San Diego River Conservancy awards $990K for Mission Trails stair rebuild
The San Diego River Conservancy approved $990,102 for the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation to replace worn wooden steps on the South Fortuna Trail with natural stone. The project is meant to improve drainage, curb erosion, and protect habitat along a route used by more than 60,000 hikers each year. It will reconstruct about 630 linear feet of steps on the existing trail alignment without creating a new path or changing the route.
The San Diego River Conservancy's board directed $990,102 to the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation for the South Fortuna staircase, often called the "Stairway to Heaven." The route draws over 60,000 hikers yearly. Years of use, storms, and erosion have left wooden steps unstable, displaced, or gone, prompting hikers to widen the corridor by roughly 10 to 15 feet on each side and harm native plants.
The rebuild will install natural stone across about 630 linear feet on the current alignment, with 282 feet of elevation gain, without adding or moving the trail. It also covers drainage work, signs, and restoration. Helicopter deliveries and construction are planned outside bird nesting season, with wildlife protections. The city Parks and Recreation Department will review designs, while the foundation manages the grant and provides $15,000.
Count: First para: The(1) San2 Diego3 River4 Conservancy's5 board6 directed7 $990,1028 to9 the10 Mission11 Trails12 Regional13 Park14 Foundation15 for16 the17 South18 Fortuna19 staircase,20 often21 called22 the23 "Stairway24 to25 Heaven."26 The27 route28 draws29 over30 60,00031 hikers32 yearly.33 Years34 of35 use,36 storms,37 and38 erosion39 have40 left41 wooden42 steps43 unstable,44 displaced,45 or46 gone,47 prompting48 hikers49 to50 widen51 the52 corridor53 by54 roughly55 10 56 to57 15 58 feet59 on60 each61 side62 and63 harm64 native65 plants.66
Second: The67 rebuild68 will69 install70 natural71 stone72 across73 about74 63075 linear7
The rebuilt staircase may make a popular San Diego trail safer and easier to maintain, potentially benefiting the tens of thousands of annual hikers, nearby residents, and park staff. By reducing off-trail widening and erosion, the project could help protect native habitat and water quality in the river watershed. It may also set an example for how public-private partnerships fund repairs in city-owned parks, though the long-term effects will depend on construction quality, weather, and continued use. Count: The1 rebuilt2 staircase3 may4 make5 a6 popular7 San8 Diego9 trail10 safer11 and12 easier13 to14 maintain,15 potentially16 benefiting17 the18 tens19 of20 thousands21 of22 annual23 hikers,24 nearby25 residents,26 and27 park28 staff.29 By30 reducing31 off-trail32 widening33 and34 erosion,35 the36 project37 could38 help39 protect40 native41 habitat42 and43 water44 quality45 in46 the47 river48 watershed.49 It50 may51 also52 set53 an54 example55 for56 how57 public-private58 partnerships