great news: butterfield trails ranch will become NEW PARKland FOR VALLEY CENTER!
The Friends of Hellhole Canyon is one of the local groups that lobbied hard for the acquisition of the historic Butterfield Trails Ranch by San Diego County for parkland. And it paid off! The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $3 million to complete the purchase from the existing owner. Along with an anonymous $2 million donation from a conservation foundation, the purchase was completed at the end of 2023.
Why is this so important to us? Butterfield Trails Ranch is a nearly 60-acre hidden gem of a property. It is a key element of our vision for more recreational open space in the greater Valley Center area that includes Hellhole Canyon.
about the property
Butterfield Trails Ranch is rich in wildlife and borders Moosa Creek, a natural wildlife corridor from the foot of Paradise Mountain at Hellhole Canyon all the way to the San Luis Rey River at Bonsall. The property has wide rolling meadows and mature oak groves below a granite escarpment. Mostly gentle topography allows easy access by people of all ages and physical ability levels.
It is walking distance from high-density residential areas and close to the Heritage Trail in Valley Center. Being historically part of the Luiseño tribal lands, its acquisition as parkland has been supported by tribal members.
In terms of climate resilience, this property is a natural oak woodland and riparian habitat. Large mature trees serve as a carbon sink, and its hydrology supports the retention of ground water as Moosa Creek is still a wild waterway without concrete enclosure throughout its 17-mile length.
CURRENT STATUS
The county’s recent allocation of $3 million, when combined with the Manuel Arango Foundation’s donation of $2 million, allowed for the purchase of this property. Our heartfelt thanks go to the county board of supervisors, especially our representative Jim Desmond and his staff, along with existing owner Wayne Hilbig, the supportive residents of Valley Center and the many other local organizations who helped make this happen. Congratulations!
Undated aerial view of Butterfield Trails Ranch, with the property boundaries noted by a thin white line. Access to the ranch is from Valley Center Road at Sunday Drive (far left center of photo). Native Oaks Golf Course is just south of the ranch.
Left: A large pond is the centerpiece of the ranch property and makes an inviting stop for parkgoers and passing wildlife.
Above: Butterfield Trails Ranch is a hidden gem located at 27665 Valley Center Road (at Sunday Drive) in the heart of Valley Center. (Place your cursor on the map to zoom in or out.)