Just an hour from San Diego is this classic mountain retreat. This old-fashioned village is a base for horseback riding, fishing, hiking, camping and western re-enactments. Discover history while staying at a romantic bed-n-breakfast lodge. Guests may also sample cuisine and world famous Julian Apple Pie at the fine local restaurants.

Julian (Elev: 4200 FT) is a rustic mountain top community named for Mike Julian, a mining recorder who worked the local gold mine in 1870. After the gold mines closed out, the community turned into a fruit-growing center and today is famed for its apple production. This area is surrounded by state park, national forest lands and abandoned gold mines making it a good location for desert or mountain camping trips.

Because of its high elevation, Julian, is one of the few locations in San Diego County that gets a good dusting of snow during a passing winter storm. That makes it a popular destination for locals in search of some fun snowplay.

Julian Festivals
Julian hosts some of the most popular festivals in San Diego North County:

• Apple Days - [OCT] - 1st Weekend in October / Menghini Winery /
• Doves and Desperados Julian [SUN] - Historic Comedy Skits.
• Gold Rush Days [JUN] - Celebrates the historic 1869 Gold Rush.
• StarFest [AUG] - Stargazers Evening Astronomy Festival
• Country Christmas [DEC] - traditional Victorian Christmas on Main Street
• Melodrama [OCT] - Weekends in October - family fun and entertainment.
• Grape Stomp Labor Day Weekend - olde-world style grape stomp and fiesta.
• Bluegrass Festival [mid-Sept] - oldest Bluegrass Festival in California.

Julian Recreation Adventures
This mountain resort hosts a number of outdoor recreation venues and access to the Pacific Crest Trail:

• William House County Park - Campground and Mountain Trails
• Camp Mataguay - Boy Scout Camping Facility
• Camp Marston - YMCA Group Camping Facility
• Volcan Mountain - Wilderness Preserve
• KQ Ranch - RV Camping Resort
• Julian Horse Stables - Equestrian Sports
• R&B Bicycle Club - Julian and Borrego Biking Adventures

Julian Dining Adventures
Prime Restaurant, Bakery and Apple Pie Shop Listings for Julian, Cuyamaca Lake and Santa Ysabel.

Julian Mining Company
4444 Orchard Lane & State Hwy 78, Wynola CA 92036;
Mine Website;
Popular living history field trips of working gold rush mine, apple farm, native american sites, overnites.

Eagle Mine Co - Gold Mine Tours
Location: North end of C Street; (760) 765-0036;
Tours Daily 10-3;
One hour tour through a genuine gold mine covers history of gold mining.

Warner Springs Ranch Resort
The historic Warner Springs Ranch, established in 1844, has been serving up western hospitality to travelers since the days of the old west Butterfield Overland Stage Coach.

Mission Santa Ysabel
23013 SR-79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070; (760) 765-0810;
Open: Daily 7AM-Dusk;
Established by Franciscan priests in 1818 as a sub-mission of Mission San Diego de Alcalá. Contains museum, murals and an Indian burial ground.

Observers Inn
Observatory Stargazing - Day Tours / Night Tours
3535 Highway 79, Julian, CA 92036; 760-765-0088;
Facility Website;
View the planets, galaxies, star clusters and the moon through large research grade telescopes. An experienced astronomer leads you through this visual delight.

California Wolf Center
P.O. Box 1389, Julian, CA 92036; 760-765-0030;
Center Website;
We promote conservation of gray wolves and all wildlife through education, exhibition, participation in captive breeding programs, and studies of captive-wild wolves.

Palomar Observatory - CalTech
Palomar Observatory is home to the historic Hale 200-inch telescope. Other facilities on the mountain include the 60-inch, 48-inch, 18-inch and the Snoop telescopes. The 60-inch telescope is home to the Automated Transient Observing System. The 48-inch telescope is home to the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking and Palomar-QUEST surveys.

Lake Cuyamaca
This picture-book 110 acre lake is proof positive that good things come in small packages. Stocked with over 44,000 lbs. of fish, Lake Cuyamaca is the only San Diego lake that is able to stock trout all year long. Other species of fish include Florida bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and sturgeon.

Smith Ranch & Julian Railroad
PO Box 1372, Julian, CA 92036; 1-760-765-2288; Ranch Website;
Pioneer adventureland recreates life of the early 1800's including working ranch, train rides and a tour of their 1870's gold mine. Their outdoor programs range over mountain trails and mother nature.

Tour Cleveland National Forest

Southern most of protected forest lands in California includes 430,000 acres of San Diego, Orange and Riverside of mostly conifer woodlands and chaparral. Lots of rugged trails and camping opportunities.