Open Space Preserve
A bubbling creek, shade, history, and changing ecology beckon
Rating: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 4.9 miles
Elev Min/Max: 1694 ft/2105 ft
Elev Gain/Loss: +1406 ft/-1404 ft
Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve east of Valley Center is a valuable resource for wildlife, hikers, and equestrians with running water, a scenic canyon, and spring wildflowers. It is a place to learn about the early history of water transport while observing ecological changes during fire recovery.
Hell Creek, which ironically flows into Paradise Creek, runs for about three miles through the preserve. Despite its name, Hell Creek is a delightful bubbling stream lined with sycamores, coast live oaks, and willows. It is a welcome refuge for thirsty animals, horses, and hikers on hot days. The preserve’s terrain is fairly rugged, with a major part of the preserve on the southwest-facing slope of the 3,886-foot-high Rodriguez Mountain. The majority of the preserve is clothed with chaparral and coastal sage scrub, although there are patches of oak woodland in several of the smaller canyons leading into Hell Creek as well as a riparian community along Hell Creek. The 1,907-acre preserve is run by the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department.
The Escondido Canal or Gamble Flume was built beginning in 1895 to bring water from the San Luis Rey River to Escondido and originally passed through Hellhole Canyon. It consisted of long sections of a hand-dug ditch connected with a wooden flume. The canal still functions today, but it has been replaced by steel and concrete and now bypasses most of Hellhole Canyon via a steel siphon constructed in the early 20th Century. The Hell Creek trails follows the route of the old canal on the east of the canyon for over a mile.
From the staging area, the first quarter-mile of the trail is a gentle self-guided nature trail with signs identifying some of the major chaparral plants. The next half-mile leads down to Hell Creek and has some steep places where trekking poles would be useful. The trail along the creek is nearly flat as it follows the contours of the hills for the next 1.3 miles angling progressively further from the creek. The trail ends two miles from the staging area. Older maps show the trail continuing for an additional 0.5 miles. It has since washed out. The trail going down to the creek and to the siphon is currently closed for habitat restoration. Those wanting a much longer and more strenuous hike can take the Canyon View Trail leading steeply up the hill.
Hellhole Canyon Preserve was completely devastated by the Paradise fire in 2003 and parts of the preserve were burned again in 2007 in the Poomacha fire. A visit to the preserve shows how the coastal sage, oak woodland, and chaparral plant communities can recover from fire. While charred twisted, branches of the burnt brush are still visible, the preserve is alive with vigorously growing sage, manzanita, toyon, scrub oak, ceanothus and many other species that have sprouted from stumps not killed by the fire. The fire also opened up the thick brush, giving seeds that had been lying dormant a chance to sprout, thus providing fresh new forage for wildlife and a great annual wildflower display in spring.
The preserve is open only Friday through Monday from 8 a.m. to sunset for hikers and equestrians. No bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed. The preserve is closed the entire month of August.
Driving Directions: (Valley Center) From I-15 exit east on Valley Pkwy. (S-6) for 6 miles to Lake Wohlford Rd. (Valley Pkwy. changes to 2nd St. and back to Valley Pkwy.) Go east (right) on Lake Wohlford Rd., then right on Paradise Mountain Rd., then turn left on Kiavo Dr. Continue to the preserve entrance and park in the lot. Chemical toilets and water available. GPS: N33.216558, W116.933935
Hiking length: Five miles total, returning on the same route
Hike Rating: Easy to Moderate with a steep descent at the start of the trail
