The "San Diego River" is home/host to a number of ponds.
As described in the article on Gravel Pits and Quarries,
most river beds in our County have been mined
for sand and gravel over the last 150 years.
Thus a few places in the river's bed are much deeper than others.
Since our river doesn't really flow constantly,
due to lack of rain, and dams upstream,
those deep spots appear as ponds or lakes.
Yesterday my wife and I walked the River Trail,
from Lakeside to Santee - about 4 miles.
Here's a look at our route, with distances marked:
Before we get started, you might as well know the rules.
The route is festooned with signs describing
where you are and what to do OR NOT.
In conformity with the signs, we were there between 6:30 am and 5 pm
We saw no rattlesnakes.
I noticed there was no Poop Fairy for the horses that use the trail.
We noticed that the NO FISHING signs
were ignored by some of our fellow citizens.
OK, enough of the introduction. Shall we get on to the walk?
Generally speaking, the trail was wide, hard-packed, and flat.
We were there on a Tuesday in February and it was comfortable.
If you go in a warmer time of year, be sure to have a hat and water.
The trail was wide enough for runners and cyclists and walkers.
On a weekend I have no doubt it could be crowded.
Here is your overall guide image
for the pond photos that follow on this page:
[click to enlarge any image]
VIEW 1
On the golf course
(no I don't count these but this was the first water we saw)
VIEW 2
The River! Such as it is, a bit of a pond, marsh, puddle.
VIEW 3
The first large pond, from the NE edge
The cactus reinforces the message "stay on the trail"
and the NW looking E
VIEW 4
A brown pond (Algae? Pollen? Mud?)
VIEW 5
FROGS
VIEW 6
A spillway/breakwater separating the ponds.
VIEW 7
A river-like section or large long pond
VIEW 8
VIEW 9
A bit back from the river. This section is under construction
and the trail stops for a few hundred yards.
VIEW 10
The large pond at the end of our walk.
A rare appearance by the author of this blog
You can walk about 1-1.5 miles farther West if you wish,
but we were ready for lunch.
There's a Food4Less grocery store and shops
just to the north of the trail.
We bought some food, drove a bit,
and ate near the water on a nice shaded table,
with clean bathrooms and free parking.
If you want to follow the River westward,
click on the following links:
and ate near the water on a nice shaded table,
with clean bathrooms and free parking.
If you want to follow the River westward,
click on the following links:
