Walking through time by the Santa Margarita River

The Santa Margarita River Trail is currently a popular place for hikers, bird watchers, horseback riders and dog walkers to experience nature. The narrow dirt and stone trail winds its way along the river, around plants and bushes, shaded by trees and rocky hills.

The people who use the trail may not know it, but many of the same features that draw them here today made it a good spot for travelers at least as far back as1000 to 1500 years ago. According to archaeological studies, it was a popular place for the Luiseno Indians to stop for a few days on their trips from inland areas (including t...