Rancho Peñasquitos

In 1823, San Diego County's first Mexican land grant was awarded to the Commandante of the San Diego Presidio Captain Francisco Maria Ruiz. Ruiz built a small adobe house on the land known as Rancho de Los Peñasquitos. A few years later, Rancho de Los Peñasquitos was the first place of respite for General Stephan Watts Kearny and his Army of the West after the Battle of San Pasqual. Over the decades, the land transferred ownership several times until Peñasquitos, Inc. purchased it in 1962 with plans to develop the canyon adjacent to the original adobe house.

The County of San Diego ultimately acquired the adobe house and surrounding land to preserve Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. The adobe house is the oldest known residence in San Diego. The community of Peñasquito, however, was developed to the north of the Canyon Preserve and continues to flourish in the rolling landscape of the area. The Rancho Peñasquitos community now encompasses approximately 6,500 acres including Black Mountain Regional Park. The community has a diverse topography that is characterized by numerous canyons, hillsides and ridges. The most prominent feature of the community is Black Mountain which rises to an elevation of 1,500 feet.

Community Representative

Marc Schaefer
(619) 236-6655
[email protected]

Police & Fire

San Diego Police Department: Northeastern Division
13396 Salmon River Road San Diego, CA 92129
(858) 538-8000

Fire Station 40
13393 Salmon River Road San Diego, CA 92129

Parks & Recreation

Adobe Bluffs Neighborhood Park	8805 Gainsborough Ave. San Diego 92129	858-538-8105
Black Mountain Regional Open Space Park	14700 Carmel Valley Rd San Diego 92128	858-538-8105
Canyon Hills Open Space	9900 Mercy Road San Diego 92129	858-538-8066
Hilltop Community Park and Recreation Center	9711 Oviedo Way San Diego 92129	858-538-8197
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Reserve	12115 Black Mountain Road San Diego 92129	619-685-1311
Peñasquitos Linear Park	13339 Salmon River Rd San Diego 92129	858-538-8105
Rancho Peñasquitos Leash-Free Dog Park	Salmon River Road at Fairground Land San Diego 92129	858-538-8105
Rancho Peñasquitos Skate Park	10029 Carmel Mountain Road San Diego 92129	858-538-8105
Ridgewood Neighborhood Park	12604 La Tortola San Diego 92129	858-538-8105
Rolling Hills Neighborhood Park	11082 Carlota San Diego 92129	858-538-8105
Sunridge Vista Mini Park	10305 Azuaga San Diego 92129	619-685-1321
Twin Trails Neighborhood Park	8900 Twin Trails Dr. San Diego, 92129	858-538-8105
Views West Neighborhood Park	12958 La Tortola San Diego 92129	858-538-8105

Library

Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library
1330 Salmon River Road
San Diego, CA 92129
(858) 538-8159

Schools

Deer Canyon Elementary
Los Peñasquitos Elementary
Rolling Hills Elementary
Sundance Elementary
Sunset Hills Elementary
Black Mountain Middle
Mesa Verde Middle
Mt. Carmel High

Community Groups

Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board
Meets first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
El Dorado Room at the DoubleTree Golf Resort 14455 Peñasquitos Dr. San Diego 92129

Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council
Meets first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
DoubleTree Golf Resort 14455 Peñasquitos Dr. San Diego 92129

Rancho Peñasquitos Recreation Council
Meets fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Canyonside Recreation Center 12350 Black Mountain Rd. San Diego 92129