San Dieguito River

The San Dieguito River is a major river in Southern California, USA. Its headwaters rise on the southern slope of the Volcan Mountains in San Diego County and the river flows generally southwest for 23.8 miles (38.3 km), draining 346 square miles (900 km2) before emptying into the Pacific Ocean 20 miles (32 km) north of San Diego.

The river officially begins at the confluence of two streams, Santa Ysabel Creek and Santa Maria Creek, near the town of San Pasqual.Santa Ysabel Creek rises in the northeastern corner of the San Dieguito River watershed and flows west, creating Lake Sutherland.From there the river flows west past the city of Escondido, and under Interstate 15 before being impounded by the Lake Hodges Dam to form Lake Hodges.