The event has a dual purpose: To encourage people to fully experience nature, and to raise funds for Nature Unplugged’s scholarship and subsidy program for organizations and communities in need.   

Participating in the Hike-A-Thon is optional, and mileage is calculated Oct. 1 – 31 via trail application.  Learn more about the 2023 Hike-A-Thon here .  

Participants will have all month to log their travels for opportunities to collect prizes and earn matched dollars for charitable contributions. County Park Rangers are hosting interpretive hikes to inspire them to go the extra mile:  

9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 7    

Oakoasis County Preserve – Easy to Moderate   

12620 Wildcat Canyon Rd., Lakeside, CA 92040  

Park phone: 619-561-0580  

A favorite for solo hikers and families alike, Oakoasis boasts nearly 400 acres of chaparral, manzanita, and woodlands. A 3-mile loop trail explores the cool shade of mature oaks, slight hills to sweeping views of the San Vicente reservoir, grassy valleys and a tree revitalization zone.   

9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 14   

Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch County Preserve – Moderate   

16281 Sycamore Canyon Rd., Poway, CA 92064  

Park phone: 858-513-4737  

More than 10 miles of trails in this 2,272-acre preserve lead to grand vistas, abundant wildlife and interesting reminders of human habitation. For this activity, we’ll start on the Poway end and hike into Martha’s Grove, taking the trail down into the valley, along the olive groves, below the old windmill, into the nature center, and then back to the starting point, for roughly 3.5 miles.   

9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 21  

Wilderness Gardens County Preserve – Easy to Moderate   

14209 Highway 76, Pala, CA 92059  

Park phone: 760-742-1631  

Parking fee is $3  

This 737-acre preserve is the oldest in the County portfolio and offers 4 miles of relatively easy trails with excellent birdwatching opportunities. We’ll take the Main Trail and Alice Fries Trail for a 2-mile adventure – with the option to continue to overviews of the San Luis Rey River corridor. On site is the foundation of Sickler’s Grist Mill – a remnant of North County’s rich agricultural history – and more colorful stories can be discovered in the onsite visitor’s center.  

9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 28  

Santa Ysabel Nature Center and East County Preserve – Moderate   

22135 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070  

Park Phone: 760-765-4098  

Meet us at the new, LEED-certified 6,000+-square-foot nature center for some ranger education before stepping foot on a new stretch of trail to plateaus on the east side of the preserve. Take in thick vegetation and hearty groves of native oaks – don’t be surprised by the occasional hawk or cow on the roughly 3.9-mile trek!