The Volcan Mountain Foundation (VMF) owns and manages nearly 400 acres on Volcan Mountain, adjacent to preserves managed by San Diego County Parks & Rec, and the San Dieguito River Park (Coast to Crest Trail). VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center, near the headwaters of Santa Ysabel Creek, is the focal point of VMF's Education-Outreach and Resource Management activities. When visiting the nature center, the focus is on getting outside and discovering and exploring the unique natural resources that the Volcan Mountain range provides to the region of San Diego County and its residents and visitors.

Facilities include the Sky Island Trail and Viewpoint, the Watershed Trail, and the Outdoor Classroom in the lower grove. In 2013-2014 a Native Plant Nursery was developed with generous funding from a San Diego Gas & Electric Environmental Champions grant. The main building at the Nature Center serves as an orientation point, indoor classroom and interpretive facility for local natural and cultural history. Significant infrastructure upgrades for the building were made possible by generous funding through an Environment Grant from The San Diego Foundation.

Planning a Visit to VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center

Volcan Mountain Foundation staff and volunteers play an important role as ambassadors to discovering Volcan Mountain. Check out VMF's Events Calendar for regularly scheduled discovery hikes, informative presentations and volunteer trainings at the Nature Center and County preserves on and around Volcan Mountain. Teachers, youth leaders, and groups of all ages interested in discovering Volcan Mountain are encouraged to check out VMF's Outdoor Education page and contact VMF Administrative Assistant to schedule a customized visit (760-765-2300 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). At this time there is no general public access to VMF owned and managed property.