Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve: Hike Schedule

From: The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve Docents

Hello fellow hikers,

We appreciate your RSVP via e-mail so we know who is coming and can notify you of any weather-related changes.  Please email us to to Beth Cobb at:

smerdocenthikes@gmail.com

The followings are dates for upcoming hikes and bird walks on the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve:

·               Saturday, January 21      Temecula Gorge Hike

·               Saturday, February 18     Highlands Hike

·               Sunday, March 5              Temecula Gorge Hike

·               Sunday, March 12            New Chaparral  Hike

·               Saturday, March 25          PJ's Bird Walk

·               Saturday,  April 8              Highlands Hike

·               Sunday, April 9                 PJ's Bird Walk

·               Sunday, April 23               Temecula Gorge Hike

·               Sunday, May 7                  New Chaparral Hike

·               Saturday, May 20             Temecula Gorge Hike 

Note:  Due to heat we do not have scheduled hikes during the summer months 

We look forward to getting out on the trail and hope to see you out there!

The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve Docents

Temecula Gorge Hike Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve

Dates

Saturday January 21, 2017 Sunday March 5, 2017 Sunday April 23, 2017 Saturday May 20, 2017

All hikes begin promptly at 8:00 am

This hike is 61⁄2 miles with a 1,400 feet elevation gain and loss, from the Reserve’s South Field Station to the Temecula Gorge and back.

This moderate hike is on a dirt road with several challenging hills that winds through an avocado orchard, shady oak woodlands, chaparral and finally down into the riparian area of the Santa Margarita river.

We do need to know who is coming so please RSVP via email to Beth Cobb at smerdocenthikes@gmail.com.

Docent-led hikes are a fun way to visit this special place which is not open to the public. In addition to protecting local flora and fauna, the Reserve provides environmental research opportunities for students and researchers worldwide.

Directions to the South Field Station Entrance

1. Take the Mission Road exit on I-15 and follow Mission Road west toward Fallbrook. Drive 1.6 miles to Willow Glen Road and turn right.
2. After 2.2 miles, Willow Glen Road intersects with Stage Coach Lane and turns into a dirt road, virtually at the River.
3. Turn right (your only option) onto Stage Coach Lane and drive 1.7 miles to the locked gate of the Reserve. The gate will be opened for tour participants, who will park in a dirt parking lot at the entrance to the citrus grove, about a half mile past the gate.

NOTES:

• You MUST go down WILLOW GLEN ROAD to get to the reserve. Very often GPS will send you in a wrong direction.

• The dirt road that parallels the river is beautiful but winding and slow driving.

• We start promptly at 8:00. Please allow 25 minutes to drive from the 15 Freeway / Mission Road off-ramp to the Reserve trailhead.