• History of Daley Ranch
• Daley Ranch Rules & Regulations
• Daley Ranch Naturalist Hikes
• Meet the Daley Ranch Naturalists
• Daley Ranch Map*
• Friends of Daley Ranch
• Amateur Photography Contest
• Volunteer Application*

Daley Ranch is a 3,058-acre conservation area acquired in 1996 by the City of Escondido and is managed in perpetuity for the preservation of a biologically unique and diverse habitat area of regional importance. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational and educational opportunities and experiences in a historically significant setting. The property contains a number of natural vegetation communities including lush oak woodlands, coastal sage scrub and chaparral, grasslands, and riparian areas.

Approximately 1.5 miles from the La Honda entry is the redwood ranch house (currently a private caretaker's residence), redwood barn, and numerous outbuildings of historical interest.

Daley Ranch offers over 20 miles of multipurpose trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use. Six distinct trails cover most of the property. Most popular are the Boulder Loop Trail (2.4 miles) which affords outstanding views of Escondido, and the Ranch House Loop (2.5 miles), which passes two small ponds and the site of Daley's original log cabin.

Since private motorized vehicles are not permitted within Daley Ranch, the City sponsors a free shuttle service, which runs every Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The shuttle picks up passengers at the La Honda Drive entrance gate on the half-hour and on the hour, and picks up passengers at the Ranch House for the return trip on the quarter hour. The shuttle van is wheelchair accessible.

Directions

The main entrance is at the southernmost part of the property, just north of Dixon Lake at the top of La Honda Drive. Parking is available at the La Honda Drive entrance and within the adjacent Dixon Lake Recreation Area. The entrance to the northernmost part of the property is along the unimproved Cougar Pass Road, 0.5 miles south of Alps Way.

From Escondido:

• Go north on Broadway to Cougar Pass Road.

From Fallbrook:

• Take the Deer Springs/Mountain Meadow exit on I-15.
• Go east along Mountain Meadow Road and Mountain Glen Way to Cougar Pass Road.

From Valley Center:

• Take Valley Center Road south approximately ¼ mile and turn right at the Dixon Lake Filtration Plant access road.

Ample parking for equestrian trailers is available at the Valley Center Road entrance. For more information, contact the Dixon Lake Ranger Station at (760) 839-4680.

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