Mike Fry, a trails enthusiast who helped create the Fry-Koegel Trail at Mount Woodson, said it remains to be seen how the mountain’s new parking lot will be received.
Some observers say hikers could skirt the law and continue to park along state Route 67 and others have been complaining about the new $5 per day parking fee. But proponents said the 200 parking spaces will provide a safe alternative to parking along the highway.
Longtime Poway resident Mike Fry is a key advocate for local trails and open space preservation. His work with the Ramona Trails Association helps expand and improve access to trails throughout the community, and he is one of the developers of the Fry-Koegel Trail. (Stephanie Rene Ogilvie)
Fry, who has been working on local trails projects for 35 years, praised the opportunity to improve outdoor recreation at the March 18 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the parking lot at 16286 Highway 67.
“I can see the benefit of outdoor recreation on people,” said the Poway resident of 48 years. “People have discovered how lovely it is to be in the backcountry.
“When I’m working on the trails, I tell people the trails crew have the most fun on the mountain and hikers have the next most fun on the mountain,” he added.
Before opening day, visitors to Mount Woodson parked along the road or in adjacent neighborhoods. Now for a $5-per-day fee or a $50 annual pass, they can park in designated spaces at the south end of the 84-acre Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve. A free parking pass is also available to visitors aged 62 and older.
Stephanie Rene Ogilvie
San Diego County Parks and Recreation Director Jason Hemmens welcomes guests to the Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve parking lot ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 18. The new parking lot provides safer parking for hikers on the 84-acre preserve. The new parking lot has approximately 200 public parking spaces, including seven Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible spaces. (Stephanie Rene Ogilvie)
Kari Morgan, a Ramona resident and avid hiker, came to the opening ceremony.
“It’s awesome,” she said shortly after the ribbon was cut. “The street parking is always dangerous. Cars drive fast and I’ve seen broken glass.”
Morgan said she’s also seen unsafe behaviors such as people standing in the middle of the highway to take pictures of the mountain.
“It’s a miracle no one’s gotten hurt yet,” said Morgan, who hikes at Mount Woodson about once a week. “It’s great that there’s a safe place to park.”
With the new parking option and portable restrooms installed, Morgan said she now feels comfortable recommending the hiking location to friends, especially those with children, she said.
Ramona Community Planning Group member Robin Joy Maxson said during the opening event that no-parking signs along the shoulder of SR-67 have been requested from Caltrans. Technically, drivers are not legally allowed to park along the highway, but drivers may continue to park there to avoid the parking fee, Maxson said.
Enforcement of the no-parking zone between the two entrances to Mount Woodson is a priority of the Planning Group, but while the members wait for no-parking signs to be installed, they want to ensure enforcement of the law, she said.
“Caltrans is aware of the issue,” Maxson said. “We talked to Caltrans about that gap.”
Stephanie Rene Ogilvie
Cheryl Wegner, president of the Ramona Trails Association, addresses guests during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mount Woodson Gateway parking lots. The Ramona Trails Association is a local nonprofit dedicated to creating, maintaining and protecting trails throughout the Ramona area. (Stephanie Rene Ogilvie)
Fry said in late 1990 the Ramona Trails Association approached the Poway Trails Committee with the idea of building a trail from Ramona to Lake Poway. Then in May 1991 a community trails work day attracted volunteers who were ready to tackle cleaning up heavy brush and rocks around Mount Woodson.
“Bob Smillie, a volunteer from Poway, and I decided to come back and keep working on it on a regular basis,” Fry recalled. “It was not just a one-day affair. Three years later (in 1994) a trail was connected from Mount Woodson Estates to Lake Poway. We had a similar dedication ceremony to open up the Fry-Koegel Trail.
“It’s been a wonderful gift,” he added. “It’s one of the best things that has happened to me.”
San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson called Mount Woodson a “jewel for the community” during his presentation at the event.
“This is a huge milestone for us and we’re moving in the right direction,” said Anderson, who proclaimed March 18, 2026 as the Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve Day in his District 2 in recognition of the parking lot opening.
Stephanie Rene Ogilvie
Ramona Trails Association President Cheryl Wegner, left, and San Diego County Parks and Recreation Director Jason Hemmens receive proclamations from District 2 San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, center, in recognition of their dedication to the Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve parking lot project. (Stephanie Rene Ogilvie)
Ramona Trails Association President Cheryl Wegner said it took a lot of moving parts to get a safe, uncongested parking lot.
“These are beloved natural spaces for locals and visitors alike who appreciate the beauty of the backcountry,” Wegner said. “I’d like to thank all of the trail users for their continued care of this beautiful place and I hope they enjoy Mount Woodson for many years to come.”