Outdoors

Anza Borrego Foundation
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association
Balboa Park
Cabrillo National Monument
California State Parks
Community Campership Council
Chula Vista Nature Center
Friends of Los Penasquitos
Laguna Mountain Volunteers Association
Mission Trails Regional Park
San Diego Audubon Society
San Diego Coastkeeper
San Diego River Foundation
San Dieguito River Park
San Diego River Park Foundation
San Diego Biking Page
San Diego County Parks
Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter, Bicycle Section
Walkabout International
Walk San Diego

SO GET OUT AND GO SAN DIEGO.
And let me hear from you via outdoorssd@aol.com (Note: if you sent me an e-mail, and haven't heard back within a week, it got lost. Please try again.)

About Tom Leech

Forum Editor and lead author of Outdoors San Diego: Hiking, Biking & Camping (Premier 2004 ISBN 1-928905-04-8). For info check http://www.dayoutings.com/outdoors.html

I'm a longtime San Diegan (Hoosier transplant) who's done lots of hiking, camping and exploring in the special outdoors world we enjoy in San Diego. As a free-lance writer, I've had many articles about lifestyles and business published in San Diego Magazine (the paper version) and contributed the outdoors chapter to the excellent but short-lived The Best of San Diego.

My other hats are corporate speech coach, seminar leader, and conference speaker. My two books on the topic of business communication are How To Prepare, Stage & Deliver Winning Presentations (AMACOM) and Say It Like Shakespeare (McGraw-Hill). Visit my web site at www.winning-presentations.com.
I value your comments, suggestions and questions, sent to my e-mail address — outdoorssd@aol.com or better, in person out on the trail.
Tom's photo by Brenda Alcasid

SPECIAL OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES

These provide excellent ways to get acquainted with and enjoy the outdoors San Diego area. Also check the Forum links.

Cabrillo National Monument, 619-557-5450. Superb bay and ocean views, tide pool, gift shop.

Calavera Preserve, Carlsbad, 760-471-9197.

California State Parks (Cuyamaca is separate). Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Poway 858-668-4781: weekend intro easy hikes. Old Town State Park. Daily walking tours, 11 a.m and 2 p.m. Camping 800-444-7275 or www.reserveamerica.com

Chula Vista Nature Center. 619-409-5900.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Interpretive Association (CRISPIA), 760-765-0755. Cuyamaca Rancho Foundation, 619-445-8377

Daley Ranch, Escondido, 760-839-6266. Friends of 760-839-4680.

Desert. Anza Borrego Desert State Park, 760-767-5311. AB Natural History Association, 760-767-3052. AB Foundation, 760-767-0446. See SDNHM Canyoneers also.

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, Escondido, 760-632-4212.

I Love a Clean San Diego. Contact 800-237-BLUE or www.ilacsd.org

Laguna Mountain Volunteers Association. Services, educational programs, visitors center. See link.

Leo Carrillo Historic Park, Carlsbad, 760-434-2924. Guided tours Sa and Su.

Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, 858-484-3219. Every Sa/Su guided tours of historic Adobe Ranch.

Mission Trails Regional Park, 619-668-3275. Wednesday and weekend guided hikes. Kumeyaay Campground reservations, 619-668-2748. Campfire program at campground.

SD Archeological Center, San Pasqual Valley, 760-291-0370, sandiegoarcheology.org. Museum, workshops, exhibits at various libraries and Lindbergh Field.

SD Audubon Society. 619-275-0557, Silverwood Wildlife Preserve, Sunday guided walks.

SD BayKeeper, 619-299-4484.

SD Celebrate Trails Committee, 619-561-8127.

SD City Parks, 619-525-8247. Balboa Park architectural tours every Wednesday morning; Ranger-led tours every Tuesday and Sunday, 1 p.m at House of Hospitality Visitors’ Center. Introductory Guided Hikes (858-581-9961) Saturdays in Tecolote Canyon and San Clemente Canyon (Marian Bear Park). Chollas Park, especially kids’ fishing. Famosa Slough, Pt. Loma: every 3rd Saturday, walks led by the “Friends of”, 619-224-4591.

SD County Parks, 858-694-3049. Dos Picos, Ramona; Goodan Ranch, Poway: Guajome, Vista; Heise, Julian: Campfire programs; Hellhole Canyon, Valley Center; Heritage Park, Old Town: Docent-led tour every 2nd Sunday. Lake Jennings, Lakeside: Campfire programs. San Elijo Lagoon, Solana Beach: morning hike every 2nd Saturday. Stelzer, Santee: Wheelchair picnic access and many kids activities. Volcan Mountain, Julian; Wilderness Gardens, Pala, 760-742-1631: Get-acquainted nature hikes every Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Camping reservations 858-565-3600 (M-F), or www.sdparks.org

SD Coastkeeper, workshops, beach cleanups, education. 619-758-7743.

SD County Rockhoppers, regular hikes. 760-746-0897.

SD River Park Foundation. 619-297-7380. Activities with many organizations along the river from Mission Valley to mountains.

SD Friends of Parks, 619-582-8212.

SD Natural History Museum, 619-232-3821, x 203. Many kids activities. Canyoneer-led educational hikes.

SD Sea-To-Sea Trail, 858-679-4343 San Dieguito River Park, 858-674-2275 x5. Saturdays from 10-12, new family educational visits with docents at Strawberry Stand Wetland Center; also Sikes Adobe Historical Farmstead.

San Pasqual Battlefield Visitor Center, 760-737-2201. Excellent museum describing this historical event, plus marked trail above. Re-enactment in December. Weekends only.

Santa Margarita River (Friends of), 760-723-2448.

Sierra Club, many guided hikes, educational programs. 619-299-1744.

Tijuana Estuary National Reserve, 619-575-3613. Trails, hands-on museum.

Torrey Pines State Reserve. Docent Society, 858-755-2063. Docent-led hikes each weekend at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

UCSD campus walking and van tours, 858-534-4414.

Walkabout, 619-231-7463. Dozens of hikes each month, various levels and locations in urban, suburban and wilderness areas. Check web link for specifics. They’ll also send you a complimentary calendar upon request.

Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, 619-660-0614. Guided tours on weekends.

Wright’s Field, Alpine, Back Country Land Trust, 619-590-2258

SO GET OUT AND ENJOY SAN DIEGO. And let me hear from you via the Forum hot button or outdoorssd@aol.com.