Our Story
Welcome to Julian - your gateway to San Diego’s backcountry. The San Diego Backcountry is one of Southern California’s best kept secrets. Very few places are comparable to this region in terms of its pristine nature, bio-diversity, history, & heritage. As a proud community & leading tourism destination, we’re dedicated to ensuring a safe & memorable experience during your stay in the backcountry.
The San Diego Backcountry Visitors Bureau (SDBVB) is your official guide & resource to all the wonders this region has to offer. Our organization was founded in 2017 as a direct result of serious challenges with tourism development in the backcountry.
Our mission is to raise awareness towards the importance of this region’s bio-diversity & heritage & how it directly correlates with our tourism economy. We’re dedicated to improving tourism standards & encouraging sustainable tourism models.
We believe that our true tourism appeal is the rural, quaint & natural environment that this region has to offer.
As the stewards of this pristine region, our community is very passionate about ensuring its conservation for generations to come. We’re dedicated to sustainable tourism development, environmental conservation & preserving our community character.
This region represents one of the last places left in Southern California, where you can enjoy pristine nature, wildlife, & the solitude of mountain forests. We intend to keep it that way & count on your support.
The Rancho Cuyamaca State Park & Cleveland National Forest feature a labyrinth of trails just waiting to be explored. Streams & waterfalls abound in dense oak & pine tree forests. Wildlife such as deer, turkey & hawks frequent the area regularly. Take a tour at the Cuyamaca State Park Interpretive Center & learn a little more about the region’s rich history & heritage.
Your trip wouldn’t be complete without a boat trip out to Fletcher Island from Lake Cuyamca. The lake-view restaurant offers a variety of delicious plates & libations. You can camp on site at the lake or you can choose from many traditional camping/RV sites in the area. Maybe you’d like to stay in one of our glamping sites? There are also numerous hotels, lodges, and B&B accommodations to suit your needs.
Just past Lake Cuyamaca is Sunrise Highway that leads to Mount Laguna. This area offers spectacular views to the east all the way out the Anza-Borrego desert & the Salton Sea. At an elevation of almost 6,000ft, Mount Laguna can experience significant snow fall in the winter.
The historic town of Julian offers a multitude of tours, attractions, restaurants & shopping. Enjoy a carriage ride down Main Street & don’t forget to try our world-famous Julian pie. Our local brewery Nickel Beer has some of the best craft beer in San Diego.Menghini Winery & Volcan Mountain Winery are one of our most popular attractions, along with our local orchards & u-pick farms. While you’re in the area stop by the Volcan Mountain Preserve & learn about their amazing efforts towards conservation.
The Julian Station & Wynola are an attraction in themselves. Jeremey’s on the Hill offers farm-to-table cuisine, or you can visit Wynola Pizza & Bistro for some delicious pizza & drinks. Head on over to the Julian Station afterwards for libations ranging from wine, craft beer, cider, mead & komboucha. Julian Hard Cider & Julian Ciderworks are a must! Manita’s Mexican food is another local favorite.
Further on down is Santa Ysabel, Warner Springs, Lake Henshaw & the La Jolla Indian Reservation all waiting to be explored. There is no shortage of unique attractions & activities to choose from while visiting the San Diego Backcountry. Enjoy all the beauty & wonders this region has to offer. Please act safely and responsibly while visiting the backcountry.
Discover Julian in San Diego East County! A historic gold mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Welcome to Julian - your gateway to San Diego’s backcountry.
