin. Parking is available for one vehicle (20' maximum) at the cabin. One extra vehicle for each site (excluding motorhomes) may park in the Day Use area. You may bring up to two horses (included in the fee.) Corrals for the cabin horses will be designated in the day use corrals. Only one horse per corral allowed. If more than eight persons are staying, another campsite may be reserved ONLY if they are equestrians. The regular campsites at Los Caballos are for equestrians only.
The Nature Den in Paso Picacho is a large cabin built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There is room to park only one vehicle at the Nature Den; all others must park in the Day Use parking area. If there are more than eight persons in your party, you must reserve another campsite or second cabin. Visitors may bring their own padlock is they wish to lock the Nature Den during their stay. Three (3) metal frame cots are provided, please bring your own bedding. There is also a table and four chairs. The Nature Den has electricity and lights. Outside, there is a picnic table, fire ring, barbecue and room for a small tent. Wood may be purchased at the park or brought from home. The use of charcoal is not allowed in the Nature Den. Pets are allowed, but may not be left unattended within the Nature Den. Restrooms with pay showers and water are located nearby. The Nature Den must be left clean on departure. CHECK IN TIME IS 2 PM, CHECK OUT TIME IS 12 NOON. These times are strictly enforced.
TWO GROUP CAMPSITES that will accommodate up to 60 people each are located at Paso Picacho. They have piped drinking water, tables, barbecue stoves, and restrooms with hot pay showers. Recreational vehicles are allowed but count as two vehicles due to limited parking. Up to 20 vehicles are allowed at the group sites.
FAMILY EQUESTRIAN CAMPSITES are at Los Caballos campground, southeast of Cuyamaca Lake on the California Riding and Hiking Trail. The campground has 16 developed sites with two metal corrals at each site as well as tables, barbecue stove, piped water, and restrooms with hot showers. A few additional corrals are available at a nearby equestrian day use area. Each site may register up to 8 people and 4 horses. Only one (1) horse per corral is permitted. Los Caballos is closed from November through April.
ONE GROUP EQUESTRIAN CAMPSITE is available at Los Vaqueros Campground, which can accommodate up to 80 people and 45 horses in corrals. There are tables, water, and restrooms with hot showers. Los Vaqueros is closed from December through March.
PRIMITIVE TRAIL CAMPSITES are located at Arroyo Seco Primitive Campground and Granite Springs Primitive Campground. Each of these areas has three family campsites (maximum capacity of eight people) and one group site that will accommodate up to 16 people. Pit toilets are available; water is unreliable so pack it in. CAMPFIRES ARE PROHIBITED though you can use backpack stoves for cooking. Horse corrals are available, but equestrians must pack in feed because grazing is not allowed. These sites are in an unlighted, remote area: it is advisable to check in at least an hour before dark. To use these trail camps, register at park headquarters, the Paso Picacho kiosk, or Green Valley kiosk.
[edit] Mountain Bike Trails
Mountain bikes are permitted on most paved and unpaved fireroads inside the park. These trails are MULTI-USE: Please observe the 15 mph speed limit and yield the right of way to hikers and horse back riders. Descriptions of the mountain bike trails is provided below:
[edit] Green Valley Campground Loop
DISTANCE: Approximately 4 miles TIME: Approximately 2 hours Difficulty: 2.5
A wide fire road through chaparral terrain. You will see the reforestation from a fire on the Arroyo Seco Primitive Camp trail. The loop offers great views from the California Riding and Hiking Trail (CR&H). Note that the spring at Arroyo Seco is typically dry. The only water available is at Green Valley. Directions: From Green Valley Camp/Picnic area, take the Arroyo Seco Fire Road. At the California Riding and Hiking Trail junction, a right turn (north) will lead you to the Arroyo Seco Primitive Camp (0.6 mile). A left turn (south) will continue the loop on the CR&H to the fir road that leads back to the campground. The loop can be extended by turning right (south) at the junction and continuing to Hwy 79, and riding back to Green Valley Campground along the highway.
[edit] Granite Springs Primitive Camp (round trip)
DISTANCE: Approximately 11.5 miles TIME: Approximately 3 hours Difficulty: 3
Directions: Start at Highway 79 and East Mesa Fire Road. The first 2.8 miles is a sunny, steady climb. From Oakzanita Junction the trail gets easier and is mostly through shaded pine forest. For an additional 3-4 mile ride, from Granite Springs camp, a single track trail leads you north. About .3 mile from camp, bikes must be walked while negotiating switchbacks up a small hill. The trail continues on for approximately 2 miles to the boundary of state park property. When returning, use caution and monitor your speed down East Mesa Fire Road.
[edit] Headquarters Loop
DISTANCE: Approximately 8 miles TIME: Approximately 3 hours Difficulty: 2
This is one of the easier rides at the park, except for a steep 0.6 mile push up Soapstone Grade. The ride follows a fire road trough a variety of terrain. Directions: From the Park Headquarters, ride south past the museum, along the 'Authorized Vehicles Only' road to circumvent the county school grounds. This will take you to the Upper Green valley Fire Road, turn left (north). About a mile from headquarters, you reach a fork for Stonewall Creek Fire Road. Stay right which keeps you on Upper Green valley Fire Road. At Soapstone Grade Junction, turn left (west) and make the strenuous ascent. About .5 miles after cresting Soapstone Grade, a left turn at the Stonewall Creek Fire Road takes you downhill back to the upper Green valley Fire Road and Headquarters. To extend the ride, do not turn at Stonewall Creek Fire Road and instead, continue on to the north. This will take you into the meadow areas around Stonewall mine and Cuyamaca lake.
[edit] Middle Peak Loop
Distance: Approximately 7.5 miles Time: Approximately 2 hours Difficulty: 3.5
A steady climb leads to the beautiful, forested vistas and the interesting switchback downhill section on the east side of the peak.
Directions: From Highway 79 take Milk Ranch Road west. At Azalea Springs Fire Road Junction, continue west, take the right fork (north) through the gate about 1/2 mile from the junction. Continue on Middle Peak Fire Road to Milk Ranch Road Junction, a left turn (east) brings you back to the trail head. Be careful not to get off on the Black Oak Trail, which is closed to bicycles. There is no water on this trail.
[edit] West Mesa Fire Road
Distance: Approximately 6.5 miles Time: Approximately 3 hours Difficulty: 3.0
This trail is the most tree covered in the park. It is uphill until the Cuyamaca Peak Junction, then downhill most of the way.
Directions: From Highway 79, take Milk Ranch Road west, turn left (south) at the Azalea Springs Fire Road Junction and continue past the Cuyamaca Peak Fire Road (paved) on Fern Flat Fire Road. Take a left (east) at the Japacha Fire Road to Highway 79. You can extend the trip by taking a right (south) on Japacha Fire Road. This will take you out to Highway 79 farther south. Water is available at Azalea Springs.
[edit] Cuyamaca Grand Loop
Distance: Approximately 15 miles Time: Approximately 6 hours Difficulty: 4.5
The West Mesa Fire Road ride (above) can be lengthened into a long loop that will take you through most of the varied types of terrain in the park. This loop makes a very enjoyable day trip: pack a lunch.
Directions: Follow the School Camp trail to the Stonewall Creek Junction. Turn right (north) at the Stonewall Creek Fire Road Junction and right (north) again at Los Vaqueros road (paved). Take a left (south) on the Stonewall Mine Road (paved) and follow it to Highway 79. Turn right on 79 and follow it to Milk Ranch Road. Follow the instructions for the West Mesa Fire Road to its end at Highway 79. Finish the loop by continuing down 79 to the School Camp. Water is available at the School Camp/Park HQ, and Azalea Springs.
[edit] Cuyamaca Peak Fire Road (Paved):
Distance: Approximately 3.5 miles Time: Approximately 1.5 hours Difficulty: 4.5
This paved road goes all the way to the top of the park. It is a STEEP ride, but the view is worth the work (if not the walk!!)
Directions: The Cuyamaca Peak Fire Road leaves Hwy 79 about 1/4 mi south of the Paso Picacho Campground (the road is also accessible from the campground). Stay on the paved road all the way to the top. Good luck and please control your down hill speed.
[edit] TRAIL ETIQUETTE:
- 1. When you approach horses head on, stop about 30 yards in front of them and let them pass. When overtaking horses, make sure that the rider sees you. Approach slowly. Talking in a soft,natural voice will help to calm the horses and is necessary.
- 2. Slow down for blind corners and when approaching other park users. Always announce your presence by voice or other device.
- 3. 15 MILES PER HOUR is the speed limit for bicycles in the park at all times.
- 4. Try to minimize trail damage: Avoid skids, spin outs, and riding when the trails are muddy.
- 5. Note which trails are closed to bikes. Trail maps are available at park HQ and the campground entrance stations.
- 6. Have a fun, safe time.
[edit] State Park Volunteers
The beauty and uniqueness of Cuyamaca has the ability to deeply affect visitors. For this reason many people choose to volunteer a portion of their time and energy to the Park or to support the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association with donations and memberships. CRSPIA is a educational/interpretive organization that helps to support the park and its volunteer programs. There are five volunteer units in Cuyamaca:
* the Interpreters Assistance Unit * the Trails maintenance Unit * the Mounted Assistance Unit * the Mountain Bike Assistance Unit * Camp Hosts.
One of these units is sure to meet your special interests.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting:
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 12551 Highway 79 Descanso, CA 91916
760-765-0755
[edit] Wi-Fi Service
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park now offers AT&T Wi-Fi Service! This service enables park visitors with wireless enabled laptop computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) to access the Internet. You can access this service if you are within a 150 foot range base of the Administrative Headquarters.
