Mission Trails Regional Park

The rugged terrain of Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) evokes a San Diego of the distant past, with all of its natural beauty and plentiful opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. Contained within the park's borders are 40+ miles of trails to explore through independent or guided hikes, the Lake Murray Reservoir, the Kumeyaay Lake Campground, and a multi-use equestrian staging area.

Begin your trip with a quick stop at the Visitor Center. Here, you can learn about the park and its history, its plant and animal inhabitants and MTRP's available activities and areas. The center also houses a gallery that displays two-dimensional works of art available for purchase. The displays rotate every four weeks so many artists are given the opportunity to showcase their pieces in various styles. In addition, a gift shop donates all its sales as well as a portion of the artists' proceeds to benefit the MTRP Foundation.

Old Mission Dam is also located within MTRP's boundaries. Built in 1815 to store water for the Mission San Diego de Alcala, it is now a nationally registered historic landmark. This is an excellent place for bird watching, relaxing or learning about the region. History buffs will find much to appreciate, from the informational displays and interactive models of the dam and surrounding area to an audiotape tour provided by the Visitor Center. In addition, four new interpretive signs now educate visitors on the importance of maintaining a reliable water source and Old Mission Dam's significance to the area's early Spanish settlers.

In 2003, the Cedar and Paradise wildfires devastated San Diego County, scorching hundreds of thousands of acres, destroying over 2400 homes and businesses, and taking the lives of 16 people. A large portion of MTRP was burned by the Cedar Fire, but has almost fully recovered.

- Iris Jahng