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Community Corner

Saddle Up—Oak Oasis Worth the Trip to Lakeside

Three hundred acres of beautiful scenery is a 35-minute drive away.

Oak Oasis may be small, but it is mighty in so many ways. A good friend of mine was the ranger out at Oak Oasis Preserve some years ago and told me I just had to ride out there.

Oak Oasis is in Lakeside off of Wildcat Canyon Road – not one of my favorite roads to drive on, let alone towing a horse trailer full of precious cargo. However, I am so glad I went!

It took about 35 minutes to drive from Ramona towing my horse trailer. At almost 400 acres, Oak Oasis offers some of the most beautiful views from the trails. San Vicente Reservoir lies some miles to the southeast and is visible from the top of the hill.

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It’s always amazing. The meadows within the preserve in the spring are filled with the soft hum of bees buzzing through the pastel-colored fields and it’s like riding in a most peaceful dream. If I were a little girl, I’d be searching for unicorns hiding in the trees.

The staging area is kind of a pull-through design, on the smaller side, and easy to navigate. Restrooms have been added and water is available to wash your horse down or give her a much-needed drink after a ride.

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There is a right-turn lane into the preserve from Wildcat Canyon Road and a left merge lane when you exit, so it’s safer than many of the other parks and preserves. If you come from the Lakeside end of Wildcat Canyon Road, the dedicated left-turn lane is a blessing.

The preserve is hilly but not mountainous. Sections of the trail are challenging in the incline/decline and the boulder outcroppings that may bang your knee if you’re not paying attention. If your horse is out of shape, you’ll need to allow her time to catch her breath just a few times.

Water crossings are possible, but unlikely. You may encounter a mud puddle from an almost-dried-up creek finger, not actual water. Cricket loves water, but is not a fan of the black mud that can suck the shoes off a shod horse. She always tries to avoid or hop over that sort of mucky-mess.

There is a lot of history in this area and it’s been an equestrian haven for a very long time. Marty Minshall had a girl’s camp there years ago and would ride from the preserve out to Cuyamaca with the girls. Wish I would have had the chance to experience that!

There are many trails dedicated to her and named after her in this area. Camping may be available from time to time at Oak Oasis, but you’ll have to call ahead to make arrangements—619-561-0580. There are two and a half miles of loop trail, which may not sound like much of a ride to some, but it is well worth the visit.

Another interesting thing about Oak Oasis is the tunnel that runs under the road leading to El Capitain Open Space Preserve. If your horse has never been in a tunnel or under a roadway, this can be quite an experience for her.

It’s dark and enclosed – most horses are claustrophobic – and the noise from the traffic above echoes all around. Some horses are unaffected, others can’t handle it and won’t go through it, while others hesitate then race through as fast as they can, so be prepared, you know your horse best.

There is a trail much like this up in Cuyamaca that goes under state Route 79 at Sweetwater crossing, but it’s more a bridge than a tunnel and there is usually water in it, which is a great distraction for most horses. The tunnel at Oak Oasis is safe to go through, and it’s not a must, so don’t let that keep you from going.

I haven’t ridden on the El Capitain side of the area because I wasn’t thrilled about the steep concrete hill on the other side leading into the preserve. I thought my friend’s shod horses could actually slip on the concrete, so we turned back and rode back into the Oak Oasis Preserve.

IF YOU GO: Oak Oasis is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., 12620 Wildcat Canyon Rd., Lakeside, 92040. ThomBros: 1212-D2

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