Lake Sutherland (#60)

June 26, 2011 - This was to be a cool hike around Lake Sutherland, a beautiful location in Ramona to which we had never been before. It seemed to be quite a few miles down Sutherland Dam Road off of Highway 78 before the lake came into sight. Eventually the dam appeared off in the distance. The dam has an interesting history. It's construction started back in 1929 but was halted for political and financial reasons. It was eventually completed in 1953 at which time the lake was opened to public fishing. Bad news! The entrance was gated and locked. Wilson, being the ever-so-willing-to-point-out-my-mistakes kind of side-kick that he is, suggested that had I actually read any one of my varied trail guides I would have known that, today being Tuesday, this place would be closed! That's okay, we kept driving to see what else we would see. We were able to get an up close view of this unique dam. According to Lonnie an Barbara, in their book Walking San Diego, this  structure, built at a 45 degree angle, is said to be the most earthquake proof dams around. We drove far enough to see the backside of the dam. Pretty cool! Okay, I admit it! This posting would be much better suited for a blog titled "Driving" Here and There! But we'll be back to hike here in the future... ...and at least we ventured on far enough to discover this historical site! To be revisited at some future point in time when we won't get arrested for trespassing! MAP

Lake Sutherland The dam at a distance. The entrance. Gate closed and locked! Open Thur-Sun. Rear view of Sutherland Dam. Historical Site: Black Canyon Road Bridge - 1913.