Lake Cuyamaca Resort
15027 Hwy. 79, Julian, CA 92036; 760-765-0515; Resort Website;
Campground: 40 RV sites and 14 tent sites next to the lake and two cabins;
This picture-book 110 acre lake is proof positive that good things come in small packages. Situated at an elevation of 4600 feet in an Oak and Pine forest and surrounded on 3 sides by the 26,000 acre Cuyamaca Rancho State Park of which 52% is classified as wilderness. Other activities include waterfowl hunting and wedding parties.

Fishing - Lake Cuyamaca Resort 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.
Lake Cuyamaca, operated by the Helix Water District, is two miles north of Paso Picacho and offers boating and fishing.

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

Tour Pacific Crest Trail PCT
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is the jewel in the crown of America’s scenic trails, spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. Hikers cross the beauty of the desert, glaciated expanses of the Sierra Nevada, and provides commanding vistas of volcanic peaks and glaciers in the Cascade Range. The trail also passes through historic mining sites and evidence of human’s endless quest for natural resources.

>Tour Cleveland National Forest
Southern most of protected forest lands in California includes 430,000 acres of San Diego, Orange and Riverside divided into three distinct areas. Comprises of conifer woodlands and chaparral.

Rancho Cuyamaca State Park
12551 Highway 79, Descanso, CA 91916; 760-765-3020; Park Website;

The beautiful park offers camping and hiking in an oak woodland forest, with a sprinkling of pines and lovely meadows with creeks. There are over 100 miles of trails which accommodate hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

At Cuyamaca look for the waterfalls near Green Valley Campground, headwaters to the Sweetwater River. There are also hidden meadows near Granite Springs or Milk Ranch Road. And great views from the top of Cuyamaca Peak or Stonewall Peak.

Park Wildlife
The most commonly seen wildlife includes mule deer, gray squirrels, raccoons and striped skunks. Predators such as gray foxes, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions are also present.

Park Campgrounds
The two family camps, Paso Picacho and Green Valley, are open and on the reservation system spring through fall. Call for availability during the remainder of the year.
Green Valley - Elev 4,000 / 81 sites - There is a creek which runs through the middle of the campground. The day use area offers sets of cascades and shallow pools, great for water play on hot days.
Paso Picacho - Elev 5,000 / 85 sites - The most popular hikes start from this camp, including the 2 mile hike up Stonewall Peak (elevation 5,700 feet), and the 3.5 mile hike up Cuyamaca Peak (elevation 6,512 feet), both which offer breathtaking views of the deserts to the east, the coast to the west, and Lake Cuyamaca at the bottom.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association CRSPIA
The CRSPIA supports the mission of California State Parks, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Palomar Mountain State Park through education and interpretive activities that enhance the visitor’s experience.

Inaja & Cosmit Reservation - Cuyamaca CA
Kumeyaay / Diegueno Indian Band
1040 East Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025; 760-747-8581; Tribe Article;
Probably the least-known Indian reservation in San Diego County. This 851-acre reservation is tucked away in Julian’s backcountry. Very few people have actually seen this land, yet at one time it was home to many people and even had its own school. The small village of Inaja was located on the southwest slope of North Peak in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Currently there is no population here.