Louis A. Stelzer County Park
Lakeside, CA
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.7(343 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
A small parking fee is paid at the front desk. Playgrounds, shaded picnic tables and drinking fountains sit near the entrance, and four trails run from easy paths to a rocky summit scramble. Staff warn walkers about snakes, so keep to the paths. Little shade on the trails, so avoid hot days.
A shady oak-dotted park at the edge of Wildcat Canyon with easy nature trails, picnic spots and a fun accessible loop for younger hikers. The Stelzer Ridge and Riparian trails offer a manageable taste of East County wilderness. Bring a picnic and plenty of water, and watch for the resident wildlife.
Happening near here
- Alley Cat Art FestEl Cajon · 8 mi
- Poway Days Rotary ParadePoway · 11 miFree
- Santee Certified Farmers MarketSantee · 7 mi · 3pm–7pmFree
- Downtown El Cajon Certified Farmers' MarketEl Cajon · 8 mi · 3pm–7pmFree
11470 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040, USA
Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.
$5 day-use parking
Map
What visitors say
- Craig Bellavance★★★★★
I visited Louis A. Stelzer County Park on a weekday in December when the weather was perfect for hiking, and the crowds were somewhere else. I hiked all four of the park’s trails and didn’t encounter another person. The wildflowers were gone, and the stream was dry. Golden eagles, however, were out and on the hunt. From the summit I watched four pairs cruising above and below me. One pair spent about 5 minutes circling just above my head – I’m not a bird nerd but I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The trails are wide and easy to navigate. Signs and trail markers are in place. Parts of the Stelzer Ridge Trail require an uphill climb. The last 100 feet or so of the Summit Trail is a path that requires you scamper over or around vegetation and boulders. The park has a picnic and play area – one school was participating in a field trip while I was there. The park also has restrooms and a ranger station. The construction of a new visitor center/ranger station and a tree-planting project were both happening during my visit, so the parking lot was a bit crowded with heavy equipment. The parking fee is $3.00.
a year ago
- Rahima Clevers★★★★★
A hidden gem just outside of town. Beautiful spot for picnics, hikers, and explorers. The rangers were very friendly and knowledgeable. Wheelchair accessible and well maintained walking paths, playgrounds, and hiking trails. Something for any age/ability. So glad we went & we'll definitely be going back soon!
3 years ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
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