Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is Cuyamaca to provide for the health, inspiration and idden waterfalls and education of the people of California by helping H Rancho to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological more than 100 miles of diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities trails through forest State Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. and meadow silently witness the regrowth of Cuyamaca Rancho California State Parks supports equal access. State Park. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (760) 765-3020. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected]. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 13652 Highway 79 Julian, CA 92036 (760) 765-3020 © 2010 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) Printed on Recycled Paper E ast of San Diego, Cuyamaca Rancho (”what the rain left State Park offers respite from the dry behind”), Iguai’ (“the Southern California landscape. The nest”), Wa-Ku-Pin’ (“warm park’s 24,700 acres of oak and conifer house”), Mitaragui’ forests and expansive meadows are broken (“crooked land”), Pilcha’ by running streams. (“basket bush”), and Located in the Peninsular Range of Guatay’ (“big house”). mountains, Cuyamaca Peak, at 6,512 feet, Historic mention of the is the second highest point in San Diego Cuyamaca Kumeyaay County. From the peak, visitors can see begins in 1782 when Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to the east Spanish Lt. Col. Pedro and the Pacific coastline to the west. Over Fages noted that the half of the park’s acreage is designated as villagers “approached me very pleasantly By 1857, few Kumeyaay remained. James state wilderness. and I gave them some beads.” However, Lassator reportedly bought 160 acres in the Kumeyaay did not want to give up their Green Valley from the last hereditary chief HISTORY independence, and resisted missionization. of the region. Lassator’s family maintained Native People In 1837 a Mexican expedition attacked the a home, hay fields, and a way-station there, The ancestors of today’s Kumeyaay Indians villagers of Ah-ha’ Kwe-ah-mac’ after the supplying those using the area’s early occupied the Cuyamaca mountains from Kumeyaay raided two ranchos to the south, overland trails until after his death in 1865. antiquity into the historic period. Their eventually exacting a promise from the Gold Mining in Cuyamaca village sites are located throughout the Kumeyaay to leave the settlers alone. The 1869 discovery of gold near today’s state park, including Ah-ha’ Kwe-ah-mac’ Augustin Olvera of Los Angeles obtained town of Julian triggered a brief but frenzied the Rancho Cuyamaca grant in 1845. rush to the Cuyamaca mountains. The Olvera intended to harvest timber but his southernmost and most profitable of the contractor, Cesario Walker “being afraid of mines was the Stonewall, located south the Indians, who made a kind of revolution, abandoned the place.” Kumeyaay dwelling Sketch by J.W. Audubon, 1849 of the Laguna Cuyamaca. By 1872, this Later owners separated remaining NATURAL HISTORY profitable hard-rock mine supported a gold from previously milled ore tailings The Cedar Fire permanent worker’s camp and mill. In with cyanide leaching until final closure in On October 25, 2003, a lost hunter lit a signal 1886 mining entrepreneur and soon-to-be 1906. After the miners left, Cuyamaca fire, hoping to be found. That signal fire California Governor Robert W. Waterman City continued for several years as a quickly burned out of control and became purchased and expanded the Stonewall’s mountain resort. the biggest wildfire in California’s recorded operations. At its peak from 1886 to 1891, Becoming a State Park history. The fire took nearly two weeks for the mine produced over 7,000 pounds of Capitalist Ralph M. Dyar bought the rancho containment and burned a total of 280,278 gold while regularly employing 200 men and in 1923, along with partners planning a acres, including 90% of Cuyamaca Rancho’s housing their families at its company town, resort development for the lakefront’s 24,700 acres. Cuyamaca City. Financial problems ensued northern half. Dyar also built his family a Reforestation after Waterman’s death, and by 1892 hard- beautiful second home in Green Valley, The slow rate of forest regeneration has rock mining had ended. using local stone and salvaged materials prompted a reforestation project to replant from the Stonewall Mine ruins. The Dyar a portion of the park using grants and House later served as park headquarters donations from private companies. and visitor center until the 2003 Cedar Fire Severely burned areas may take years reduced it to ruins. to regenerate, but grasses, shrubs and The Great Depression ended Dyar’s some conifers have already begun the development plans; in 1933 he sold the recovery process. property to California for its new State Wildfires are still a threat. Please be Park System. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park careful to observe the park rules regarding was doubly benefited in the 1930s by the fires, and report any fires you see to the placement of two Civilian Conservation nearest ranger station. Corps (CCC) camps that provided National Vegetation and Wildlife Park Service designers and CCC labor to Today the rich forest lands at Cuyamaca develop the park’s initial and distinctive Rancho are returning at a slow rate. “park rustic” facilities, including many of The trees include magnificent oaks, today’s popular campgrounds and trails. willow, alder, and sycamore. Conifers like Stonewall Peak hikers incense cedar, white fir, and Coulter, sugar, ponderosa, and Jeffrey pine are also making a comeback. Visitors may see a gray fox, badger, bobcat, or mountain lion. Park amphibians include the Pacific and the canyon tree frogs, and reptiles like the mountain king snake, striped racer, and rattlesnake. More than 100 bird Interpretive programs — The Stonewall Primitive horse trail camps are located at species live in the Mine site exhibits a pictorial history of this Granite Springs and Arroyo Seco, with family area, including Southern California gold mine. The park’s campsites for up to eight people. One group acorn woodpeckers, visitor center features regional plant and site holds up to 16 people. To use the trail northern flickers, animal exhibits; it also describes Kumeyaay camp, register at park headquarters, the redtailed hawks, and native life before European settlement. Paso Picacho contact station, or the Green sage sparrows. A bird Pacific tree frog Picnicking — Developed picnic areas at Valley campground. Primitive sites are in an list is available at park headquarters. Paso Picacho and Green Valley have tables, unlighted, remote area, so check in early to barbeque stoves, and accessible restrooms. set up camp well before dark. Horse corrals RECREATION Paso Picacho group picnic area holds up are available, but equestrians should pack Trails — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park to 75. in feed because grazing is not allowed. has more than 100 miles of riding and Camping — Family campsites with tables PLEASE REMEMBER hiking trails. The popular 3.5-mile hike up and fire rings are available, with accessible Lookout Fire Road to Cuyamaca Peak offers restrooms nearby. Trailers are limited to 30 Dogs must be attended and leashed at all spectacular 360-degree views of the ocean, feet long. Motor homes up to 24 feet may times. Except for service animals, pets are the desert, the Salton Sea, and across the use Paso Picacho; Green Valley fits RVs up allowed only on paved roads. border into Mexico. The 2-mile trail to the to 27 feet. Six rudimentary camping cabins top of Stonewall Peak — only moderately with wooden bunks and nearby restrooms at ACCESSIBLE FEATURES difficult due to many switchbacks — climbs Paso Picacho are reservable year-round. One equestrian campsite at Green Valley, from 4,800 to 5,700 feet to overlook the Paso Picacho Group Camp accommodates Cedar Cabin and five campsites at Paso old mine site. The 9-mile Harvey Moore up to 40 campers with 20 cars or light trucks. Picacho, and the Azalea Glen and Trail is a difficult hike beginning near the Equestrian campsites at Green Valley have Stonewall Mine hiking trails are accessible. Sweetwater River Bridge north of Green spaces for two horses and a rig. Riding Accessible parking and restrooms are Valley. The round trip takes eight hours. The groups may camp at Los Vaqueros Group near the visitor center. Accessibility is restored Paso Picacho Self-Guided Nature Horse Campground, near the California continually improving. For updates, visit Trail gives a brief overview of the role of Riding and Hiking Trail. http://access.parks.ca.gov. change in nature. The visitor center has Reserve cabins and campsites by calling hiking trail maps available. (800) 444-7275 or visiting www.parks.ca.gov. NEARBY STATE PARKS • Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 200 Palm Canyon Drive Borrego Springs 92004 (760) 767-4205 • San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park 15808 San Pasqual Valley Road Escondido 92027 (760) 737-2201 Horse trails for equestrian recreation Accessible Cedar Cabin at Paso Picacho 4200 4200 4800 HARRISON 3800 PARK to Julian 4400 4600 4400 4200 4600 3800 4000 4000 4400 Oceanside Cleveland Cuyamaca Rancho NF 78 Escondido Anza-Borrego State Park San Pasqual 79 Battlefield SHP Desert SP