History and accomplishments

The Trails Council (later changed to Fallbrook Trails Council) was formed early in 1999 to address the issue of needed trails for walking and horseback riding in Fallbrook.  In this short period of time our dedicated members have achieved many notable accomplishments.  

The founding members are: Al and Donna Gebhart, Joe and Jane Comella, Dave and Carolyn Major, Sherri Lenfers,  Ted and Janet Wortman, Bert and Barbara Hayden, Lisa Ale, and Lee and Linda Traut.

The Fallbrook Trails Council has:

• Raised  all the funds, coordinated and implemented all projects in the Santa Margarita River Trail system, created the Docent Program with SDSU, including the large binders early 2000’s. so our members could become docents and lead hikes and rides docent led through the SDSU property

• Provided a high quality trail guide illustrated by our talented local artists, showing local flora, fauna and trails

• Maintained the Santa Margarita Trail System formally since 1999, and before that Equestrians maintained the trails, and the founders were and are members of the Trails Council today

• We partnered with the County to develop the Santa Margarita Open Space Preserve and opened that area in 2007.  That was a 7 year project, thousands of dollars we raised, and hundreds of volunteer hours to complete that project.

• Installed infrared cameras at the staging area for public safety

• In 2018 the Fallbrook Public Utility District sold the property to the Wildlands Conservancy, and through a partnership with them was deeded 18 miles of trail easements on the 1400 acre property on condition the Fallbrook Trails Council maintains the trail system. The 1400 acre preserve is open to the public free of charge.

• We have worked with the Fallbrook Planning Group to create a map of paths and trails which have been included in the Fallbrook Community Trails and Pathways Plan and the San Diego County Trails Master Plan.  This will preserve and promote multi-use, low-impact trails and paths as resources for community health, personal fitness, and natural beauty.

Members of the Fallbrook Trails Council have sat on the Fallbrook Community Planning Group, Circulation Committee,  Design Review, Parks and Recreation, and Land Use to try to get pathways implemented wherever possible on projects that come before the Planning Group.

In 2015 we partnered with The Live Oak Park Coalition which in the past helped manage and maintain the oak-laced park for the enjoyment and use of community members. Live Oak Park Coalition is a Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Beginning in 2019 the Trails Council became their own 501 (c)(3).

Bert Hayden and the Thursday group spent months GPS’ing all the valley trails for emergency responders, and flash drives were delivered to Cal Fire, North County Fire, Sheriff’s Department,  Fallbrook Public Utility District, and the North County Fire now have incorporated the GIS into their database, First Responders’ map, as well as a map for the public.

We contract with Cal Fire to help us maintain the trail system as well as to clear fire breaks for the community.

The Fallbrook Trails Council continues to work with local developers, neighboring trails committees and Fallbrook property owners, all of whom are interested in learning more about adding new trails and connecting Fallbrook trails to the larger network of San Diego and California trails.