To get to Daley Ranch, you’ll need to drive to one of three entrances to the preserve. Once parked at an entrance, you can enter Daley Ranch on foot, bike, or horse. However, before you leave home, you should know some important facts and choose the driving directions and entrance that are best for you: The latest Daley Ranch updates can be access via: City of Escondido – Daley Ranch

NOTES ABOUT PETS: Leashed dogs are allowed, and dog owners are required to remove pet waste.  Bags and disposal containers are available along Ranch House Road, but please bring your own.  Afternoons on the Ranch can be extremely hot, and the paved Ranch House Road can burn paws.  Please take this into account when you bring your dog.  Also, fresh water is in limited supply on the Ranch. Bring plenty of water for both you and your dog.

NOTES ABOUT OFF-TRAIL TRAVEL: Rangers have noted a sharp increase in off-trail travel. Many hikers and cyclists have been warned regarding straying from marked trails, and Rangers have been directed to issue citations for blatant violations.  The Escondido City Council has designated that violating Escondido Municipal Code Section 18-76 a misdemeanor.  Please be mindful of your responsibility to help preserve Daley Ranch, and stay on marked and designated trails. If you have any questions about legal or illegal trails, or areas that are closed to public use, please contact a Ranger or staff at Dixon Lake Ranger station.

TRAILHEAD DIRECTIONS

1) La Honda Drive (most popular) 

• Trailheads & Physical Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Once you park your car, you can choose from either the Ranch House or Creek Crossing trails to start your journey.
• Driving Difficulty: Easy. Access by car is via paved city streets.
• Parking Availability: Plentiful. A large gravel lot offers numerous parking spaces directly across the street from the entrance to Dixon Lake.
• Address & Driving Directions: 3024 La Honda Drive, Escondido, 92027. From eastbound El Norte Parkway, turn left onto La Honda Drive. From westbound El Norte Parkway, turn right onto La Honda Drive. Drive all the way to the top of the hill, and just before La Honda dead-ends, turn left into the gravel parking lot. Get exact directions from your location on Google Maps…

2) Cougar Pass

• Trailheads & Physical Difficulty: Difficult. Once you park your car, you can start your journey into Daley Ranch on the Cougar Ridge North trail, which is largely uphill.
• Driving Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. Access by car is via paved city streets for most of the way. However, the last mile is an unpaved, uphill road.
• Parking Availability: Moderate. A gravel lot offers some parking spaces directly across the street from the Cougar Pass entrance / Cougar Ridge North trailhead.
• Address & Driving Directions: Cougar Pass Road, Escondido, 92026. Take Broadway north to Cougar Pass Road and turn right. Keep winding uphill on Cougar Pass until you reach a gravel parking lot across the road from the Cougar Pass entrance to Daley Ranch. Turn left into the gravel lot and park there. Get exact directions from your location on Google Maps…

3) El Caballo Park

• Trailheads & Physical Difficulty: Difficult. Once you park your car, you can start your journey into Daley Ranch on the Caballo trail, which is all uphill.
• Driving Difficulty: Moderate. Access by car is via paved city streets. However, the last few turns can be a little tricky because they aren’t major intersections.
• Parking Availability: Plentiful. A large gravel lot offers numerous parking spaces near the Escondido Humane Society, right next to the El Caballo Park entrance / Caballo trailhead.
• Driving Directions: Take Valley Parkway East, then turn left onto Beven Drive.  The street sign at the intersection with Beven says “Save a Life Way”. Next, turn right onto Burnet Drive. Continue straight on Burnet, and just before you reach the Escondido Humane Society, turn left into the gravel parking lot next to the Caballo trailhead. Get exact directions from your location on Google Maps…