Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Forest Overview

In October of 2003, the Cedar Fire raged across 270,686 acres in Southern California including almost the entire Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. This was the largest recorded fire in California as measured by fire perimeter maps which have been used to document the extent of burned areas since the early 1900’s. Conifer mortality of more than 95% in the park was extremely high due to the fire severity and extremely high temperatures—fires that burned so hot that cone seed sources were lost.

Conifer mortality of more than 95% in the park was extremely high due to the fire severity and extremely high temperatures.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Needs Our Help

With the help of corporate partners, members and donors, the Arbor Day Foundation and our forestry partners can restore forest habitat in the park and provide important protected areas for a wide variety of native mammal and bird species which are experiencing strong and continuous pressure from development. The newly planted habitat is critical to forest dwelling species such as the red-breasted sapsucker, red-breasted nuthatch, and golden-crowned kinglet.