Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve
Access to the reserve is by permission only. Arrangements must be made 2 days prior to visiting the reserve.
All individual visitors to the reserve must print out and complete the SMER Vehicle Permit and display it on the vehicle dashboard at all times. To make arrangements to visit, please go to: http://fs.sdsu.edu/santa-margarita-ecological-reserve/
Members of the public can also attend docent-led hikes and education workshops. All hikers and students must RSVP for hikes and workshops. Please message
Our Story
Access to the reserve is by permission only. All individual visitors to the reserve must print out and complete the SMER Vehicle Permit and display it on the vehicle dashboard at all times. Arrangements must be made 2 days prior to visiting the reserve. To make arrangements to visit, please go to: http://fs.sdsu.edu/santa-margarita-ecological-reserve/
Members of the public can also attend docent-led hikes and education workshops. All hikers and students must RSVP for hikes and workshops. Please message the page for more information about hikes and educational programs, RSVPing for events, and getting added to the SMER hiking email list.
The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve (SMER), established in 1962, provides protected sites for research and education of southern California ecosystems. The reserve lies on the Riverside/San Diego county line between Temecula and Fallbrook. The 5000-acre reserve encompasses a 5-mile reach of the Santa Margarita River, the longest protected coastal river in southern California and a variety of agricultural and upland habitats. The reserve maintains classrooms and laboratories, and databases. Access to the reserve is by permission only. Please visit our website for information about making an appointment to visit: http://fs.sdsu.edu/santa-margarita-ecological-reserve/, or sign up for one of our hikes!
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