VIDEO OF THE MONTH: WINTER HIKING AT WILDERNESS GARDENS PRESERVE

East County News Service

January 1, 2016 (Wilderness Gardens Preserve)--The County of San Diego has created a video showing the joys of winter season hiking at Wilderness Gardens Preserve, located in  the picturesque San Luis Rey River watershed in Pauma Valley in northeast San Diego County.

Acquired in 1973, Wilderness Gardens Preserve is the oldest County Parks and Recreation open space preserve. It is open Friday through Monday.

The preserve has over four  miles of easy to moderate hiking trails and is known as a birdwatcher's paradise. The main trail is the most popular, with access to the preserve’s interior. The Alice Fries trail is a half-mile single track that meanders near the river. The Upper Meadow Trail provides a wonderful overview of the preserve and San Luis Rey River corridor as well as access to a historic grist mill site.

If you go, be sure to bring water, sturdy shoes and sunscreen.