Los Penasquitos Canyon Trails Open for Bikes, Horses

The trails along waterfalls, wildflowers and old adobes of Los Penasquitos Canyon are open to bicyclists and equestrians today for the first time since March rains turned the canyon floor into a muddy mess.

County Ranger Reneene Mowry and City Park Ranger Bill Lawrence took down the barricades that blocked travel through the popular canyon that stretches 6.5 miles from Interstate 5 to Interstate 15, dividing the outlying San Diego neighborhoods of Mira Mesa and Rancho Penasquitos. The preserve was opened to foot traffic several weeks ago.

Once a route for stagecoaches, the canyon now serves as host to hikers, bird-watchers, nature lovers, riders and a growing horde of mountain bikers in its nearly 3,000 acres of open space.

After the heavy rains of late February and early March, park rangers closed the park to all visitors because of the erosion and high water, citing dangerous conditions. The closure came during the spring vacation period when the canyon usually gets heavy use.

It was the first closure in the park’s history and caught the public and Councilman Bruce Henderson by surprise. Henderson had called a press conference in the preserve to protest the planned removal of a three-acre eucalyptus grove, only to find his access barred by rangers. The grove of 100-year-old trees is being removed because the non-native eucalyptus leaves are poisoning the undergrowth. The grove will be replaced with cottonwoods and willows, both of which are native to the canyon and the area.

The delay in letting riders return to the canyon was caused by the need to repair the main trail along the floor of the canyon that was flooded by rising waters from Penasquitos Creek, Lawrence explained. Other repairs were necessary because bikers and horses avoided the muddier portions of the main trail, cutting new paths through the undergrowth, damaging plants and animal habitat.

Mowry said that Lawrence has the power to issue misdemeanor citations--similar to parking tickets--to visitors who break park rules. Lawrence says he intends to use his powers to ticket persons who allow their dogs to roam free, mountain bikers who leave the main trails for canyon-side detours, anyone found picking flowers or disturbing the vegetation or fishermen without a fishing license. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the park.

Both rangers admitted that they have been plagued by canyon visitors who ignored the “CLOSED” signs and the barricades during the month and a half of closure.

But now the main trail has been bladed smooth and warning barricades have been placed around danger spots. Mowry estimated that the preserve will soon be attracting its usual “several hundred” visitors each weekend.