Cynthia Robertson

San Diego Experience

Lake Cuyamaca a Paradise for Hikers and Birders

3.5 Mile Amble Makes a Good Hike for All Ages
By Cynthia Robertson
Posted on Feb 22 2008
Last updated Mar 13 2008

Squirrel Scopes outHikers; C. Robertson photo

Copyright©2008 sandiego.com, Inc.

At 1 p.m., on the first Sunday of each month, hiking enthusiasts are encouraged to join local outdoorsman and birder Clinton S. Powell at Lake Cuyamaca in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. The 110-acre lake sits at an elevation of 4,600 feet in oak and pine forest. Surrounded on 3 sides by the 26,0000 acre State Park, the lake can offer hours of diversion with its loop trail, called the Minshall Trail.

The easy 3.5 mile ramble along Cuyamaca Lake’s scenic shore has an elevation gain of only 200 feet, making it a fairly easy trail. A good adventure for people of all ages, including kids, the lake is always open to hiking on its trail. Any time of the year offers an intimate peek into the secret lives of birds and animals, including squirrels, rabbits, and deer, of which 30 or 40 counts of sightings a day are common. The early morning and late evening are especially good times to also spot coyote, bobcats, skunks and raccoons. Because they are used to people watching from a distance, these animals are not overly afraid of humans, so their antics will be especially enjoyed. During the spring months, hikers are treated to the songfest of a hundred birds mating and nesting.

Lake Cuyamaca is known also as Cuyamaca Reservoir.Its dam was built back in 1888, making it the second oldestone in California with a 4-million gallon capacity. A few years later, a warm water fishery was initiated and fish stocking was begun. After several starts and stops of the reservoir, including a time when the lake was completely emptied after World War II, nowadays the lake is open year long, stocked with over 44,000 pounds of fish. Cuyamaca Reservoir is the only lake in San Diego County able to stock trout all year long.

The Cedar Fire of 2003 destroyed only some of the trees in the forest, making shade a welcome along the trail around this reservoir. Starting in the back of the market and restaurant, which were spared in both the Cedar Fire and Witch Creek Fire, the trail begins a cross an often wet spot of low-lying meadow. This is not a time to worry about keeping shoes and clothes clean.

Beyond the soggy spot of meadow, the trail curves closer to the shoreline of the reservoir. The Los Vaqueros Trail from the equestrian campground ranches right, but for trail-hiking purposes, hikers should stay to the left.

At about an eighth of a mile, the trail will intersect on the right, with a causeway on the left leading to a small island. This areahas been completelyuntouched by fire and is a perfect place for a stop for a rest at the picnic table. It is also a good vantage point for bird-watching, where it is possible to see anything from purple finches to song sparrows to Virginia Rails. Birders are drawn to Lake Cuyamaca because of the large variety of birds visiting from desert, mountain, chaparral and riparian habitats. Cuyamaca Reservoir is a paradise as much for birders as for hikers.

After the picnic spot, continue east along the shoreline of the upper, east section of the reservoir. Shortly after, you will arrive at a service road. You may stay right and head directly to the Stonewall Mine site, which is just over one mile into the hike. Or continue on around the reservoir back towards the restaurant, a good place for dinner or a piece of pie and coffee. From the restaurant, it may be possible to spot deer and other animals grazing along the lake shore.

A few hours spent in the Lake Cuyamaca Reservoir area reminds the hiker why it is so good to live in San Diego County.

About the author: Cynthia Robertson is a freelance writer based in San Diego.
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