It took nearly 20 years, a whole lot of patience, and even more perseverance, but the Serra Mesa community finally got its wish. A long-awaited trail connecting Serra Mesa to Mission Valley finally opened in April. (And yes, this means you have a shortcut to Costco).
The new portion of the trail is approximately half a mile long, which may not seem like much, but when you see the old trail, which is rocky and impossible for some to traverse, this short stretch makes a big difference. Several footbridges were built into the trails, and at-risk wetlands were restored. Hikers can now safely venture through the canyon, enjoying its many native plants, such as coastal sage, San Diego County sunflower, and lemonade berry.
The Ruffin Canyon trail connector was spearheaded by Serra Mesa resident and Friends of Ruffin Canyon (FRC) leader Kevin Johnston. Fellow FRC leaders and residents, Monica Fuentes and Cindy McIntyre, have been right alongside Kevin to push this initiative forward.
Kevin is passionate about San Diego canyons. Prior to his involvement with FRC, he belonged to Friends of Normal Heights Canyons and served on the board of the nonprofit San Diego Canyonlands for 14 years.
“The trail connection was important to me for a few reasons,” said Kevin. One of those is that he thinks “the trail will be a catalyst for showing off the beauty of Ruffin Canyon and its high-quality wildlife habitats.”
Besides the physical connection, Kevin thinks the trail can also metaphorically connect two communities. “It’s a great way to connect the Serra Mesa and Mission Valley communities. Say hi to neighbors, visit businesses while leaving the car at home,” he said.
A Long and Windy Road to Completion
So why did it take so long to make this happen? Like many city projects mired in red tape and bureaucracy, this was simply another cog in the wheel of projects delayed by environmental analysis requirements, permitting requirements, budget constraints, and even weather delays.
Kevin found notes on this project dating back to 2007. A 2008 City of San Diego document about the Ruffin Canyon Pedestrian Tunnel mentions plans for a continuous trail connection. The tunnel opened in 2009, but the trail extension languished for another seventeen years.
FRC began collaborating with the San Diego River Conservancy (SDRC) in 2008 to determine potential routes for the trail connection. In 2010, the SDRC published that information in a feasibility report. A California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental draft analysis followed in 2013.
After that, the project stalled a bit until the Serra Mesa Planning Group got involved. It approved the use of Developer Impact Fees toward permitting costs, and in 2015, the initiative landed on the City of San Diego’s lap.
After initial resistance, the Escala residential community Homeowners Association eventually helped FRC build even more community support. In 2017, the trail connection plan finally entered the environmental permitting phase with the city, a process that took several more years.
Ultimately, Kevin says making this initiative come to fruition was a team effort. In addition to the organizations already listed, support from Councilmember Raul Campillo and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association helped this project cross the finish line.
How to Access the Ruffin Canyon Trail
There are several access points to Ruffin Canyon, depending on whether you are coming from Serra Mesa or Mission Valley.
Serra Mesa Trail Access
If you want to access Ruffin Canyon from Serra Mesa, you have two options:
- Via the south end of Ruffin Road by Taft Middle School: this is the most popular route, with varied terrain and habitats
- Via the western end of Shawn Avenue: this is the easier route
Mission Valley Trail Access
For access to the trail from Mission Valley, enter the tunnel on Friars Road, across from Costco at Fenton Marketplace, and at the base of the Escala residential community. There currently isn’t any signage once you exit the tunnel, but walk uphill toward the clubhouse toward the trail (and ask passersby for guidance if you can’t find it from there). AllTrails also provides a great visual for the trail location.
Kevin thinks the trail expansion will create opportunities for locals to learn about nature.
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“The trail connection should be great for nature-based recreation and education, as there are so many different types of native plants along the new route and opportunities for viewing and listening to wildlife,” he said.
For anyone interested in joining Friends of Ruffin Canyon or to be notified of volunteer opportunities, please contact Cindy McIntyre at clmcityre28@gmail.com or visit the website.
