There's no shortage of interesting places to explore in the backcountry of East County, and the Roberts Ranch – a brief but memorable jaunt through a small patch of woods and hills in Descanso – is a testament to that.
Situated next to Interstate 8, there is a bit of car noise to deal with on this hike, but being this close to a major freeway is convenient and safe.
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Roberts Ranch in Descanso
Before You Go: Bring plenty of water; don't travel alone.
Trail head: From Interstate 8 near the Viejas Casino, exit right on Japatul Valley Road – look for the California Department of Transportation station immediately off the exit on the left side of the road. Trail entrance is a rusted metal swing gate just before the station. Park on the shoulder.
Trail length: About 2 miles round-trip.
Difficulty: Easy.
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In the early 1990s, the area had been slated for a 125-home luxury development. The plans, though, were derailed by opponents. Now the land is open to the public.
The entrance is a small rusted gate a few yards from the California Department of Transportation maintenance station, 24171 Japatul Valley Road in Descanso. You'll find that vegetation has slightly overtaken the dirt path, so you might have to navigate through light brush and grass. Keep an eye out for some tire tracks ground into the earth; following them is the best way to pick up the trail.
Head for the trees across the field. Immediately after crossing into this shaded area, you'll begin a gentle uphill ascent. There is a clearing several yards up to the right. You can either continue up the main path, or venture into the clearing and blaze your own trail as you stroll through the trees. Either direction will lead you to the same place, but meandering and exploring along the way can make Roberts Ranch exciting.
About halfway up the hill, the trail bends to the right. Follow it to the apex of this mild slope and you'll find yourself in a vast, golden meadow surrounded by rolling hills and dotted with trees. To the left, you'll discover a collection of derelict construction and farm equipment. This includes a rusted water tank and an old flatbed hauler. It's hard to imagine why these were abandoned here, but their presence on the ranch adds to its country mystique.
While the primary trail will take you a few yards past this forgotten machinery before it ultimately ends at a dry creek bed, the wide-open meadow behind you seems to beg to be explored.
Walking across the scenic field is worth the trek alone, whether you're looking for a quiet, shaded spot for a picnic or just curious to find out lies beyond some faraway trees.
Keep your eyes out for a deep, eroded canal snaking through the hills, and see whether you can spot a collection of chalk-white animal bones strewn across various spots of the field. The bones are probably those of a cow, but look big enough to belong to a dinosaur.
Though getting back to your car is simply a matter of retracing your steps, take your time before hightailing it home. A journey out to this quaint East County spot is no typical day at the ranch, but you'll definitely want it to last.
Declan Desmond is a San Diego-based freelance writer.
