I.      Preserve Existing Hiking, Mountain Biking and Equestrian Trails and Pathways

II.     Establish New Trails and Pathways

III.   Provide Public Service and Public Awareness Of RTA's Activities, Goals and Accomplishments

IV.    Maintain the Vitality of RTA

"Hot List" :
   • "Park to Pile" Trail
   • Pine Street Pathway to Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail
   • Simon Park Trail System
   • Rancho SanMartín / Rancho Sueño / Highlands Ranch
   • RTA Library
   • Santa Maria Creek Greenway
   • Old Grove Trail Dedication

I. Preserve Existing Hiking, Mountain Biking And Equestrian Trails And Pathways

A.     Maintain existing staging areas within the Ramona area.

        1.   Ramona Parks and Recreation Association (RPRA) leases (at no charge) a small section of land within the Ramona Community Park to RTA, dedicated as the Don Hosking Memorial Staging Area, in exchange for providing maintenance and upgrades of the staging area and the park trail system. This site underwent improvements during 1997 in the form of an Eagle Scout project which resulted in the construction and installation of 4 large picnic tables and a redwood gazebo. Funding for the project was provided by the Nancy Krenzel Memorial Fund with RTA matching funds. Since that time, we have added a storage building for supplies and equipment, BBQs, a stock watering tank, hitch rail and an Equine Memorial Kiosk (another scout project). Members can puchase plaques in memory of their 4-legged companions for a $25 donation to RTA contact the RTA Treasurer for more information..

        2.   Archie Moore Rd. Staging Area - this small staging area is used for access to Archie Moore Pathway, Mt. Woodson Trail and the trails of Rancho San Martin. Current "to-do" list includes construction of a bridge to allow trail users to cross the seasonal creek without damaging the banks and streambed and replacement of Staging Area signage. The Nature Trail and Interpretive Kiosk, between the Staging Area and School, was originally constructed as an Eagle Scout project sponsored by RTA.

        3.   Sutherland Dam Staging Area - a former gravel pit on CNF land which required agreements with other agencies to allow it to be opened as a staging area. RTA installed signage at this location during the January 1999 work party.  Currently, this sign is missing in action and will need to be replaced.

        4.  Holly Oaks Staging Area & Equestrian Facility - this 2 acre parcel is a part of the Holly Oaks County Park, acquired by the County in 1990. RTA is under a 5 year renewable lease agreement with the County for the Staging Area portion of the Park. Initial work on this project started in 1999. RTA has enclosed the area with perimeter fencing, installed a gate onto Southern Oak Rd. and constructed a 250' arena with funding provided by County District 2 Supervisor Dianne Jacob. Two sides of the fence and the arena were constructed by RTA volunteers. It is the ONLY free public arena in Ramona. Additional amenities include a huge picnic table, awning and kiosk, all funded by RTA and constructed as Eagle Scout projects.

<> B.     Maintain existing trails in the Ramona area as needed, including:

        1.   Ramona Community Park trails system.
        2.   Mt. Woodson Trail. Currently researching possibility of proceeding with establishment of the 3rd phase of the trail, even though this phase of the development has been canceled.
        3.   Fry-Koegel Trail
        4.   Mt. Gower Open Space Preserve (assist County Parks & Recreation as needed)
        5.   Rutherford Trail
        6.   Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail, Upper Santa Ysabel Truck Trail, Lusardi Truck Trail, Black Mountain Truck Trail, Cedar Creek Trail - all a part of Cleveland National Forest. RTA assists in their maintenance with day-to-day trash pickup and major cleanups of illegal dump sites as well. RTA is currently working with CNF Staff to establish a new, safe trail to Cedar Creek and from Pine Street Pathway to Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail.
       7.  Holly Oaks - for the most parts, the pathways in the Holly Oaks neighborhood are maintained by those local homeowners. However, RTA will be greatly involved as new trails are established through the Open Space Preserve.  Additional connector trails need to be fenced as well.

C.     Maintain existing county-dedicated pathways in the Ramona area.

1. Archie Moore Pathway - provides access from Archie Moore Rd. Staging Area to Castle H and Fry-Koegel trails, as well as those within the developments of: Rancho San Martin, Rancho Sueño and Highland Ranch. RTA is working with members who live in these areas to help ensure the viability of their trails network.
2. Lilac Pathway
3. Pine Pathway
4. Los Caballos Pathway in Barona Mesa

II. Establish New Staging Areas, Trails And Pathways

A.     Establish new staging areas within Ramona area.

        1.   Simon Park - a relatively new park resulting from mitigation in 1997, RTA hopes to work with County Parks & Recreation to develop a staging area for this park. Currently, the closest staging area is at Mt. Gower Open Space Preserve. There is no close staging area at all on the Ramona side of the Preserve. We will also work with the Parks & Recreation staff to establish official trails in Simon Park.

        2.   Black Canyon Road Staging Area - part of 1995 proposal to CNF; resubmitted in a National Transportation grant application in 1998. No progress on this as of Spring 2005.

        3.   Goose Valley Staging Area - part of 1995 proposal to CNF. No progress on this as of Spring 2005.

        4.  Ramona Oaks Staging Area - to serve as a trail head for the Cedar Creek The old pioneer trail is being re-routed and a new, safer trail is now under construction (work started March 2005!!).

        6. Barnett Ranch Staging Area - The Barnett Ranch Open Space Preserve is not yet open to the public as this beautiful area is allowed to recover after the Cedar Fire and while we wait for appropriate biological and archiological studies to be performed.

        7. San Vicente Highlands Preserve Staging Area  (from Foster Truck Trail in Lakeside)

        8. Boulder Oaks Preserve Staging Area

        9.  Wood Energy Staging Area

B.     Establish new trails within the Ramona area.

        1.   RTA is currently working with several property owners for dedication of trail easements along their property lines. Due to the sensitive nature of these discussions, this information is not published until agreements have been finalized.  One of these is currently dubbed "Old Grove Trail", another the "Park to Pile Trail"

        2.   As Holly Oaks Park becomes established by San Diego County Parks & Recreation, a trails network, based upon pre-existing trails, will become finalized and published in our Trails Guide. This will include the neighborhood trails of the Holly Oaks development itself, the Park and the  adjoining Open Space Preserve.

        3.   As funds become available through SD County Parks and Recreation, new trails may be created in both Simon Park as well as Oak Oasis Open Space Preserve. RTA will be working with this agency on these areas.

        4.   Work with CNF to establish new trails within the Forest, to provide connectivity and loop trails. Specifically, Pine Pathway to Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail, Black Canyon Staging Area to Lake Sutherland Staging Area, Black Canyon Rd. to Pamo Rd., Black Mountain Truck Trail to Lusardi Truck Trail, Black Mountain Truck Trail to Black Canyon Rd. or Sutherland Dam Staging Area. These trails were part of the 1995 proposal to CNF, resubmitted in a National Transportation grant application 1998. We continue to seek funding as time allows.

C.     Work with County DPW to establish new pathways. Pathways are constructed along roadsides by the County in accordance with the approved plan when these roads are the subject of other improvements. These pathways allow for safer travel for children, joggers, hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians when the only means of travel is along a road. The following list is in arbitrary order and has no relevance to the order in which they will be accomplished:

1. Shady Oaks Trail (a part of State Route 67 Pathway).
2. Highland Valley Pathway
3. Dye Rd. Pathway
4. Rangeland Road Pathway (part of Kearny Historical Trail)
5. Bulldog Pathway
6. Stagecoach Trail (a part of State Route 67 Pathway).
7. Old Highway 97 Pathway
8. Hanson's Pathway
9. Collier Park Pathway
10. Sun Valley Pathway
11. Cemetary Pathway
12. Montecito Pathway
13. Oak Pathway
14. Sutherland Pathway
15. Black Canyon Pathway
16. Washington Pathway
17. Julian Pathway
18. Eagle Pathway
19. Old Julian Pathway
20. Poultry Pathway
21. Old El Paso Pathway
22. Ramona Oaks Pathway
23. Santa Teresa Pathway
24. Rancho Pathway
25. Santa Ysabel Pathway
26. Shady Del Pathway
27. Little Page Pathway
28. Barona Pathway
29. Slaughterhouse Pathway

III. Provide Public Service And Public Awareness Of RTA's Activities, Goals And Accomplishments

A.     Actively participate in community activities.

        1.   Every year, RTA typically provides volunteers for traffic control and parking at community events such as the Ramona Rodeo and Parade in May and the Ramona Country Fair and Parade in August. Volunteers also provide an informational booth at the Country Fair, California Trail Days in April, National Trail Days in June, and Ramona's Fourth of July Celebration.

        2.   RTA sponsors monthly work parties to ensure maintenance of existing trails, construct new trails and clean up public areas adjacent to trails and/or staging areas.

        3.   RTA publishes a monthly newsletter, provided as a benefit of membership, which keeps members informed of trails issues, achievements and recent events. This newsletter is also provided to other organizations as part of an information exchange program.

        4.   Continue to improve and add to the RTA-produced "Ramona Trails Guide" as new staging areas and trails become open to the public. This Guide is soon to be made available through this website; although provided for free as a public service, a nominal donation to the organization for this service would be greatly appreciated.

        5.   Provide press releases to the Ramona Sentinel newspaper regarding scheduled trail activities, meetings, guest speakers and special events.

        6.   RTA provides public education via the information provided at it's booth during the afore-mentioned events. It also has volunteers who do guest speaking at other community service organization meetings. Trail-related literature, maps of existing and proposed trails in the community, Trail Guides, historical displays and event flyers are some of the information that is made available to the public. We continuously seek to improve these displays to be more informative and professional.

IV.   Maintain The Vitality of RTA

A.    RTA holds regularly scheduled organizational meetings.

        1.  Monthly general membership meetings, first Wednesday of each month at the Ramona Community Center.

        2.  Monthly board meetings, fourth Monday of each month at the Ramona Public Library.

        3.  Periodic map committee meetings to maintain the Trails Guide.

        4.  Periodic watchdog committee meetings to keep abreast of the status of existing and new trails projects, including SPAs earmarked for large housing developments in Ramona.

        5.  Special subcommittee meetings as needed to plan special events such as CA Trails Days, National Trails Days, Fundraising Events, etc.

B.   RTA sponsors recreational and social activities

        1.   Monthly hikes

        2.   Monthly equestrian rides

        3.   Monthly mountain bike rides - WE CURRENTLY HAVE A VACANCY IN THE MOUNTAIN BIKE LEADER POSITION - IF INTERESTED, CLICK HERE!

        4.   Annual Thanksgiving "Turkey Trot" Ride

        5.   Annual Christmas Caroling Ride & Hike

        6.   Annual New Year's Ride/Hike & Feast to Del Dios along a section of the San Dieguito River Park Trail

        7.   Group camp-outs at various locations throughout the county.

C.     Document RTA's Goals and Achievements

        1.  Develop and maintain documentation of RTA's Goals (basically, this page!).

        2.  The RTA Historian will catalog RTA's activities and achievements by maintaining scrapbooks, photograph albums and other displays.

        3.  Create a brief historical synopsis of RTA, including a timeline of key events, achievements, and Board members in order to foster pride in RTA's history and accomplishments.

D.    Continue obtaining trails-related information and training.

        1. Collect trails information (i.e., map, brochures, pamphlets, books) from sources such as government agencies, conferences, meetings, guest speakers, public, Internet and other electronic sources.

        2.  Continue to obtain "how to" training related to trails from CA Trails Conference (RTA sends 2 representatives each year), San Diego County Trails Council (RTA is an organizational member of the Council), Backcountry Horsemen of California, and Cleveland National Forest staff.

        3. Develop an RTA "Library", to organize resources such as maps, trails information, training materials, trail conference and seminar materials. We continue to be on the lookout for a generous local business who can provide a small, clean corner of their facility for this purpose. Know anyone??

        4.  Develop a set of RTA specifications on trail construction and maintenance to be added to the library. This will include trail design specifications (width, gradient, outslope, switchbacks), water bar construction, proper pruning techniques, bridge construction, etc.