Banner with a view looking east from Raptor Ridge of the San Pasqual Valley.

Raptor Ridge and San Pasqual Valley Trails

San Pasqual Valley near Rancho Bernardo and Escondido, California
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The Raptor Ridge Trail and San Pasqual Valley Trail are part of the Coast To Crest Trail maintained by the San Dieguito River Park that runs along the south side of San Pasqual Valley (Figure 1). The photo collection below illustrates the route starting with the Raptor Ridge Trail starting from the Old Coach Trail Staging Area (parking) on Highland Valley Road (Figure 2). Here, the access trail passes along a scenic palm grove in a tree nursery (Figure 3). The trail crosses Highland Valley Road and leads to the intersection of the Mule Hill Trail and the Raptor Ridge Trail (Figure 4).

The first mile of the Raptor Ridge trail is relatively flat and wide as it follows the boundary of the San Dieguito River floodplain and the scenic mountain slopes along the south side of the valley (Figures 5 to 20). The second mile leads up the mountain to two viewpoints near the high point along the trail (Figures 21 to 32). After that, the trail descend eastward back into the valley for a couple more miles to the Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area.

East of the staging area, the trail becomes the San Pasqual Valley Trail. This 2.75 mile section of trail Santa Maria Creek before following Bandy Canyon Road, farm roads, and Santa Ysabel Creek to the San Pasqual Valley Staging area at the east end of the valley (Figures 41 to 61).

Click on images for a larger view.
Topographic map of the San Pasqual Valley showing the location of the Raptor ridge Trail and San Pasqual Valley Trail
Fig. X. Trail map for the Raptor Ridge Trail and San Pasqual Valley Trail in the eastern end of San Pasqual Valley.
Coast To Crest Trail staging area kiosk in the parking area at trailhead.
Fig. 2. Old Coach Trail Staging Area (trailhead).		 Palm Trees with Battle Peak along the Old Coach Trail leading to the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Fig. 3. Palms along the connector trail in tree nursery.		 Sign at the intersection of the Coast To Crest Trail near the parking area for the Old Coach Trail.
Fig. 4. Mileage sign at Mule Hill/Raptor Ridge intersection.		 Trail sign describing the sensative habitat along the trail.
Fig. 5. Sign indicating sensitive habitat area.
Coyote on a grassy slope.
Fig. 6. Coyote are a common sighting in the area.		 Zoom view looking west along the Raptor Ridge Trail toward Battle Peak in the distance.
Fig. 7. Trail view west with Sycamore Ridge in distance.		 Eucalyptus tree shade spot.
Fig. 8. Eucalyptus tree provides a shady spot.		 Raptor Ridge Trail along the San Dieguito Creek habitat.
Fig. 9. Trail view along San Dieguito River wetlands.
View looking south at the high granite cliffs along the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Fig. 10. Massive granite outcrops on Raptor Ridge.		 Zoom view of the granite cliffs above the Raptor Ridge Trail
Fig. 11. Zoom view of granite outcrops on Raptor Ridge.		 Weathered boulders along the Raptor Ridge Trail
Fig. 12. Colluvium and boulder covered slopes.		 Eucalyptus grove along the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Fig. 13. Picnic table in a shady eucalyptus grove.
Trailside cactus with field and forested rocky slope in distance.
Fig. 14. Prickly pear cactus and grasslands along the trail.		 Sycamores on the Santa Maria Creek floodplain.
Fig. 15. Sycamore trees along the San Dieguito River.		 Toyon shrub forest with granite outcrops along the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Fig. 16. Laural sumacand granite outcrops along trail.		 Coastal sage scrub plant community on a hillside with boulders.
Fig. 17. Coastal sage scrub plant community on hillsides.
A large white granite boulder and an oak tree on a grassy slope.
Fig. 18. Large granite boulder and an oak tree.		 Coastal live oak tree grown amongst large boulders.
Fig. 19. Large coastal live oak growing amid boulders.		 Staging area with a kiosk where the Raptor Ridge Trail narrows and starts .uphill.
Fig. 20. Picnic table and kiosk where trail starts uphill.		 Raptor Ridge Trail passing through boulders in an oak forest area.
Fig. 21. Narrow and winding trail through an oak forest.
Large boulders among oak trees.
Fig. 22. Boulders and oaks along the trail.		 Boulders, grassy slope, and oak trees along the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Fig. 23. Grass, boulders, and oaks along the trail.		 Large granite boulders on the slope along the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Fig. 24. Massive boulders along the trail.		 San Pasqual Valley floodplain.
Fig. 25. View of the floodplain in Sn Pasqual Valley.
View looking west along the Raptor Ridge Trail toward the San Pasqual Valley.
Fig. 26. View looking west back along the trail.		 View of the San Pasqual Valley from the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Fig. 27. View looking north across San Pasqual Valley.		 Trail on the way to the overlook with view of slope.
Fig. 28.View looking west along San Pasqual Valley		 Toyon (green shrubs) cover the upper north-facing slopes of Raptor Ridge.
Fig. 29. View of oak forest along the Raptor Ridge Trail.
Panoramic view from the Raptor Ridge Trail looking down the mountain slope to the floodplain along the San Dieguito River.
Fig. 30. Panoramic view from along the Raptor Ridge Trail of the San Dieguito River floodplain open space in central San Pasqual Valley.
180 paoramic view of San Pasqual Valley from the Raptor Ridge with lots of small white buckwheat flowers in the foreground.
Fig. 31. View of the SDRP Agricultural Preserve lands in eastern San Pasqual Valley as seen from the viewpoint area on the Raptor Ridge Trail. Buckwheat flowers are blooming in the foreground.
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Raptor Ridge Trail Viewpoint Area To Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area

Raptor Ridge certainly deserves its name. Large birds-of-prey can almost always be seen circling on the rising winds on that blow along the mountainsides. The viewpoint areas and the upland section of the trail provide spectacular view of the valley region and the wild lands preserved along the stream beds of Santa Ysabel Creek and Santa Maria Creek merge and become the San Dieguito River (Figures 36 and 37). The confluence of the two stream is just downstream of Ysabel Creek Road. East of the viewpoints the Raptor Ridge Trail descends eastward into the valley where it follows Bandy Canyon Road to the Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area. Figures 40 to 43 are views taken from a pull off along Bandy Canyon Road that show views of the Raptor Ridge Trail passing along the margin of fields in the SDRP Agricultural Preserve.
View looking up the trail to the summit area of Raptor Ridge (sun in picture).
Fig. 32. Summit view of Raptor Ridge.		 View along the Raptor Ridge Trail between two viewpoints (overlooks).
Fig. 33. Trail view from 1st viewpoint area along the trail.		 Infiltration pond along San Dieguito River in San Pasqual Valley.
Fig. 34. Valley view from 2nd viewpoint area along the trail.		 View looking east along the upper San Pasqual Valley.
Fig. 35. View looking east from 2nd overlook area.
View of the confluence where the San Ysabel Creek (left) merges with Santa Maria Creek (right) to become the San Dieguito River.
Fig. 36. Santa Ysabel and Santa Maria Creeks merge.		 Dry, sandy stream bed leading to pond in the San Dieguito River drainage in upper San Pasqual Valley.
Fig. 37. San Dieguito River below the confluence.		 East slope from Raptor Ridge where the trail descends into San Pasqual Valley.
Fig. 38. View looking east from trail near overlooks.		 Zoom view looking toward the mouth of Bandy Canyon along Santa Maria Creek.
Fig. 39. Zoom view east toward Bandy Canyon.
View from a pull off along Bandy Canyon Road that overlooks the Raptor Ridge Trail descending into San Pasqual Valley.
Fig. 40. View of Raptor Ridge Trail from Bandy Canyon Rd.		 View looking north from the Bandy Canyon Road pull off showing the Raptor Ridge Trail at the base of the slope with agricultural fields beyond.
Fig. 41. Agricultural fields beyond the Raptor Ridge Trail.		 View looking east from the Bandy Canyon Road pull off showing the Raptor Ridg Trail winding off into the distance to the east.
Fig. 42. East valley view Raptor Ridge Trail.		 View looking east from a small pull off along Bandy Canyon Road.
Fig. 43. View to east along Bandy Canyon Road.
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San Pasqual Valley Trail

An interesting sign along the road pretty much describes the experience of hiking along the San Pasqual Valley Trail, a 2.75 mile section of trail between the Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area and the San Pasqual Valley Trail Staging Area at the east end of the valley. The quotes from the sign pretty much tells the story.

"Welcome to Farm County!"

"If you enjoy the sounds of cows mooing and smell of cow manure, you'll be right at home here."

"Customary agricultural practices in farm operations may include, but not limited to, noise, odors, dust, light, insects, the operation of pumps and machinery, the storage and disposal of manure, bee pollination,ground and aerial application of fertilizers, and pest and weed control measures. These agricultural practice may occur at any time during the 24-hour day. Individual sensitivities to those practices can vary from person to person."		 Sign warning people thinking about moving into the area about issues living in farm country.
Fig. 44. Sign describing "Welcome to Farm Country."
Yeah... pretty much "leave our rural valley alone." In any case, the activities listed above pretty much will describes what you may see, hear, and smell while hiking the San Pasqual Valley Trail. The sign doesn't include roosters crowing at 4:00 in the morning, but people hiking, biking, or horseback riding will be doing so when the public trails are open. Sections of the trail may be closed when chemicals are being sprayed. Also note that there isn't much shade along parts of the route. But you will get to enjoy the scenery of farm country. As part of the SDRP Agricultural Reserve, hopefully it will stay that way.
Trailhead for the eastern end of the Raptor Ridge Trail section.
Fig. 45. Western end of the Raptor Ridge Trail section.
 View looking along the Raptor Ridge Trail toward the riparian habitat along Santa Maria Creek.
Fig. 46. Trail view looking east along the trail.		 Kiosk in the Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area.
Fig. 47. Kiosk in the Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area.		 Sign showing mileage along the Coast To Crest Trail.
Fig. 48. Sign showing mileage along the Coast To Crest Trail.
View looking east along the San Pasqual Valley Trail near the staging area.
Fig. 49. View to the east along trail from the staging area.		 Santa Maria Creek riparian habitat along the San Pasqual Valley Trail.
Fig. 50. Santa Maria Creek riparian habitat along trail.		 Bridge over Santa Maria Creek at Bandy Canyon.
Fig. 51. Bridge over Santa Maria Creek at Bandy Canyon.		 View looking down from the Bandy Canyon Road bridge at the sandy, dry creekbed of Santa Maria Creek.
Fig. 52. Sandy creek bed of Santa Maria Creek.
View looking over a gate toward the rocky cliffs ang gorge of Bandy Canyon in the distance.
Fig. 53. View looking south at the mouth of Bandy Canyon.		 View looking along the muddy path of the San Pasqual Valley Trail between Bandy Canyon Road and a hay field.
Fig. 54. Trail path between Bandy Canyon road and fields.		 The path of the San Pasqual Valley Trail is restricted between two fences through the agricultural fields in the valley.
Fig. 55. Fenced path route between agricultural fields.		 View of a drainage ditch next to the fenced trail. Two large palm trees are in the view.
Fig. 56. Route passes between drainage ditch & orange grove.
View of a bend in the trail and path along Santa Ysabel Creek on left and an orange grove on the right.
Fig. 57. Path between orange grove and Santa Ysabel Creek.		 View for the trail looking north towad a mountainside covered with avacado trees and crossed by a large white igneous dike of granitic rock exposed on the mountainside.
Fig. 58. View of a white igneous dike on mountainside.		 View looking north from the trail across the creek and Highway 78 toward the mouth of Rockwood Canyon along Geujito Creek.
Fig. 55.View of Rockwood Canyon beyond Ysabel Creek.		 two burnt stumps along the San Pasqual Valley Trail are a reminder of the massive 2007 Witch Creek Fire that burned through the valley.
Fig. 59. Stumps of trees burned in 2007 wildfire.
A picnic table along the San Pasqual Valley Trail near the eastern trailhead.
Fig. 60. Picnic table near the trailhead.		 Trailhead for the San Pasqual Valley Trail at the eastern end of the valley.
Fig. 61. Trailhead for the San Pasqual Valley Trail.		 Sign showing mileage to locations along the Coast To Crest Trail.
Fig. 62. Trail mileage sign at the trailhead.		 Small sign announcing the San Pasqual Valley Trail Staging Area
Fig. 63. Sign for San Pasqual Valley Trail Staging Area.
Panoramic view taken near the west end of the Bandy Canyon Road bridge over Santa Marial Creek showing the Coastal Sage Scrub and riparian plant communities.
Fig. 64. Panoramic view of the Santa Maria Creek riparian corridor and trail path west of the bridge at the mouth of Bandy Canyon on Bandy Canyon Road.
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COAST AND OTHER TRAILS AT SAN PASQUAL VALLEY (map and trail brochure provided by San Diego River Park).
https://gotbooks.miracosta.edu/fieldtrips/San Pasqual_Valley/Raptor_Ridge.html 3/12/2021