When buying a home, schools and parks are always important. Santee has a number of parks that I would like to share. This is the first part of a ten part series on the parks of Santee.
While Mission Trails Regional Park is not truly a Santee City Park, a portion of the nearly 5,800 acre park is located at the west end of Santee located off Mission Gorge and Father Junipero Trail and is one of my favorite parks to visit.
Centrally located, Mission Trails Regional Park provides a quick, natural escape from the urban hustle and bustle. Mission Trails Regional Park has been called the third Jewel in the City of San Diego Park System.
In particular, this park is one that I often get calls from buyers searching for homes in the area. People love to stroll through the trees, perhaps watch a few birds. Others like to hike along the 40 miles of trails that include open space and rugged hills, including Cowles Mountain. Others bike across the Grassland trails. Families love to visit the Old Mission Dam, and watch the waterfall, cross the river bridge or enjoy a picnic lunch. Mission Trails Regional Park has something to offer everyone, including Fido on a leash.
Opened in 1974, Mission Trails Regional Park has become one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Originally used by the Kumeyaay, the park is the site of the Old Mission Dam, built to store water for the Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Campers visit Kumeyaay Lake, for a weekend of primitive camping with nature, where they might see the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo bird.
You will want to visit the state-of-the-art Visitor & Interpretive numerous informative hikes Center, For more information and Trail and Habitat maps visit http://www.mtrp.org/park.asp .
