About Backcountry Horsemen of California

Backcountry Horsemen of California (BCHC) is a non-profit organization made up of individuals from throughout the state who are dedicated to conserving backcountry wilderness and protecting stock users' historic use of wilderness trails and forage. BCHC is made up of many Local Units throughout the state and is a member of the Backcountry Horsemen of America (BCHA). BCHA provides a central organization which works with public land administrators on issues pertinent to public use of the backcountry and specifically to stock use in these areas.

Our Mission

Caballeros del Sol is one of several BCHC units in the San Diego area. Our focus is promoting and protecting a system of multi-use, non-motorized trails in San Diego County, both in the rural, backcountry regions, and in urban communities.

Many counties throughout the country have coherent, forward-looking trail plans that guide the acquisition of land and development of trails. While San Diego County is doing a great job of acquiring and preserving open space, the County has no official trail system or plan.

It is important that we communicate the importance of such a plan to local government leaders, and support them with information and resources. Once existing, informal trails are severed by development, they are gone forever. Caballeros del Sol is a group of people dedicated to preserving trails, and promoting their adoption into a County-wide system.

We are primarily horsepeople who ride and pack in the San Diego area. We work together with organizations of hikers, mountain bikers, and others concerned with trail planning and responsible trail use. When a trail is closed, we all lose out. All trail users need to work together if we are to succeed in our goals.