Wilderness Gardens County Preserve

About Wilderness Gardens County Preserve

Located in Pala, the Wilderness Gardens County Preserve is the oldest open space preserve managed by San Diego County Parks and Recreation.

Situated within the San Luis Rey River watershed, this 737-acre preserve is a great adventure from the fast pace of the city life. There are many different trails you can take that range in level of difficulty.

Enjoy a pond, a wide variety of wildlife, viewpoints, a museum, ruins and a ton of history tied to this preserve.

Wildlife 

The park is particularly popular among birdwatchers, with many species frequenting the area, including migratory birds, resident waterfowl, and birds of prey. We listened to the screech of a hawk circling over us for a large portion of our hike.

While you’re in the area, make sure to visit Quixote Farms nearby!

The preserve’s diverse habitats create an ideal environment for these avian species, and its quiet, remote setting provides excellent opportunities for observation.

Amenities

The preserve’s amenities include a well-maintained parking lot, a small picnic area, and accessible restrooms at key locations.

Trails

The preserve’s trails, which span over four miles, range from easy to moderate in difficulty, allowing visitors to explore the beauty of this natural sanctuary at their own pace.

The main trail, the most frequently used, offers visitors direct access to the heart of the preserve and provides views of the stunning landscape. Other trails, like the Alice Fries Trail, take hikers on a half-mile journey along the San Luis Rey River, while the Upper Meadow Trail provides sweeping views of the river corridor and the surrounding terrain.

For equestrians, the preserve features a dedicated staging area with picnic tables and portable restrooms, ensuring a comfortable experience while exploring the trails on horseback.

Watershed

I’ve noticed every time we’ve visited, the supposed San Luis River Watershed is bone dry.  I decided to look into why is this is what I found out:

The San Luis Rey River watershed at the Wilderness Gardens Preserve often appears dry because the river is considered an “ephemeral stream.” This means it only flows significantly during wet seasons or after heavy rain and usually dries up during the drier months.

This is due to the combination of its mountainous terrain and the natural fluctuations in water availability in the region. Most of the water is underground in the aquifer and only surfaces during significant rainfall events.

History

The Luiseño people were the first to inhabit the region, using the natural resources of the San Luis Rey River, known by the Natives as Quechla. For thousands of years they used this site as an encampment during the fall which is acorn-collecting season.

On some of the trails you may come across deep morteros (grinding holes) and a mock Kumeyaay ewaa (hut).

The preserve is also home to the remnants of the Sickler’s Grist Mill, a key part of North San Diego County’s agricultural past. The foundation of the grist mill is listed on the County Historic Resource Board’s register of historic places.

Farmers from across the area would bring their crops to the mill, where they were ground into flour. The slow process of grinding often required families to camp out at the mill for several days.

The property changed hands several times before being acquired by Manchester Boddy, a noted horticulturist and publisher, in the 1950s. He was also the founder of Descanso Gardens.  His home can be viewed at the gardens and is now a museum.

Boddy cultivated a variety of plants on the land, including camellias and azaleas, and it was he who coined the name “Wilderness Gardens.”