2 min
Overview
The County of San Diego’s Oakoasis Open Space Preserve protects a lush “oasis” of coast live oaks along with meadows, chaparral, and good views west over the San Vicente Reservoir. The preserve lies, in the shadow of its more challenging and popular big brother to the east, El Capitan Open Space Preserve, directly across Wildcat Canyon Road from Oakoasis’s entrance. Live oaks at the oakoasis You won’t get the gruesome cardiovascular and muscular torture you get from El Cap by hiking at Oakoasis. This preserve is much smaller, and the loop hike described here is anything but taxing. But for those who aren’t looking for conquest of “San Diego’s Hardest Hike,” Oakoasis offers sublime tranquility beneath the shade of its lush oak grove, as well as a few botanical highlights well worth your while. Fence post lizard on granite Without a doubt, spring is the best time to visit Oakoasis. Lakeside can get pretty hot during the summer and early fall, but even hikers getting an early start or a pre-sunset start can enjoy the trail during the summer. The preserve’s gates open and close at sunrise and sunset, respectively. There are no fees, and dogs are welcome. This is also a fine hike for children. Starting from the trailhead on the north side of the parking lot, follow the single-track trail downhill for a little over 100 yards until you reach a junction with a wider trail running west to east. This trail doubles as a segment of the Trans-County Trail, which in the future will run from Torrey Pines State Reserve across the county to the Salton Sea. Much of the Trans-County Trail is already in place, but the sections through Lakeside tend to be discontinuous. Turn left at this junction to head west. Lakeside Lilac (ceanothus) From the junction, you’ll travel .3 mile west through chaparral that is recovering vigorously from the 2003 Cedar Fire. Part of the reason why spring is such a fine time for visiting Oakoasis is that the chaparral puts on its own distinctive bloom. One of the more beautiful chaparral plant species
Trail Stats
4.1 km
152 m
467 m
412 m
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