1-2 miles with easy terrain and
little elevation gain.
Walking is the number one exercise and recreational activity in America As you Take A Hike, you will not only improve your cardiovascular and muscular condition but you will also become exposed to the wonders of nature.
Stop occasionally and experience the magnificence of your surroundings. Enioy the beautiful trees and flowers, listen to the birds and took for wildlife.
Family hikes are great! No TV, no telephones) no radios (walk without your Walkman!). Hikes are a perfect time for families to communicate without everyday stressful distractions.
Ask your park ranger for a schedule of guided hikes. These educational hikes are fun for the entire family.
This brochure is designed to provide basic information which will enhance your hiking experierce.
Trails in many state parks haye been rated for a combination of distance and degree of difficulty. If you are not sure which trails are appropriate for you and your family, talk to a park ranger. If you do not exercise regularly, start on beginner trails and increase your distances gradually. Trail maps are usually available at either the trail head or at the ranger station.
At the beginning of each rated trail you will find a sign designating its average difficulty.
1-2 miles with easy terrain and
little elevation gain.
2-4 miles with moderate terrain and
some elevation change.
4 or more miles with varying
degrees of difficulty, some steep terrain.
When hiking with a family, it is important to choose a trail that is comfortable for everyone. Younger children. should be introduced to hiking with short walks. It is more fun and educational if they can be involved in the hike planning. Remember, kids have short legs and will need frequent breaks.
Shoes: Good walking shoes or heavy althletic shoes will work fine on most beginning and intermediate trails. Lightweight running shoes are almost never a good choice for trail hiking.
Clothing: It is best to dress in several light layers so you can shed or add clothing items as the intensity of your activity changes or when the weather decides to go warm and sunny to windy and wet.
Hat: Wear something on your head to keep the sun off, or rain or snow, and to shield your eyes from the glare.
Packs for your Fanny and Back
A pack is a handy item to carry on your hike. You can use it to hold your water bottle, lunch, maybe a first aid kit, trail maps and insect repellent, and you can stuff a sweater or jacket in it when the day warms up. For longer hikes, and especially if you suspect foul weather and need additional clothing or supplies, backpacks are better than fanny packs because they can hold more. For shorter hikes, try a fanny pack that fastens around your waist and can hold the bare essentials like water, a snack and sunscreen.
Skin Protection: Use sunscreen, especially in higher elevations where your skin can burn more easily. Insect repellent is essential in many areas for protection against mosquitos, fleas and ticks.
Eacr year, tens of thousands of people discover that hiking on California State Park trails is safe and healthy fun, if you follow a few precatuions:
Hike with a few friend. The companionship in the great outdoors is fun, and two people can solve any problems easier than one person.
Take of plenty of drinking water. Leave stream and lake water for park wildlife, because even the and coldest mountain stream water can make you ill.
Let someone back at camp or at home know where you are going and when you plan on returning. Be sure to let them know when you return so search parties aren't sent out looking for you.
Please don't take shortcuts on switchback trails. Off the trail, footprints compact the soil and kill plants, making the ground much more susceptible to erosion. Besides, there's always the possibility of slipping on the steep surfaces and injuring yourself.
Since most State Parks are remnants of California's wilderness past, there is the anticipation and possibility of seeing wildlife along the trails. Although rare, bears , mountain lions and rattlesnakes might be seen along a few trails. If you happen to see a bear or mountain lion, do not approach it. Report your sighting to park rangers.
Poison oak is common throughout much of California. Learn to identify its shiny, three-leaf configuration and avoid touching it.
Interested in a journey back in time? Do you want to experience what it was like to walk through a primeval redwood forest or into a desert oasis more than 200 years ago? Or, are you just tired of the same old sights and sounds of the city? Then visit a state park!
State park lands were acquired by the people of California to preserve this state's most valued natural resources. Maintaining outstanding landscapes and complex ecological systems in a state where the human population is still rapidly growing is an enormous challenge. Many of the natural features in state parks are affected by adjacent land use, or have been degraded by past disturbance. Natural resource specialists are taking ambitious measures to protect what we have and restore what's been lost.
What do a covered bridge in Felton, a Chumash village site, a sunken Spanish Galleon, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have in common? These historic sites are all part of California's history, a tangible link to the people and events that have shaped our lives.
The Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is a part of California State Parks, but its preservation projects are both inside and outside the units of California State Parks. OHP helps all Californians better understand and preserve our historical legacy by administering preservation programs established under federal or state law.
Here's a few examples of services provided by the Office of Historic Preservation:
For information about State Park hours of operation, fees, annual passes or specific park regulations, you may contact your nearest State Park. Please check the front of your telephone directory under State Government, Department of Parks and Recreation.
For general State Park information, contact the Public Affairs Office at P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296- 0001 or call (916)653-6995.
For camping reservations call MISTIX at (800)444-7275.
For a catalog of State Park merchandise or for a listing of all State Park publications and videos, write to California State Park Store, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 or call (916)653-4000.
The staff of the Orange Coast District extends a hearty welcome to you and your family or friends as you visit one of the most popular and units in Southern California. These Park Units are visited by over 3.5 million visitors annually, providing each person the opportunity to renew spiritual and physical health and well being. We are proud and excited to have you here and will endeavor to make your stay worth your effort. After all, we realize that you have many other recreational opportunities available to you in the Southern California area.
The Mission of the California Park Service is to provide for the health, inspiration, and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. The park units in this District support the Mission by offering facilities and environments not found anywhere else in the state in such close proximity to the urban setting.
As a visitor, you have the opportunity to experience recreational activities such as camping, picnicking, surfing, mountain bicycling, hiking, swimming, or just relaxing on a park bench watching for the many types of wildlife in existence here. Did you know that over twenty species of threatened or endangered plants and animals exist within these units? Natural preserves, the California Least Tern Preserve and the San Mateo and Trestles Wetlands, are part of this effort to protect resources for this and future generations and offer many viewing opportunities from designated trails and lookouts.
The responsibility and effort made to meet the Mission require all of us, employee and citizen alike, to be aware, involved, and supportive. As stewards of parks, employees try to provide you a safe, clean park setting, and a positive, friendly smile when called upon for information or assistance. Your park experience can be greatly enhanced by participat- ing with the staff. Your support and cooperation with park rules and regulations will help every visitor enjoy their visit. The help you give toward energy and water conservation and recycling, help us conserve resources and reduce operating costs. Help us educate young people by attending one of the many interpretive programs scheduled in the park. And finally, participate in our field survey efforts in order that we may better serve your needs during future visits.
It is my hope you will enjoy your stay with us and experience the many opportunities offered in your State Park System.
By following a few simple precautions, you can help the park rangers reduce your chances of personal loss and provide for a more enjoyable visit to the park. Please, take a few moments and read the tips provided here. Contact a ranger or lifeguard for additional information or if you have any questions or concerns during your stay.
Personal Safety
Is everyone in your group aware of park rules and regulations?
Do you notify the rangers of back country hikes or other excursions you are planning?
Are your children well supervised and attended at all times? Do they know what campground and campsite they are should they become seperated or lost? Do they know how to call for assistance or to tell a ranger or park and noted lifeguard about problems or suspicious activities?
Do you contact lifeguards or rangers regarding the safest areas in which to swim, fish, and surf? (Remember: If no lifeguards are on duty, swimming may not be advisable due to strong currents, heavy surf, or cold-water conditions.)
To help prevent serious neck and back injuries from occumng, are you aware that diving into rivers, lakes, and the ocean is prohibited in state parks?
Do you make sure your campfires are completely out and that you never leave them unattended?
When walking on or near a dark roadway at night, do you carry a handheld light and wear white or reflective clothing?
Do you keep a well-stocked first aid kit in all of your vehicles?
Campground Security
Have you met with your neighbors and agreed to watch each other's campsite and personal belongings?
Do you secure your camping gear (ice chest, stove, lantern, gas cans, sports equipment, etc.) at night and when you leave your campsite during the day?
Is your camper, trailer, or motor home locked when you are away? Is your tent zipped?
Are camping items such as axes, hatchets, and knives secured so they can't be used as tools to break into your camping vehicles?
Have you located the telephones in the park and noted emergency phone numbes?
Do you report any suspicious persons or activities to the rangers, noting descriptions, vehicles, license numbers, and the direction of travel?
Is all of your property clearly marked with your state driver's license number for easy identification? (For example: ice chests, bicycles, radios, camp stoves, cameras, lanterns, backpacks, surfboards, portable generators, etc.) Can you describe your property (type, model, serial numbers, etc.) if it is lost or stolen?
Have checked at the park office to see if an electric marking pen is available for your use?
Have you parked your vehicle either within eyesight of your group or in a
populated areas that is patrolled regularly by park personnel?
Have you
locked your vehicle? Have you taken your spare key with you rather than hiding
it on or in your vehicle?
Did you take all your valuables with you? Are any remaining valuables in
your vehicle secured in the trunk, or, at least, out of sight?
Do you lock
your bicycles and ATC's with a case-hardened steel lock and chain?
Are your
bicycles, if used at night, equipped with proper lighting equipment?
For at least 1,000 years the land set aside as State Parks in this area were inhabited by the Juaneo Band of Native Americans.
Two large villages were located near the Orange and San Diego county lines. The village of Panhe, near the mouth of San Mateo Canyon, and Hechmai, just south of San Onofre Creel, were two communities that left behind a complex of archaeo logical sites.
What we know about Juaneno culture, however is primarily due to the writings of Geronimo Boscana, who was a priest a Mission Sar Juan Capistrano from 1914-1926. The Juaneno we. principally a hunting and gathering society headed by a male chief and his Pulpem (priest or shamen). Religious and ritual observances included initiation rites for boys and ceremonial "pit roasting" of girls, birth, fertility and marriage rituals, and an Eagle sacrifice. Boscana wrote:
In typical patterns of prehistoric California, Juaneno men hunted and women
gathered plan foods. However, men also helped with acorn harvesting and women
took part in hunts for small garne, such as quail and rabbits.
As we can imagine, the people of Panhe and Hechmai had access to a wide
variety of plant and animal resources such as shellfish, sea mammals, surf fish,
shorebirds, seeds, bulbs, deer which were undoubtedly in abundance in the area
at that time.
European contact came in 1769 with the Portola Expedition and by 1797 over
1100 Indians resided at Mission San Juan Capistrano. The inte- grity of the
Juaneno way of life rapidly eroded; missionization and secularization had begun.
However the Juanenos have survived through the centuries. In the
late 1800's the Juanenos were inadvertently ignored as a "tribe" by
government officials. Last December the State of California recognized them and
Federal recognition should be forthcoming soon. The "Acagchemem Nation"
(Juaneno) has endured.
Rich Gilliand
State Park
Interpretive
Specialist
Coyote
Until recently people considered the coyote to be just a pest. It was once thought of as a menace to livestock. Today this gray-brown animal is respected as important in preserving nature's balance. Coyotes eat the remains of other animals, helping to clean the environment and prevent disease. They live in most parts of California, even in the suburbs. Their howls can sometimes be heard on quiet nights.
Raccoon
One of the most intelligent and best known of our native animals, this mischievous "masked bandit" usually feeds and travels at night. Like humans, raccoons are not very particular about their diets. They eat fish, birds, rodents, berries, insects,acorns and just about anything else that strikes their fancy. So keep your food put away.
Raven
We may not envy the Raven's diet, but we should be glad it eats what it does. Ravens help keep our environment clean by eating dead animals and garbage. You can identify this bird by its large size, black feathers, pointed wings and croaking voice. They nest in trees or on cliffs and are always on the lookout for their next meal.
Natures "Litter-Getters" are natures cleaner-uppers, helping to preserve the quality of our environment. But they can only eat organic wastes. They can't help us if we litter our Parks and Beaches with metal cans, plastic and other junk. Please do your part in keeping our parks clean. Then we'll all be "Litter- Getters".
There have been reports of Mountain Lions in our area. The following suggestions are based on studies of Mountain Lion behavior:
Their When you see a trained "seal" at the zoo or circus the California Sea Lion is probably what you are actually watching perform. Sea Lion males range in size from 500 lbs. to almost a 1000 lbs., with females rarely weighing over 200 lbs They can be found from British Columbia to Mexico. Their favorite food is fish which can get them in trouble with local fishermen, even though they have been protected since 1972 by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Sea Lions major natural predator are sharks and transient populations of Killer Whales. The weather pattern named El Nino can also effect Sea Lion populations not only through the violent storms that accompany El Nino but due to the fact that certain fish that Sea Lions rely on will temporarily move out of the area until the water returns to Sea Lions up on one of our beaches please don't disturb them. They are probably just resting. If the animal looks sick or emaciated contact a Lifeguard or Ranger to make an evaluation of the animal and to possibly contact the appropriate authorities.
Jody Borchardt SPR 1
1. How did San Onofre get its name?
San Onofre was given its name on July 22, 1769 by the Spanish expedition of
Gaspar de Portola, while they were in search of Monterey Bay. The name honored
an obscure Egyptian saint, Saint On uphri us.
2. When did San Onofre become a State Park?
Interest in San Onofre as a
public area dates back as early as 1929. However, the marine corp purchased the
area in 1942. In 1963 negotiations for acquisition ) of a portion of the
coastline ( specifically around trestle area) began between the state and the
commanding officers of the reservation. The negotiations fell through with a
change of policy in 1964. In 1966 pressed by the mounting need for coastline
recreation facilities, the department did a feasibility study of the Camp
Pendleton / San Onofre beach area. The state and the Marine Corps reached a
lease agreement in late 1970. San Onofre State Beach was dedicated on February
13, 1971.
3. What are some of the animals you might see at San Onofre?
Some of
the common animals you might see at San Onofre are the Ground Squirrel, Brush
Rabbits, Raccoons, Opossums, Skunks (both Spotted and Striped varieties.) If you
are really lucky you may have a chance sighting of the Bobcats, Coyotes or
Weasels that live in the park.
4. Was there reallv a town named San Onofre?
Yes, Sante Fe railroad had constructed a rail line that had a branch off at
the Santa Margarita canyon in 1886 to 1888. A siding was constructed in the San
Onofre area where a small bedroom community developed. On February 2, 1917 a
Post office was built that would stand until 1943, when the office closed and
services transferred to San Clemente. By mid 1930 San Onofre had peaked as a
community with an adult population of approximately 32. The acquisition of the
land by the U.S. government marked the end of this little village.
5. Are there snakes at San Onofre?
Yes, there are snakes at San Onofre. Most of these snakes aren't poisonous,
however. The non-poisonous species you might see would include Red Racers,
Gopher and King Snakes. San Onofre does have its share of Rattlesnakes, so be
careful. Every plant and animal here is protected, including the Rattlesnake.
Please do not kill a Rattlesnake if you see one. If you find a Rattlesnake in
your camping area, contact a Ranger or Maintenance Worker and we will be glad to
remove the snake and relocate it to an unpopulated part of the park.
6. What is the most common injury on the beach at San Onofre?
Being "stung"
by a stingray is the most common injury that occurs at the beach. Because our
beaches are not very crowded the Sting Rays often settle in the sand close to
shore. When someone walks into the water they might step on these Rays which
whip up their tail and inflict a nasty wound by means of a venomous barb located
at the base of their tail. The pain from these wounds is said to be
excruciating. The best way to avoid this experience is to shuffle your feet as
you walk into the water. Should you be one of the unfortunate ones and receive a
sting, place the stung area in water as hot as you can stand. This will help
break down the venom and relieve the pain. As soon as possible go to a doctor to
have the wound examined and cleaned thoroughly.
The Brown Pelican is one of the six species of pelicans found around the world, and the only one that dive bombs for its dinner. Pelicans will cruise over the ocean looking for a white flash of reflected sunlight that can indicate the presence of fish. Pelicans will dive from a height of 10 to 50 feet reaching down under the surface and scooping up prey with their characteristic pouch- like bills. Once the bird catches the fish it must dis pense with the water it also obtained during the scoop. It accomplishes this by tilting its beak downward and letting the water drain out before swallow ing the fish whole. You will often see gulls swarming around a pelican who has just dove looking for any tidbit that the pelican might drop.
Pelicans travel to breeding colonies located on various islands off the coastline to lay several eggs each year. Young pelicans are fed on fish that parents have swallowed, partially digested, then regurgitate for the offspring. Contrary to popular myth, pelicans don't fly around with a pouch full of fish to feed their young.
Pelican populations in North America declined sharply between 1940 and the 1970's almost to extinction. A number of factors were responsible, most notably the introduction of the pesticide DDT into the food chain. This pesticide accumulated in the pelican and hindered the production of calcium for making egg shells. These eggs were then easily crushed when the mother pelican tried to incubate them. With the banning of DDT in 1972 these Pelicans have made a dramatic comeback, although it is still listed as an endangered species. Local Brown Pelicans will often find themselves entangled in fishing line, which is almost invisible in water. If you spot a pelican in trouble please notify a Lifeguard or Ranger.
Rip currents are narrow, river-like, currents taking water that waves have moved onto the beach back out past the surf. They are usually about 50 feet wide and only go out a little past the surf line. Occasionally they will go out hundreds of yards. You can spot a rip current by looking for the dirty brown water, choppy surface and foam that they carry back to sea. Waves are caused by the winds in storms at sea. In the winter most of the storms are in the North Pacific, in the summer most storms are near the equator, or in the Southern Hemisphere. This causes the waves to hit the beach at angles, as a result they create a current called the Long Shore Current that moves down the beach. In the summer the current usually moves north and in the winter it usually moves south. It is easily spotted by watching the foam near shore drift in it. Waves from different storms in the ocean combine to make surf on a beach. As a result, waves come in groups called sets. After a set of waves has finished breaking, a lot of water will have been pushed towards shore. If you are pulled out to sea do not panic, the rip current will not pull you under. Just swim parallel to shore with the long shore current until you are out of the rip, then swim in to shore. If you cannot recognize the long shore current and you cannot swim an overhand stroke for 15 minutes, you should not be in the ocean, you should be taking swiming lessons. The ocean is a wonderful playground but it is just like everything else in this world, it is dangerous if you do not understand it and are strong enough to control yourself in it.