Daley Ranch Dixon Lake

A beautiful place to ride mountain bikes, hangout at the park, or do some hiking. I typically park in the lower paid lot to avoid the congested upper lot or street parking. The park rangers are really awesome and helpful and overall this is a really nice park and place to visit.

We had trouble figuring out the map and trails and really wish they were easier to follow. We were not able to enjoy the trails as much as we could have if we had been able to figure out which way to go. We were warned of this by those who told us about the lake, so we don't think it's just us. Otherwise, it's an absolutely beautiful place to spend the day exploring, hiking, picnicking, fishing, birdwatching and so on! Be sure to wear very sturdy shoes in case you end up on the bumpy trails like we did (tried to avoid them but weren't successful). The birds, fauna (wildlife) and flora here were amazing. Plenty of porta-jons and rest rooms.

Really great views of the surrounding hills and city. Saw a rattlesnake cross our path. It was not aggressive, just cruising through doing its thing. Flowers were blooming on all the plants, and the air was very fragrant from all the blooms.

Large park with rangers post and many facilities. Free parking lot. Only if you drive to Lake Dixon and pass rangers post, you need to pay entrance. In weekends only I believe. Check their site Daley Ranch itself has trails connecting to the lake (southeast) but mostly leading north direction. The times I've been here, it was hot, sunny and dry. Last time I went was a few weeks after a very rainy Winter and the trails had been heavily impacted. Normally the trail in the center leading to the ranch house and restrooms is wide and spacious Stroller friendly. Now (March 2023) it was blocked off after being deluged by mud. Lots of creeks to cross. Normally just barely 1. There are multiple ponds, routes and view points. Altho it looks to be busy, once you venture more northeast, you'll be mostly by yourself. There are coyotes and rattlesnakes here, so be cautious. Pack plenty of water and sunscreen. Definitely challenging trails and at times more mountain bike friendly than for hikers.

One of my favorite places to hike in the San Diego area. Mostly a local haunt, so it’s not too crowded. Porta potty at parking lot. Dog friendly. Nice variety of trails. Definitely a good workout with a lot of steep ups and downs, but beautiful views of the lake and city in the distance.