Western
Oakzanita Springs
 California

11053 Hwy. 79
Descanso, CA 91916

Ranger Station: (619) 445-2515

Address above is not to be used for mail delivery to members.
Please have mail sent to:
General Delivery, Descanso, CA 91916

Located in the Cuyamaca Mountains at an elevation of 4,000 feet, this 140-acre preserve is covered with oak trees and manzanita shrubbery. You can hike along the preserve’s self-guided trail to an ancient Indian archaeological site. Lake Cuyamaca, north of the preserve, offers excellent fishing. The gold mining town of Julian is nearby. Drive to San Diego to tour one of America’s best zoos, plus take in the aquatic attractions of Sea World.

Accommodations

Campsites: 67 full hookups, 54 power and water only, 24 tent sites, overflow sites.

Member Amenities

Basketball court, family center, horseshoe pits, laundry facilities, mini-golf, pickleball court, playgrounds, RV storage, shuffleboard, spa, swimming pool, trading post, volleyball court, wading pool, Wi-Fi access.

Points of Interest

  • Oakzanita self-guided nature trail and viewpoint, on the preserve
  • Green Valley Falls, 2 miles
  • Cuyamaca Rancho State Park’s Indian Museum, 4 miles
  • Stonewall Mine, 7 miles
  • Cuyamaca Peak, 7 miles
  • Cuyamaca Lake, 8 miles
  • Laguna Recreation Area, 18 miles
  • Julian, old gold mining town, 18 miles
  • Santa Isabella’s famous Dudley’s Bakery, 22 miles
  • San Diego Zoo, 40 miles
  • Sea World in San Diego, 43 miles

Directions

GPS Coordinates: N 32° 53' 7.13" W 116° 34' 28.98"; elevation is 4,010 feet.

From Los Angeles: Take I-5 south to Hwy. 805. Take Hwy. 805 south to I-8 east. Go about 30 miles east to Hwy. 79. Go north on Hwy. 79 for three miles, making a left turn toward Julian (Lake Cuyamaca). Drive three more miles to the preserve.

From Riverside: Take I-15 to I-8. Go about 30 miles east to Hwy. 79. Go north on Hwy. 79 for three miles, making a left turn toward Julian (Lake Cuyamaca). Drive three more miles to the preserve. We don’t recommend Hwy. 79 from the north, because it’s very steep, narrow and winding.

Driving Warning: The preserve entry from the south (I-8) is a very sharp right turn on a limited-visibility curve. Longer rigs, rigs with tow vehicles, or rigs limited turning radius should proceed north past the preserve for 2.2 miles to the large parking lot on the right (east side of Hwy. 79) to turn around and head straight into the preserve from the north.