Do any of these activities spark your interest? Meet an owl... Tour an historic adobe… Meditate in nature… Go stargazing with astronomers… Learn trail etiquette… Try your hand at pickleball… Climb a mountain…

Parents, do any of these resonate with you? Enroll the young ones in winter camp… Take the kids to earn Junior Ranger badges... Bring your teens to afterschool events and keep them safe and entertained during critical hours…

With more than 380 miles of County trails and over 150 County park properties, there are many ways to connect with our staff and to participate in dozens of free activities every month.

THE BEST WAYS TO STAY INFORMED ARE TO:

1. Bookmark our event calendar; new listings are added every month  
2. Subscribe to our monthly eblast; this ad-free listical of park happenings only comes once a month, and your information is never shared
3. View our seasonal program guides if you are interested in recurring classes, seasonal camps or special events at one of our four community centers or 4S Ranch Sports Park

If you are looking for fitness recommendations to help jump start health and wellness resolutions in early January, we encourage you to explore the following free opportunities:

NEW YEAR’S DAY NATURE HIKE
MONDAY, JAN. 1, 10 A.M. – 12 P.M.
Eastview County Park (part of Sweetwater Summit Regional Park)
3218 Summit Meadow Rd, Bonita, CA 91902
Join a ranger on a 1.5-mile hike, starting at Sweetwater Summit Campground. Learn about the land and local flora and fauna that abound on site, and take pictures along the way! For info, call the park: (619) 472-7572.

SATURDAY MORNING PRESERVE HIKE
SATURDAY, JAN. 6, 9 – 11 A.M.
Wilderness Gardens County Preserve
14209 CA-76, Pala, CA 92059
Tour the County’s first open space preserve in this popular ranger-led activity. View a historically significant grinding stone used by Native Americans and one of the first grist mills in Southern California. This 1.5-mile walk is easy and family-friendly. Extend your day by continuing to hike on connecting trails or enjoy a picnic in picturesque Pauma Valley. For info, call the park: (760) 742-1631.

YOGA AT PQ
SATURDAY, JAN. 13, 8 – 9 A.M.
Los Penasquitos Ranch House
Canyonside Park Dr, San Diego, CA 92129
Join us for a free all-levels yoga class on the scenic veranda of an historic ranch house. Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve serves as the beautiful background for this restorative yoga session. Bring your own mat and come with an open mind! For info, call the park: (858) 484-7504.

POTRERO NATURE HIKE
SATURDAY, JAN. 13. 3:30 – 4:30 P.M.
Potrero County Park
Log some steps along our nature trail where a ranger will guide you on a hiking experience that includes highlights of native plants and animals. Walk up to the look-out point and take in captivating views of the community of Potrero from a unique perspective. For info, call the park: (619) 478-5212.

CONNECTING WITH NATURE AND QI GONG
SUNDAY, JAN. 14, 10 – 11 A.M.
San Dieguito County Park
San Dieguito County Park: 15936 El Camino Real, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Join Ranger Alejandro for conscious observation of nature through wilderness-inspired Qi Gong Moving Meditation. This activity meets in the lower park, near Area 7. After entering the park, keep left until the end of the parking circle. For info, call the park: (858) 755-2386.

ARE SELF-GUIDED ADVENTURES MORE TO YOUR LIKING? Check out our Tour Our Trails Challenge. With booklets available in eight languages and available for pickup at our headquarters in Kearny Mesa, this is a great way to visit our park rangers’ top picks for progressive trails in all stretches of San Diego County. This year we will also be unveiling a new trail application, trail maps and trail challenges that will provide added incentives to visit unique hiking, biking and horseback riding destinations! Details will be released in early 2024.  

WANT TO GIVE CAMPING A TRY? We’ve got the equipment, the 1:1 training, and the scenic locales that are sure to make your first experience a winning one. Inquire about our First Time Camping Program to see if you and up to eight people qualify for two complimentary nights of camping at one of four parks!

There’s ‘more to explore’ with County Parks and Recreation.  Check our calendar, sign up for emails and follow us on social media ( Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter) so you don’t miss out.