Nature Walk & “Durable Dozen” Native Plant Scavenger Hunt

Join a unique nature walk in Tecolote Open Space Park organized as a Scavenger Hunt. This walk will include Trail Guides/Naturalists who will start by introducing you to how to identify 12 native plants that frequently grow in San Diego coastal open space.

Once you have learned about this San Diego “Durable Dozen”, then you will be invited to walk the remainder of this short trail to seek and find each of these 12 plants yourself - or- optionally be partnered with a fellow Meetup hiker to check plants off the provided list together - your choice.

The group will then reconvene at the bleachers in Mount Etna park to discuss the results of the Scavenger Hunt and do a Q & A. Small prizes will be distributed.

WALK DETAILS
Meetup location: Mount Etna Park parking lot at the bathroom hut next to the drinking fountain at the top of the baseball fields. https://maps.app.goo.gl/cvvsAmL1cXPEP1Vr8
Length: 1.4 miles roundtrip
Duration: 2 hours depending on number of participants and Q&A

What to Bring: Water, sun protection, wear good footwear and optionally long pants and long sleeves if you want to better protect yourself from sun or plant/insect encounters.

Disability notes: The top of the trailhead has a steep but short and fairly smooth descent. The rest of the trail to Balboa Ave and back is mostly flat and comfortably wide with recently-built, high-quality, flat bridges over all stream crossings.

Tecolote Canyon Natural Park Trail Map (pdf):

https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/park-and-recreation/pdf/tecolotetrailmap.pdf)

Cautions: Open space areas are home to rattlesnakes, poison oak, stinging insects, rugged terrain and other hazards. Please be aware as you walk and have a safe and enjoyable visit to the park.