06/15/26

Pott's Flume Trail Restoration

County Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the successful completion of the Pott’s Flume Trail Restoration project! This effort focused on restoring and enhancing one of our community’s well loved recreational trails to improve accessibility, safety, and the overall experience for the community.

Pott’s Trail is a 2.3-mile segment of the historic Flume Trail which travels through the scenic El Monte Valley in Lakeside. The full historic Flume Trail stretches about 5.7 miles from the old El Monte pump house on the west to El Monte County Park on the east end. Throughout the trail there are remnants of the original flume system (water chute) and the tunnel cut into the mountainside.

Key project features include:

Removal of posts and barbed-wire fencing hazards
Trail resurfacing and stabilization to improve safety and durability
Drainage upgrades to reduce erosion and protect habitat
New way-finding signs for better navigation
New interpretive signs with ecological, cultural, and historical content

We extend our appreciation to the San Diego River Conservancy for their grant funding support and partnership throughout this effort.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project — staff, partners, and community members. We look forward to seeing you enjoy the renewed Pott’s Trail for years to come.