Mission Statement:
The Valley Center Trails Association is dedicated to connecting the community by advocating for the development of multi-use trails and footpaths and promoting their use.
Goals:
• Establish a series of safe non-motorized pathways and multi-use trails throughout Valley Center.
• Preserve open spaces for future generations to enjoy.
• Link trails and pathways to adjacent communities.
• Encourage private developers to include public trails / pathways within their developments linked to proposed and existing pathways and trails. These trails / pathways must allow access for everyone.
• Improve our environment and reduce air pollution by reducing motorized travel within Valley Center.
You can be part of the effort to create more parks, open space, and trails in Valley Center. The work of dedicated volunteers has resulted in the Heritage Trail, along Valley Center Road, major land acquisitions adjacent to Hellhole Canyon Preserve, the preservation of the Stone House in Keys Creek, public access to Rancho Lilac Preserve and resent Butterfield Trails Ranch approval by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to budget funds for the purchase of Butterfield Trail Ranch.
Valley Center Trails Association is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the creation of non-motorized trails and pathways in Valley Center.
Membership in the Valley Center Trails Association is open to all individuals/households and businesses in the community. A modest membership fee is charged. Please support our efforts with your Membership or Donation. Thank you!
Important we need you to help to keep Butterfield Trails County Park Natural!
How we keep Butterfield Trails County Park Natural!
San Diego County Dept of Parks & Rec is conducting a survey looking for your input. How you answer the survey questions will have an effect on the final designs of both Parks and where the IGC is built.
There are 3 main goals on this survey:
Placing the Intergenerational Center (IGC) of one of these two parks.
What does the community want to have at Butterfield Trails Park when developed?
What does the community want to have at Star Valley Park when developed?
We encourage you to make your voice heard. We also invite your consideration of our position on the IGC, location of the IGC is key.
The priority should be to site it in the best possible location with the future of Valley Center ten and twenty years from now in mind. We are not in favor of it being placed at either of our parks because it would be a huge footprint and isolated at either park location. Rather we would like to see it sited among other compatible facilities.
If you share this vision, please take the survey link below & let the County know by sending two emails and taking the County survey:
Email Supervisor Jim Desmond: Jim.Desmond@sdcounty.ca.gov
Email Planner Luke Taylor: Lucas.Taylor@sdcounty.ca.gov
Let’s make it easy below are the questions on the survey & our answers.
Change as you like!
All Survey Responses are Anonymous
1. What does “Intergenerational Center” mean to you? * required*
Our community has other needs that must be addressed. We have outgrown the Community Hall & Park. We support other locations in Valley Center that would be a better fit for the IGC, than either of these parks.
2. What kinds of activities would you participate in? * required (For example: local classes, activities and games, recreation/sports)
Butterfield Trails County Park: Hikes, Walks, Picnics, Dog walks, Tree planting, painting, enjoying nature, passive activities, keeping it natural, community garden, quiet activities so as not to disturb nature.
Star Valley Park: Going to the Rodeo, and Horse shows, Riding horses, 4-H & FFA activities. Other events: Dog shows, concerts, and movie nights, other community driven events. A place for Valley Center Vaqueros, and the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo to hold events.
3. Are there any groups in Valley Center that the County should coordinate with?
Valley Center Trails Association, Friends of Hellhole Canyon, Valley Center Vaqueros, Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Day Festival, Valley Center History Museum, Valley Center Art Association, Valley Center Community Planning Group, and County Service Area 138, Little League, VC Squirrels, Valley Dark-Sky Advocates.
4. What do you like about Butterfield Trails Ranch?* required*
Butterfield is a unique park in the heart of our developing town. Keep it Green, Dark, and Natural for generations to enjoy. Some possibilities: Picnic Tables, Playground, Walking, Biking, Riding, Paths, Indigenous Interpretive Display, Multi-Station Workout Path, Public Labyrinth, Community Garden.
5. What do you like about Star Valley Park? * required*
Event Center that supports our Western Heritage, and Country Lifestyle. Large open space that is flat, where all types of community events can be held, bleacher seating, a concession stand for our community groups to use. Space for Valley Center Stampede Rodeo, our Valley Center Vaqueros, 4-H, FFA; also with other community events, concerts, movies, etc. Multi-use fields, parking for vehicles and trucks with trailers for our Equestrian & Livestock needs.
6. What kinds of amenities does Valley Center need in its parks?* required*
At Star: We need an Event Center at Star Valley that will support our Western Heritage, and Country Lifestyle. The park is home to Valley Center Stampede Rodeo and Valley Center Vaqueros. This will require a large arena and bleacher area that will support growth into the future as it needs to be very versatile so it can be used by many different user groups.
At Butterfield: the community support was for a natural park to support the wildlife corridor that exists there and preserve the Indigenous history that existed in this park. This park was purchased with a $2,000,000 donation from the Manuel Arango Foundation. This foundation promotes conservation and environmental education. We do not want sports fields or an IGC on this land.
7. How do you like to provide input on future park design?* required* (For example: questionnaires, in person workshops, online surveys)
All of these please! We feel in person communication is needed. This community needs to be part of the planning process, not just by survey. No IGC on Butterfield Trails County Park or Star Valley Park.
Join us for a Hike!
December 12, 2025, 8AM
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve
Lake Poway
WHAT: Please join Valley Center Trails Association for a hike at Blue Sky Ecological Preserve. It is an easy, shaded hike up to 6 miles going to and around Lake Poway
WHO: All ages are welcome. RSVP not required, but if you have any questions or wish to receive email notifications in the event of cancellation due to weather, contact Laury at laury@flora-family.com.
WHERE: Meet at the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve parking lot located at 16275 Espola Rd, Poway, CA 92064.
PREPARE: Dress in layers (it may start chilly and warm up) and bring a snack and plenty of water. Please meet at 8AM, and the walk will start at approximately 8:15AM.
Festive Lights “Hike”
Thursday, December 18, 2025
5:00PM
WHAT: Please join Valley Center Trails Association for an easy evening hike/walk/stroll that will include some fun holiday light viewing! Total walk will be 1.5-2 miles, with options to shorten or lengthen as we go.
WHO: All ages are welcome. RSVP not required, but if you have any questions or wish to receive email notifications in the event of cancellation due to weather, contact Hannah at infovcta@gmail.com.
WHERE: Meet at McDonald’s parking lot at 27650 Valley Center Rd.
PREPARE: Dress in layers (it will be dark, and temps could be chilly), reflective or light-up gear if you have it, and bring a snack or hot drink for a festive walk. Please meet at 5:00PM, and the walk will start at approximately 5:15PM.