Santa Ysabel Stories

Santa Ysabel Nature Preserve — East

Hike over rolling hills and through oak woodlands, wildflower fields, and seasonal wetlands.

Unforgettable: The Long and Winding Road to Gold

After gold had been discovered in the Cuyamacas, ranchers accustomed to outback solitude witnessed an eerie parade: would-be miners trudging up an old Indian trail from Santa Ysabel to Julian City. The steep and rocky ...

Water for El Capitan Reservoir

The pictured waterfall is runoff from recent rains feeding the El Capitan Reservoir. It is located two miles north of the reservoir, between Santa Ysabel and Lakeside. The photo was taken from a private aircraft ...

Mighty Hungary

"Hot wine. Hot diggety," I say. "Cold beer. Cool," says Hank.

Big skies and springtime zephyrs await you at the new Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve near Julian.

As San Diego County's newest (2006) open-space park, the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve is already establishing a reputation as one of the county's finest parcels of unburned montane landscape. Actually, the Cedar Fire in ...

You Can Have My Dead Trees

Just north of Santa Ysabel in San Diego's backcountry, Mesa Grande Road intersects State Route 79. Less than a mile to the west on Mesa Grande is a sight not seen in the county for ...

No Dice for Indians

Eight Indian bands in San Diego County now operate casinos in San Diego County, more than in any other county in the nation. And if bands in Jamul and Santa Ysabel have their druthers, that ...

Cycle-tour the back roads of Santa Ysabel and Mesa Grande.

At an elevation of over 3000 feet, the rolling upland known as Mesa Grande is more reminiscent of Central California's coast ranges than San Diego County's typical rock-ribbed foothills. Through the heart of Mesa Grande ...

Julian's Apple Survivors

At this time of year, the pies in Julian are made with fresh apples from Julian orchards. The Julian Pie Company gets its apples from Crown Orchards in the Farmer's Road area north of town. ...