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UPDATED 14Feb: The horse rental people cut a path through Effie May, and across the river channel. It’s an easy walk north to south across the riverbed and return with no water on the path. Roads throughout the park are generally in terrific condition, with footing as good as it gets. Some road sections are under water. If there is evidence of horse tracks through the flooded sections, the footing is likely okay. However, the valley floor has been greatly rearranged by the last heavy rains. Even flat areas have deep cut arroyos and mud bogs. Do not get off trail. Quicksand-like mud bogs and sink holes have pulled in horses and riders over the years. You can have safe trail rides if you avoid any trails where there are not recent hoof prints marked through them. Some forest trails are passable for long sections. Most terminate at a heavy bog or debri-blocked thicket so prepare for dead ends. It’s actually quite fun to figure out a way to get somewhere. If the sun shines for about two weeks, some forest trail sections become passable along their entire lengths.

October 23, Sunflower Trail: Thanks to a Tijuana River clean up sponsored by WildCoast, the Sunflower Trail is wide, sandy, dry, and clean. Use it to bypass the bridges to cross the river while tractors are dredging near the Effie May Crossing. After the first moderate rain, this trail will close because the river will begin to flow again.

The Storm Water Dept will work 7 days a week from 6:00am to 6:00pm to clear Smuggler’s Gulch and the main channel of the Tijuana River west of Hollister St.  Work should complete by February 2010. Trails will be blocked during this work to keep horses and riders safe from fast-moving heavy equipment.  Horse detour signs have been posted and affected trails will remain closed during the working period.  The following trails will be partially or completely closed: Cathedral Trail from the (Central) Trail Staging Area (1/4 mi west of 2310 Hollister St) through Effie May Crossing west to the junction of Cathedral and Saturn Link; also CLOSED is the Beach Trail where it crosses any part of Smuggler’s Gulch – mostly farm roads and 2 berm trails.

TO GET TO THE BEACH: Ranches on Monument Road east of Hollister, Martin Ranch, D&J Ranch and Senora Fina -  consider using the long bridge section of Hollister to 2310 Hollister, turn west to Saturn Link, south to the western section of Cathedral then the rest of the way to the beach is clear.  Or use Monument Road around the construction just west of Jim Martin’s Ranch, but be aware that large equipment may be on Monument. See the Travel & Maps page for maps of the area.

September 12, 2009: Lower Wycliff Trail: Jan’s TRVEA Trail Crew punched through the flood damaged west end of Lower Wycliff Trail to completely open it to riders. Most of this is wide and tall and in heavy canopy. It harkens to a primitive time. Ride on Saturn Link Trail and you will find the east trailhead. Turn west and ride about 1/3 mile- it emerges near the large duck ponds. The west end of the trail is brushy, but easily rideable. Lower Wycliff will close after the first moderate rain and remain unpassable until next year at this time. Don’t miss it now!

September 12, 2009: NEW UPDATE:This dirt road will be closed M – Sat from now through the first week of October. It will be open on Sundays. M-Sat, use the hand-marked trail that originates at the main park gate and winds through Goat canyon. It’s a terrific ride.
September 4, 2009: The dirt road that runs the last 1/2 mile to the Beach from Mounument Road (at the elbow in the road) is partially closed over the Labor Day Weekend Holiday due to State Park construction in the area.

There is no access to the beach from this trail.

An alternate trail will be posted and marked with signs and/or yellow ribbons. The alternate trail originates at the park gate parking lot and goes due south; it winds near Goat Canyon. Note that the closed trail is barred at the intersection of the Marsh Trail with the road –you may still loop through the marsh. CAUTION: the westerly last 1/3 mile of the alternate trail will be shared by bicyclists, hikers, and automobiles. The park is open over the holiday and you may park your horse trailers at the beach. (Open the Travel & Maps section to locate these trails.)

July12, 2009, Lower Wycliffe Trail: Riders recently report that a tree is hanging so low as to be nearly impassable for even short horses. TRVEA will post a notice when this has been resolved.

July 11, 2009, Sherwood Forest Trail: Did you know there’s another name used by some for the Sherwood Forest Trail? A long time ago, the Tijuana River flowed deep and wide enough that the only way to cross it in the valley was by barge. A barge with 17 people onboard broke loose from its river-crossing lines and tethers and disappeared down river. No one onboard was ever recovered. Border Patrol Agents and others have gone into the Sherwood Forest Trail areas after hearing clear voices, only to find nothing. Think this is a ruse? You can find the old barge alongside Sherwood Forest Trail. Some still call this trail the “Ghost Trail.” This was told to TRVEA on July 11, 2009, by CBP agents while on a search of Spider Trail. Happy riding.

July 11, Spider Trail, Alongside Tree Farm: TRVEA trail masters cleared Spider Trail so that it’s wide enough for riding with fat and tall horses. It is trimmed masterfully so that it will be just right for Halloween when fat and tall spiders can weave their webs across it. (Located on the west side of the Eastern Staging Area–just before Dairy Mart Bridge; it links to Sunflower Trail.)

June 6, 2009, Effie May & Cathedral Trails: TRVEA’s second annual joint cleanup with WildCoast& Tijuana River Citizens Council sent 300 people into the river bed to clear out Effie May Crossing, and to reopen Cathedral Trail. Approximately 3 tons of trash and 7 tons of tires were removed. Effie May Crossing is now pristine with sand conditions like on a lovely beach, and Cathedral Trail is open for trails riding.

Trails, Disney Barns & Berm:  A rider reported today that while riding near bee activity (which is normal in this valley), the bees swarmed and attacked her and her horse. She reports they were bitten many times and ran for at least a couple hundred yards before the bees gave up the chase. The location is 50 yards east of the old, green, dilapidated Disney barns, just south of Cathedral and Vireo trail intersection. County Parks has been notified.

UPDATE JULY 6 County Parks Rangers report three nests were removed, and there is one nest remaining. Rangers say the remaining nest appears to be much less agressive. Please report bee attacks to the County Parks.