I had always wanted to check this out and was not disappointed. There are ample walking trails that take you through oak woodland, and open grasslands. Lots of Raptors and great for birdwatching. read more

Fun little place to go for a hike or take pictures. There are plenty of trails, loop trails, signs. Some are shorter, some longer. Some easier, some harder. Only about 35 - 40 minutes E of Oceanside, so not too bad. There are plenty of animals to see the 3 or 4 times that I have been there. Including ground squirrels, rabbits, snakes, cows, coyotes, birds of all kinds such as woodpeckers, meadow larks, hawks, vulture or condors, etc. Pretty much dirt, so if it rains, mud. During the spring bloom there are some pretty flowers. There is 1 trail that leads to a pond, with some ducks, etc. There may be people riding horses, make sure you yield to them, whether walking, walking your dog, riding a bike, etc. There is a porta-potty at the beginning of the trail in the parking lot. Make sure you lock the gate when you enter the trails. read more

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Enjoyed a really nice hike/walk here this morning. They have a .8 mile meadow loop, and a 2-mil wildflower loop, with a .2 mile connector trail between the two. I did some of all three. It was August, so definitely drier, and no wildflowers, but still some really pretty trees, green grass, and beautiful views. I saw a few groups of horseback riders, a coyote, some butterflies, birds and hawks, and tons of lizards and ground squirrels. It's a 3,521 acre preserve, some of which is not open to the public, although there is a 6-mile trail that is open 3 months a year by reservation. They have 408 plant species, 23 butterfly species, 21 reptile species, 6 types of amphibians, 37 mammals and over a hundred types of birds. Not crowded at all; other than the horseback riders, only encountered a few hikers the whole time. There's free parking and a portable toilet by the trailhead. Would love to come back in spring to see the wild flowers. read more

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My friend and I were looking for a fairly relaxing place to go for a hike. This isn't a hike though, more like a nice leisurely walk. We went mid afternoon on a hot day and was prepared to melt into a little puddle, expecting there to be little breeze and relentless heat from the sun. We were pleasantly surprised to find we were wrong as there are more trees than I had thought. Even a few ponds My friend and I opted to do both loops. Most of the way we got a nice breeze, and rarely did I ever feel the heat get to me. It was the perfect weather to go for a walk. So many squirrels, rabbits to look at. Some cows near the end of the loop. It was complete tranquility as we only saw a total of six people the entire time, mostly towards the end. We'd hear the occasional airplane fly by overhead, but besides that, nothing else but nature. The trails were all nicely kept, but beware of the occasional horse or cow dung (I'm guessing cow dung). It was refreshing not to have to deal with rocky trails that so many of San Diego trails seem to be full with so I didn't have to worry about twisting an ankle or two. It was a really great find. I hope to come back again. TL;DR: + Lots of wildlife + Quiet, some shade + Nice breeze + Good for walk for all ages + Nice wide trails read more

Ramona Grasslands Preserve - I had no idea there was going to be a pond here! A nice surprise - Hiking Near Me - Ramona, California

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It was a nice, wide-open walk. Very pretty and not too crowded either. Parking lot provided.

Family-friendly hiking. You wouldn't think that walking a few miles through grasslands would be that interesting, but the Ramona Grasslands Preserve was a great experience. Hard to image that this is what San Diego used to look like. You can leisurely walk the trail here and take in the beautiful landscape at your own pace. If you're lucky, you can even get a close up look of wandering cattle. Pretty much anyone can walk this looping trail but there is one long hill that may require a break or two if you have small children. There's also a section of the trail that's a bit on the wilderness side. Tip - Make sure you do the Wildflower loop first, and if you're still up for it you can hike the other - smaller loop by the parking lot. - You can play fun games like "count the squirrels" with the kids - lots of Hawks and Turkey Vultures - Lots of horse poop and cow pies on the trail - View of Mt Woodson. - Under an airport so there's a lot of planes flying over. read more

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LOVE this place. My favorite outing in Ramona. The panaromic views are breathtaking and it's amazing have such a truly country experience so close to civilization. Every visit is a different experience. Sometimes there are a lot of walkers, other times a lot of folks w/dogs, and most of the time at least a few people with their horses. I saw coyote pups there last summer! There are always a lot of birds and the past two times I've been, I've heard this hauntingly beautiful bird that I think might be a hermit thrush. Beware this is a cattle range. The cattle will generally walk away when people come near, but if you have some curious youngsters or bulls, just be careful. I don't think they'll charge intentionally, just don't back one into a corner! read more

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I love all of the San Diego County parks & trails, & this preserve is a really nice one! It has two trails: one longer than the other, but both are easy to hike. Lots of horses being ridden & dogs being walked! read more

One of my new things in life is when I'm in an area Google "Hiking trails near me", by doing this I've discovered trails that I've driven past for 30 or so years. I've driven past the road that leads to this trail a dozen or so times. This trail is a scenic 6 mile loop with varying degrees of elevation. There are some shady spots lots of sunny areas. I saw birds, ground squirrels, butterfly's a couple grasshoppers and several hikers a few of which were on horses. I didn't see any bikers. You are required to watch a video and pass a test to earn a permit to gain entry into the park. Anyone that can read this review will have no trouble passing the test. After passing the test and receiving my certificate I entered the preserve where I was imediately confused concerning the rules I read in taking the test and the posted rules. I saw a ranger. His name was Chris, a very friendly and helpful young man. He cleared up the confussion for me. He was able to answer all my questions and even thanked me for doing the training. The trail in parts can be used by walkers or Wheelchairs but there are parts I wouldn't recommend it . I really enjoyed my visit and will be back. read more

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Best nature preserve!! In this uncertain time connecting through nature is more important than ever before. There were about six hikers during the time I was there all practicing social distancing. Even though I was one of the first hikers to arrive the supervising park ranger Dave Moniz was already busy disinfecting the gates. The staging area is very pristine. There is lovely grass along the trails and the pond is overflowing into a stream. How wonderful it is to be able to enjoy this amazing place. read more

This preserve opened in July 2011. There are currently two trails available to use. The Meadow Loop is .8 miles. The Wildflower Loop is 2 miles. To get to the Wildflower Loop the connecting trail is .4 miles. There are three groups who actively use the preserve: hikers, bicyclist and horseback riders. Trail etiquette is such that bicyclist yield to hikers and horseback riders. Hikers yield to horseback riders. Horseback riders yield to no one. The Wildflower Loop if you take the trail to the left, you will come across a pond, where mallards, koots, and buffleheads frequently hang out on the water. The preserve also has cattle grazing the area on a rotating bases. There is an area behind the information kiosk at the start of the trails that look like a groom checker board pattern in the field. In each of those squares that have the longer grass is a manmade dens for the Kangaroo Rats. Because of how close these trails are to Ramona, a huge horse community, on any given day you will find horses on the trails. If you don't like horses and what they leave behind don't hike the preserve as you will find yourself trying to avoid constantly the "road apples". There tends to be a collection on the trails if it hasn't rain in awhile, the smell might offend some. The trails do get really dusty if it hasn't rain in awhile and as a hiker you find yourself hiking through several inches of dirt. Note that the ranger will close the preserve if 1/2 an inch or more of rain has fallen. It might take several days before it is re-open. Check the county website for park closer. They list that info in the Parks and Recreation page under news and events. Hours: Ramona Grasslands Preserve is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the fall and winter and 8 a.m. - sunset during the summer months. Open 7 days a week year-round. read more

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My favorite spot to get exercise. Right now I'm the only one out here. If you want to skip the craziness of Woodson or Iron Mountain, this is the place. There is a .8 mile loop and a 2 mile loop (but it takes .3 Mikes to get to it so it's almost 3 miles by the time you're done. Some days I do both loops. There are some hills buy nothing too strenuous unless you run up them or go as fast as you can. Wildlife is abundant. Crows, meadow larks, snakes, coyotes, hundreds of ground squirrel and cows. I love the peace and stillness here. Good for walking, jogging, horses and Mtn. Bikes. read more

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Very nice natural area to drive to for respite. Get away from traffic and crowds here. Slow down and take in the sights and smells of nature. Several spots to go hiking. read more

This place is definitely cool to walk around. I made the mistake of not wearing sunscreen, though, so make sure you do so you don't get burned in the open fields like I did! I took some of my friends engagement photos here and they turned out really great for a country theme! Some parts of the trails are a little boring, but that happens just about anywhere. Also, watch out for any horse or cow manure as you're walking since it is an open farm field, but other than that, it's great! read more

My husband and I did this hike last week. The path is wide and is mostly gently rolling terrain with a couple of hills. There are some shaded areas and a couple of picnic tables but most of the hike is in the open. There are some beautiful views, seasonal flowers, a pond, and free-roaming, friendly cattle. Be sure to bring water as there is no water supply. read more

Nicely kept trails and very quiet. This is one of my favorite places to hike around Ramona. Lots of wildlife and even a few benches along the trails. There is a short loop and a long loop. Both are very scenic. read more

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A really great place to hike - wear tick and flea spray - they are plentiful and there are no deer, but plenty of deer ticks. You can get many different diseases from one tick, some you can't get rid of. It's a peaceful place, especially in the late afternoons. read more

This is a lovely, easy walk through grasslands and oak grove stands. It's about .5 mi to the wildflower loop. Elevation gain on the wildflower loop (2 mi) was very easy for the not-so-fit crowd, taking you past a pond and high enough to see sweeping panoramic views. Add some meadowlarks, egrets, tree swallows, and local cattle and you have a great afternoon outdoors. Watch for rattlers, especially in warm weather, and stay on the trail/road. read more

Ramona Grasslands Preserve - California Lilac - Hiking Near Me - Ramona, California

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Love this walking park. Beautiful in all the seasons. Only bad part is that the county locks the gate at sunset and in the fall and winter, that is almost too early. Even if you see a lot of cars, the park is big enough that you feel like you have sections to yourself. read more

Great hiking trail-easy. The views and area are fantastic. Great for pictures.