Julians Old Banner Road, now a hiking trail, starts in a suburban-like setting

among Coulter pines and black oaks and descends through lush chaparral,
providing a chance to explore a fascinating bit of San Diegos history on this old
wagon road.
Horace Wilcox built the first road connecting Julian with Banner in 1871 and
operated it as a toll road for several years for both livestock and vehicles. San
Diego County purchased the road in 1874 and eliminated the toll. For the next 51
years the Wilcox Road was the way to get from Julian to Banner, only to be
replaced with the present Banner Grade Road in 1925. Today the Wilcox Road is a
well-maintained hiking trail as far as the Warlock Mine site, a distance of about
1.5 miles. This portion of the historic road has been closed to motorized vehicles
since 1980 but is open to hikers, mountain-bikers, and equestrians. Although it
continues on to Banner as a gravel road after the Warlock Mine site, it is signed
No Trespassing beyond the end of the hiking trail.
Start hiking down the signed Private Road extending east from the
cul-de-sac. You have permission to travel on this and other private
roads in this area, but there is no place to park further on. The
pavement ends in 0.17 mile, as you reach a dry creek bed. Three roads
branch off near this point, all with signs reading Private Road.
However, the road on the left with the yellow sign is the road to take.
Immediately below the yellow sign is a crude, easy-to-miss sign reading
only Trail and pointing to the left. The road loops around to someones

house while the trail continues down the canyon. The hike from here is on an
excellent trail that takes you through a verdant canyon surrounded by Coulter
pines, black oaks, and tall manzanitas. In about a quarter of a mile Banner Canyon
begins. There is a faded sign on the left that provides a brief history of the Wilcox
Road. As you proceed down the trail, look for the Elsinore Fault trace on the westfacing slope of Banner Canyon across from you. The more distant, dramatic views
also include Granite Mountain, Earthquake Valley, and other features of the AnzaBorrego Desert area, as well as SR-78 far below, snaking its way down the canyon.
The town of Julian got its start as a result of the discovery of gold by a former
slave, Fred Coleman, in 1869. The Warlock Mine site is just one of several former
mines in the vicinity of the Wilcox Road, but it is the only one that can be easily
reached by the trail. The mine was first worked in 1870. Mining operations were
suspended in 1957. Not much remains except rusting mining machinery. The mine
itself recently collapsed. The trail to the mine site adds another half-mile to the
hike. Turn around here at the mine. The old road continuing down toward Banner
is private property.
Distance from downtown San Diego: 63 miles. Allow 1 hour and 20 minutes
(Julian). From CA-163 N take I-8 east to CA-79 N. Turn east on SR-78/Banner Rd.
to turn right on Whispering Pines Road. Turn right on Gold Dust Lane, then turn
left onto Woodland Road and park in the cul-de-sac at the end of the public road.
There are no facilities or drinking water.