14209 Hwy 76, Pala, CA 92059
(760) 742-1631
Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday – Tuesday*
Pedestrian
access is available from sunrise to sunset,
daily. No public vehicle access or restroom availability on December
25.
*Closed Wednesdays and in August due to extreme heat
Day-use parking is $3.
View the park brochure. Watch the video!
Acquired in 1973, Wilderness Gardens County Preserve is the oldest
Parks and Recreation open space preserve in San Diego County. Located
in the picturesque San Luis Rey River watershed, the vast 737-acre
preserve offers more than 4 miles of easy to moderate hiking trails
and is known as a birdwatcher's paradise.
Equestrians
will appreciate the preserve’s staging area with picnic tables,
portable restrooms and quick access to the trail system. The main
trail is the most popular, and provides access to the preserve’s
interior. The Alice Fries Trail is a half mile single-track trail that
meanders near the San Luis Rey River. The Upper Meadow Trail provides
a wonderful overview of the Preserve and San Luis Rey River
corridor.
Listed on the County Historic Resource Board’s
list of historic places, the foundation of the Sickler’s Grist Mill is
a remnant of North San Diego County’s rich agricultural history and
testifies to the resilience of those who pioneered the valley. Step
into the on-site visitor’s center to learn more about the preserve’s
colorful past.
Be sure to bring water, a snack, and wear
good footwear, and sun protection. The preserve is closed in August
due to extreme heat.
