The new parking lot at Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve, which features the popular Potato Chip Rock trail, will officially open to the public at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 18.
The event will be held at 10 a.m. in Lot A at the south end of the parking area, at 16286 state Route 67. Parking is free for the event.
Hosted by the county of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, the ceremony will be attended by county leaders and community representatives. An educational presentation will feature information about Mount Woodson’s history and live raptors will be on site as animal ambassadors.
Courtesy county of San Diego
About 200 parking spaces with seven ADA accessible spaces will be available at the 84-acre Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve off state Route 67. (Courtesy San Diego Parks and Recreation)
The four parking areas, which have been under construction since fall 2024, have about 200 public parking spaces, including seven for those with disabilities. The site has portable restrooms, a solar-powered lighting and entrance gate, decomposed granite trails and directional and information signs.
The lot is designed to provide safe, off-street parking for visitors of the regional Mount Woodson trail system, said Lana Findlay, a county Department of Parks and Recreation spokesperson. Currently, many hikers park along the shoulders of SR-67 or in nearby neighborhoods, then walk along or cross the highway where there are no designated crossings.
This creates dangerous conditions for pedestrians and drivers, Findlay said.
Jason Hemmens, parks and recreation director, said the new parking lot reflects the county’s commitment to both public safety and high-quality recreation.
“By providing a designated, off-highway location for visitors to park, we’re reducing unsafe parking along state Route 67 and improving emergency access for first responders,” Hemmens said. “At the same time, we’re enhancing the experience for the thousands of hikers who come here each year — including those making their way up to Potato Chip Rock.”
Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve is an 84-acre property with trails that span land managed by the city of San Diego, the city of Poway and unincorporated Ramona.
Public vehicle access and restrooms are available from sunrise to sunset. Parking fees are $5 per vehicle for day-use beginning March 18. The fees are charged to help pay for maintenance and operating costs, Findlay said.
Some hikers have expressed concern that the parking lot will not be open overnight and the trails will not be accessible in the early morning hours. There also has been criticism of parking fees when street parking on the highway was free. Findlay said no free parking passes will be available for local residents.
But visitors have the option to purchase an annual parking pass for $50, which is valid at all county parks. Annual passes can be obtained by calling the county Parks Reservations Center at 858-565-3600.
Courtesy county of San Diego
The new parking lot at Mount Woodson has seven ADA accessible spaces. (Courtesy San Diego Parks and Recreation)
Emergency vehicle access is also being accommodated at the site, county officials said.
Mary Schoepp, who hikes Mount Woodson trails every weekday starting at 5 a.m., said she’s noticed that the parking lot was getting ready to open. She said she’s seen directional and parking signs that are still covered and re-striping on SR-67 to accommodate drivers entering and exiting the parking lot.
“I think it’s a positive,” said Schoepp, who has lived in Ramona for over 30 years. “It will get people off the highway. I’ve seen people try to parallel park and it frightens me. Some people try to park on the road instead of the dirt and cars go by at 60 mph. I’ve seen some scary things.
“This could definitely be safer so I’m excited about that.”
But Schoepp said she’s concerned that people who have been hiking around Mount Woodson for free for many years will now have to pay to park. She said she’ll be using a free pass for people age 62 and older that is valid at any county park.
“I’ve been hiking this mountain for 20 years and I’ve never had to pay — it’s definitely going to be a change,” she said. “If you’re a regular you’re not going to want to pay $25 a week unless you buy the pass or are older.”
Schoepp also expressed concerns about the safety for drivers as they enter and exit the parking area. The acceleration and deceleration lanes will help, she said, but drivers returning to Ramona after hiking will need to turn right out of the lot and make a U-turn farther down SR-67.
Ramona Trails Association President Cheryl Wegner said she is “delighted” the parking lot is finally opening after years of planning. Wegner gives credit to former County Supervisor Dianne Jacobs for her early efforts to get county funding for the project.
“This wasn’t just yesterday that this occurred, this has been in conversation for a very long time and it takes time to get funding for this on the matrix,” said Wegner, a Ramona resident. “It took years for this to get on the list and be considered for funding.”
Wegner said the parking area blends with the contours of the land and is complementary with the oak trees and native vegetation. Hikers will be able to enjoy the scenery, including a rock wall built by the California Conservation Corps, while taking a rest at the picnic tables there, she said.
Wegner said she appreciates the safer trail access and the opportunities it provides for visitors to drive into Ramona and stop at the wineries, breweries and enjoy the music scene.
“The RTA has been looking at ways of marketing,” Wegner said. “We’ve put together a trail location map as a marketing tool to show people where they can hike the trails.”
The land is part of the county’s Multiple Species Conservation Program to protect native chamise chaparral, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub habitats and a variety of wildlife.
Courtesy county of San Diego
An informational kiosk is being located near the Mount Woodson trailhead. (Courtesy San Diego Parks and Recreation)