connecting the community to the canyon
One of four incredible canyons in city heights
Olivia Canyon is a beautiful urban canyon in the City Heights neighborhood, boasting native wildflowers and incredible habitat for wildlife. The Friends of Olivia Canyon have been working to restore Olivia Canyon from years of dumping and neglect for over decade. Now, we host monthly volunteer events and hikes in this urban gem. Olivia Canyon is also one of four canyons in City Heights and all four canyons can be accessed and hiked along our award-winning City Heights Canyons Loop Trail. Download the map here.
2022 Volunteer Event Schedule
Join the Friends of Olivia Canyon every third Saturday of the month from 8am-11am! Sign up on our volunteer calendar here!
Home of Farmer’s Bill Habitat Garden
San Diego Canyonlands received the Opening the Outdoors grant from San Diego Foundation to mentor youth through habitat restoration. Through this grant, we worked with youth from Urban Corps of San Diego to restore land in Olivia Canyon and create a native plant garden. With the support of City Farmers, a local business situated on the canyon edge, Moosa Creek Nursery, Urban Corps of San Diego, and San Diego Foundation, we planted 250 native plants for the community to enjoy.
The inspiration behind the native plant garden came from community hero and local business owner Bill Tall, the founder of City Farmer’s Nursery. He kindly asked San Diego Canyonlands to restore the land just above his nursery and to plant native plants for the community to enjoy. After we removed over 100 pounds of invasive weeds and trash from the site, Mr. Tall helped us to plant and water the new native plants.
San Diego Canyonlands petitioned the City of San Diego to name this garden and the adjacent trail after Bill Tall. The garden is now named Farmer Bill’s Habitat Garden and the trail is named The Tall Trail to honor his legacy. Bill Tall passed away in January of 2021.
