Skip to content
Byway
Nature reserve · California

Carmel Mountain Preserve

Carmel Mountain Preserve from directly overhead

Carmel Mountain Preserve is a nature reserve in California, at a modelled elevation of 102 m. Woodson Mountain stands 878 m to the east-northeast, 16 miles off. The nearest named place is Ocean Air Park, a park 0.3 miles away.

Preserve set aside to protect several endangered species. Obey posted signs and stay on designated trails.

Visiting

What to expect

Operated by
City of San Diego
Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates32.92743, -117.22221
Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Parks
  • Ocean Air Park: 0.3 mi
  • Torrey Hills Pocket Park: 0.5 mi
  • Carmel Country Highlands Community Park: 0.7 mi
  • Manorgate Pocket Park: 0.9 mi
  • Carmel View Park: 1.0 mi
Peaks
  • Carmel Mountain: 0.3 mi
  • Red Butte: 2.0 mi
  • Del Mar Mesa: 2.5 mi
  • Soledad Mountain: 6.3 mi
  • Kearny Mesa: 6.4 mi
Attractions
Artworks
Gardens
  • East Ocean Air Greenbelt: 1.0 mi
  • Qualcomm AZ Roof Garden: 2.4 mi
  • Japanese Garden: 2.4 mi
  • UCHS Garden: 4.6 mi
  • Cara Knott Memorial Garden: 6.8 mi
Historic sites
Museums
Beaches: 29
Nature reserves: 25
Cliffs: 25
  • Del Mar Bluff: 2.9 mi
  • Thumb: 12.1 mi
  • Main Area: 12.2 mi
  • Lunch Rock: 12.2 mi
  • The Underworld: 12.2 mi
Springs: 9
  • Dog Spring: 12.8 mi
  • Rock Haven Spring: 15.5 mi
  • Indian Rock Spring: 15.7 mi
  • Durasnitos Spring: 19.2 mi
  • Bottle Peak Spring: 20.0 mi
Picnic sites: 6
  • Ridgetop Picnic Site: 11.5 mi
  • Tree Lake Picnic Area No. 3: 13.8 mi
  • Ray Love Picnic Area: 13.9 mi
  • El Arroyo Picnic Area: 14.1 mi
  • Royal Picnic Area: 14.8 mi
Waterfalls: 5
  • Los Penasquitos Waterfall: 2.6 mi
  • Lower Adobe Falls: 13.4 mi
  • Adobe Falls: 13.5 mi
  • Africa Rocks Waterfall: 13.7 mi
  • El Salto Falls: 18.0 mi
Ghost towns: 1
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 19.9 miles of Carmel Mountain Preserve. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Woodson MountainENE 69°878 m15.6 mi
North Iron MountainENE 73°824 m15.9 mi
Iron MountainE 79°818 m15.8 mi
Ramona Overlook PeakENE 75°802 m16.3 mi
Middle SummitENE 76°790 m16.0 mi
Mount EllieENE 74°743.712 m15.6 mi
Wildwood MountainENE 77°725.424 m16.6 mi
Peak 2245ENE 76°684 m15.5 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:5318:2819:01
June solstice05:4219:2520:01
September equinox06:3818:1418:47
December solstice06:4916:0916:47

Local time (America/Los_Angeles).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: year-round.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F575859616468727472686256
Precip in2.32.71.60.80.30.10.10.00.10.60.92.0

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — SAN Diego Miramar NAS, 7 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element way/916035649

More nature reserves in California

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Plan a driveMore nature reserves
Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Carmel Mountain Preserve.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens