Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve West, Ramona CA

Santa Isabel open space preserve has beautiful wide range land, open grazing land and oak forests. The trail is actually a service type dirt road with many changes in elevation, great for large groups or individual hikers or bikers. It even has a picnic area about 1/2 - 3/4 up the trail. This photo is from the beginning trail head looking west.

The water is flowing. Enjoyable when crossing the creek, I got wet. I saw the cute owl protecting his territory, a couple of coyote and cows running & mooing from a distance.

This really is a great hiking spot. Views of some rolling hills, cows, people and their dogs. There are some steep parts, but just be slow and steady and you will be up, or down, them before you know it.

This is a great hike that gets tougher the further you go. The first half mile or so is completely appropriate for all ages.

We lived the hike. Taking off up the Coast to Coast trail and back on the Santa Ysobel loop was perfect. We loved tackling the climbing first, then enjoying down hill and more steady returns. For folk a little older, this was perfect. The scenery is superb at this time and the Nature Centre fascinating!

A beautiful and secluded space! The hike is nice, rolling hills so it's not easy but also wouldn't say it's hard. I can imagine it would be brutal in the summer as there is not a ton of shade. Plenty of parking at the trail head and also a couple porta pottys there as well. You might see some cows grazing near the trail (which should be apparent as you dodge their droppings!)

Awesome place to hike with a large parking lot and porta potties. Some pretty big hills if you're with young children or an older group. Make sure to bring a lot of water on those warmer days.

A beautiful place to hike. The scenery is gorgeous. There is a clear path that takes you in and around the space. There is a lovely stream about half way in.

Don't get fooled that it will be an easy stroll some parts are steep. It was quite entertaining to see some cows.

As a wheelchair user, it's possible to go along the trail at least until it really starts to go uphill. The surface at the beginning is a little uneven with some ruts, but it flattens out and you can enjoy the meadows and fun trees.

This was an unexpected stop for us. We hiked for maybe 1.5 hours and the scenery was pretty great. You could easily spend a whole day out there exploring. STAYING ON THE PATH.as multiple signs state. The only wildlife we saw were cows, so that wasn't great as there are supposed to be mountain lions and a variety of other animals there. I guess though that it is a good thing we didn't see those. I'd make sure to have binoculars or a nice high magnification camera so you can see distances. From the top of the hills you can see a LONG ways. I'd go backt there again. OH, and make sure you have plenty of water with you.

It's so beautiful; you could see Kessler hawks different birds and if you are at the right time, you may see a Golden eagle.
There is a trail for walking and a trail for horse riding. There are 2 portapotty.

This preserve is absolutely gorgeous in Spring! When we visited on a Monday afternoon, we encountered only a handful of people on the trail. There were, however, dozens of grazing cows, prairie dogs (?), and turkeys that we heard in the distance.

Plenty of parking. Portable restrooms near the trailhead. A couple of picnic benches along the trail. There is a creek after the first incline and steep decline. Not much shade on the 6-mile trail, bring plenty of water if it's a hot day. We saw cows, squirrels, a few types of birds, a coyote, a snake, and wild chamomile.

Excellent 6-mile hike. Some strong ups and downs for folks who may want to bring hiking poles. Best to hike earlier in the morning before 9 a.m.