East County News Service

February 24, 2023 (San Diego) --  The City of San Diego today announced that due to weather conditions and “an abundance of caution,” it has closed Mission Trails Regional Park, as well as Los Penasquitos Preserve, Chollas Lake and Maple Canyon parks.

East County News Service

Photo: Harris Hawk by Alan Vernon, cc via Wikipedia

January 1, 2022 (San Diego) – Mission Trails Regional Park will host “Hawk Talk with Huxley the Harris Hawk” on Sunday, January 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Stop by the Visitor Center Lobby to meet local falconer, Bob Gordon, and his feathered friend, “Huxley” the Harris’ hawk. Get up close and personal with this majestic bird of prey, while learning all about what makes it so special.

East County News Service

February 16, 2022 (San Diego) — You’re invited to join members from the San Diego Astronomy Association to view the night sky through telescopes at Mission Trails Regional Park on the first Friday of each month at sunset.  The next star party is on March 4 starting around 5:45 p.m.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Saturday, August 25th 

6-10 p.m. (VIP reception at 5:30 p.m.)

Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center

One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego

It’s the party of a decade!

East County Magazine invites you to join us at East County Fest, our 10^th anniversary celebration!  Proceeds benefit our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts and our award-winning community news reporting.

Festivities include: Foods, wines, cider and beer from top restaurants, wineries and breweries in East County, wonderful artists, artisans, authors, athletes, communitiy leaders, live music and entertainment, raffle, auction, stargazing, guest speakers, a look back at the last 10 years and forward to the future!

Tables and individual tickets are available, plus there’s a VIP reception.  Buy a table or a VIP reception ticket and get our free “Best of East County” cookbook on a souvenir thumb drive as thanks, plus preferred parking, auction preview, gourmet goodies and more.

Our VIP party is catered by Bekker's Catering, known for their fabulous food for weddings and other special occasions, and sponsored by California Coast Credit Union. Our thanks to Bekker's for generously donating most of the delicious foods for the VIP reception.

Individual tickets: $65 ($60 for sustaining donors and dining club members) or for $20 extra add VIP reception ($85 total).

Tables: $480 ($60 a person) or $680  ($80 a person) with the VIP reception. 

This event is for age 21 and up.

CLICK ARROWS BELOW TO VIEW AND CHOOSE ALL PRICE OPTIONS.

  For all the delicious details, click "read more" and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

Our East County Fest 10-year anniversary celebration for East County Magazine on August 25^th at Mission Trails features an array of top musical talent from East County including prominent jazz/pop/ classical/Nuevo Flamenco guitarist Miles Moynier, award-winning fingerstyle guitarist Jim Earp, talented and creative performers from Visionary Dance Theatre, and the San Diego Native American Flute Circle, honoring 12,000 years of Native American history in our region.

By Miriam Raftery

 June 17, 2018 (Santee) – Activists in Santee are spending Father’s Day  gathering signatures on two petitions on issues impacting Santee and Mission Trails Regional Park areas.   

 The first aims to put the Santee General Plan Initiative on the ballot to require voter approval of development projects larger than the general plan currently allows.  The second calls on the California Public Utilities Commission to halt SDG&E’s proposed gas pipeline. Click links in this paragraph to read ECM’s prior articles on these issues.  Below are details on where you can find petition gathers and rallies: 

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (Tierrasanta) - Spring has arrived in Southern California and the green season is here – so the San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action is hosting its very first club outing and hike. What better way to enjoy the blooming benefit of this winter's El Niño rains than by taking a half-day hike in our backyard wilderness bounty, Mission Trails Regional Park? 

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Join naturalists, called Canyoneers, from the San Diego Natural History Museum, for a free guided walk in Oak Canyon in Mission Trails Regional Park on Sunday, January 24 starting at 9 a.m.

East County News Service

November 6, 2015 (Mission Trails) –Join San Diego City Councilmember Scott Sherman, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, and La Mesa Councilmember Kristine Alessio on Saturday, November 7th at 10:00 a.m. at the East Kwaay Paay Trailhead, just west of Bushy Hill Drive and the Kumeyaay Lake Campground, on Father Junipero Serra Trail to officially launch Mission Trails Regional Park’s new 5-Peak Challenge program.

The 5-Peak Challenge involves hiking to the summit of the five highest peaks in the park: Cowles Mountain (1,592’), Pyles Peak (1,579’), North Fortuna (1,291’), Kwaay Paay (1,194’) and South Fortuna (1,094’).   Complete the challenge by hiking to the summit of all five peaks in any order and within your own timeframe. This will provide you the opportunity to discover all the less-visited areas of the park.  After completing the 5-Peak Challenge, not only will you have seen San Diego from different perspectives, but you may also adopt your new favorite hiking trail along the way.   

Here’s how to officially complete the 5-Peak Challenge: http://mtrp.org/five_peaks01

By Miriam Raftery

file photo: Calif. Dept. Fish & Game

July 13, 2015 (San Diego) – A mountain lion apparently protecting her cubs startled a pair of hikers Thursday night at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Mike Smith told ECM news partner 10 News that he was wearing a head lamp on the trail when he spotted a reflection and then heard a sound like “kittens, kind of like a meowing, but loud.”

He and his friend walked toward their car, when they saw eyes  staring at them. Next, a full-grown mountain lion walked out of the bushes and across the road less than 30 feet from the hikers, before heading up to high ground.

By Greg Dunne                                       

December 9, 2014 (Mission Trails) --So striking are the looks of the Spotted Towhee that you can’t take your eyes off him until he ducks out of sight again in the undergrowth. Even if you’ve seen these birds many times before, you can’t wait to see another one. The Spotted Towhee’s jet-black head with contrasting white and brown and red eyes will immediately catch your attention.

June 26, 2014 (Mission Trails)—You’re invited to join Mission Trails Regional Park guides this summer for free Saturday evening guided walks in the park to learn about changes that occur as the sun goes down.  These walks last approximately an hour and a half and start from the parking lot across from Kumeyaay Campground on July 19 at 7:15 p.m.,  August 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.

March 11, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Through March 17, you can vote once every 24 hours to help the MTRP Foundation win up to $15,000 for a “Technology Makeover” for the 8 Rangers at MTRP.  The MRC Company “Smart Technology Solutions” is the largest technology and services company in the San Diego area specializing in workflow solutions and office systems.  They are currently running a contest to provide the winning 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation with up to a $15,000 technology upgrade for their office.  The winner will be decided by the number of votes cast on-line through March 17. Here is the LINK to vote and you can vote once every 24 hours. Scroll down the right hand side of the webpage until you come to Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Foundation and click the “Vote” button to help us win.  The funds will be used to provide the 8 Rangers at MTRP with wifi connected tablets such as the Microsoft Surface Pro.

November 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Arbor Day in Mission Trails is being celebrated at the Equestrian Staging area on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 9:00 a.m. The public is invited to take part in the donation and/or planting of oak trees. Volunteers may help with the planting - or act as cheerleaders. Volunteers are also needed to pull weeds and help with general landscape maintenance of the area. Some shovels will be available, but Mission Trails says it would be helpful if you could bring your own. Gloves and comfortable shoes are recommended. To make a donation, please complete and mail the Arbor Day Donation Form.

By Greg Dunne

March 6, 2013 -  Last week I did back to back hikes in Missions Trails Regional Park. I was treated with three Mule Deer on the trail—a great sight!  I have only seen deer at Mission Trails once before and that was after the Cedar fires of 2003.

It was on my way back from North Mt. Fortuna that I spotted the trio of deer. They were not as skittish as I thought they might be and I was able to watch them and take photos for at least three or four minutes.