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San Diego Archery Ranges

San Diego Archers maintain two archery ranges in the heart of Balboa Park in the city of San Diego. The fee for using the ranges is $2.00 per archer and can be placed in a collection box located at each range. The fee is based on the honor system, and 100% of the money collected goes towards the maintenance of the ranges. Without these fees, the ranges cannot remain open, so it is important to pay the fees.

Both archery ranges are open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. The San Diego Archers also host 25 archery tournaments each year, which are open to both members and non-members. Of these tournaments, 23 are held at the Rube Powell Archery Range, and two are held at the Morley Field Archery Range. Other organizations may also host tournaments at the ranges, such as the US Police and Fire Championships and the Senior Olympics.

During tournaments, the ranges may be closed to public shooting. Be sure to join our mailing list if you would like to be informed of tournaments, events, and closures. When a tournament is in progress at the Rube Powell Archery Range, the Morley Field Archery Range will be open to the public, and vice versa. Tournaments are typically held on the first and third weekends of each month.

Archery ranges and equipment use: Crossbows?

Our archery ranges are exclusively designed for traditional archery equipment, namely bows and arrows. It is strictly prohibited to use crossbows, javelins, throwing knives, axes, slingshots, or similar items on the ranges. Although crossbows may seem like they belong among archery equipment, they shoot bolts at much higher speeds compared to compound bows. This can lead to longer ranges, flatter trajectories, and potentially dangerous hits on targets. Our targets, intended for public use, are not equipped to withstand high-velocity crossbow use and could either fail or cause injury if used as targets for crossbows. As a result, the use of crossbows is strictly prohibited on our ranges.

According to San Diego Municipal Code section 62.3701, it is illegal to possess, discharge, or sell any crossbow within the city limits of San Diego, unless the person has obtained a permit from the San Diego Police Department. Here is the link to the law: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/municipal-code/01-62.pdf (scroll down to section 62.3701).

Morley Field Archery Range
(Location of SDA & CBH/SAA 900 Rounds)

This is a standard range with 34 lanes divided into two halves. The left field has target butts at 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards. The right field has target butts at 50, 60, 70 yards and 30, 50, 70, 90 meters. This range is great for fine-tuning your sights or practicing for tournaments. The Morley Field Archery Range includes a ramp that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for slope, cross slope, clear width, rise, landings, and wet conditions.

Directions:

Exit I-8 at Texas St. (Texas St. is about 0.8 miles east of the I-8 and 163 interchange.)
Follow Texas St. south, crossing University Ave., continuing until you cross Upas St. into the park towards the Morley Field Municipal Pool.
Make the required u-turn and turn right into the parking lot.
Continue through the parking lot and make the first right turn through the open gates (onto Joe Schloss Way).
This road continues into another parking lot and the archery range is at the end of the lot on your left, across from the ball fields.

GPS
GPS coordinates for Morley Field Archery Range parking lot: 32.737307, -117.13782
GPS coordinates for entrance to Morley Field Archery Range: 32.736739, -117.13779

Balboa Park Rube Powell Archery Range

Balboa Park’s Rube Powell Archery Range is the location for all San Diego Archers (SDA) twice-monthly shoots, except for the 900 Round. This is a walking range situated in the canyon that runs parallel to Highway 163. Fourteen targets are open year-round (Targets #15-28). The remaining targets are only open during tournaments, which are held approximately twice a month on the 1st and 3rd weekends.

The first open target (#15) is located on the north side of the Cabrillo Bridge, approximately a 5-10 minute walk from the entrance to the range. Target distances range from 20 feet to 80 yards. Additionally, there is a small practice range at the beginning of the course with target ranges from 10 to 40 yards. The range offers a forest-like atmosphere, making it a great location for archery enthusiasts.

Directions:

Off of I-8, take 163 South (2.7mi).
Take the “I-5 South/Park Blvd.” exit (0.6mi).
Keep right, following signs for “Park Blvd, Zoo, Balboa Park” (0.2mi)
Turn left at stop light onto Park Blvd (0.3mi).
Turn left at stop light onto Read more...