We are pleased to announce that a new one-acre gravel-surfaced parking lot, located off State Route 94 at Millar Ranch Road in Rancho San Diego, is now open for public use. This new parking area, which was one of the visitor services proposals in the Comprehensive Conservation Plan, is located just east of the Steele Canyon bridge. The parking lot accommodates about 40 vehicles, including five pull-through spaces for equestrian trailers and school buses, and two handicapped accessible spaces. Improvements also include trail access to the Refuge’s Interpretive Loop Trail, which connects to the County’s Sweetwater River Regional Trail. The parking lot will not only benefit trail users, it will provide convenient parking for volunteers who support the Refuge’s interpretive, environmental education, and habitat restoration programs. In addition, accommodations for bus parking and loading/unloading will support a variety of school programs that focus on environmental education. Parking lot hours are 6:30 am to 7:00 pm spring through fall, and 6:30 am to 5:00 pm in the winter.

Funding for the parking lot and associated improvements, including widening State Route 94 to add a westbound left turn lane onto Millar Ranch Road and acceleration/deceleration lanes on State Route 94, was provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Land Access Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge Transportation Program, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

An information kiosk that includes a trail map and information about the species and habitat present in the area is also provided. Leashed dogs are welcome, and all visitors are expected to follow Leave No Trace guidance - leave only your foot/tire/hoof tracks on approved trails and take home only photos and memories.

For more information, contact Dwane Binns at Dwane_Binns@fws.gov or (619) 385-1190.