Julian Pioneer Cemetery

Julian is a very historical town so when we saw the cemetery of course we had to visit. On our first trip up the cemetery there was a beautiful white horse that was farting up a storm.
Those stairs are a piece of apple pie. Not even hard like some people say. Just be careful while you walk up the stairs, they have barbed wire on both sides. A little extreme dont you think? Definitely a danger if you fall you can slice your face open.
The cemetery is very calm and peaceful though. You get a very nice view from up the hill. A ton of benches were you can just sit and take in the scenery and calm.
Some people will talk about how dry the lawn is. I dont know if you guys are aware but we are in a serious drought.
Oh no dogs allowed! I guess for obvious reasons, it would be disrespectful for you to have your dog peeing on graves and headstones. Families would not appre that.
Headstones dating back to the 1800s and up to year. The placing for some does seam odd tho, there would be very old ones next to recent ones. Almost as if they place them wherever there is space.
If you are in Julian, Ca definitely make a stop here.

If have to say this is probably one of the best cemeteries in the San Diego County. It seems like some people here are complaint about the lawns not being taken care of, or it’s not lush. But I feel it’s an added bonus to this antique final destination. It gives off that melancholy vibe but remains silent beautiful at the same time. You don’t need all kind of fancy shrubby to get that feeling. Look around, you are in the middle of the woods in San Diego! It’s an old cemetery with lots of history! Definitely my favorite spot to visit every time I come up to Cuyamaca and Julian.

Best
View of
Town for the
Living who over
Ate and those below seem resigned to fate.

Enjoyed this part of the trip. Only place I really felt that old timey vibe. Was very peaceful. Not a New England Cemetery but very nice.

I don’t know what it is about this cemetery, but it’s so pretty and peaceful.
I’ve always been drawn to cemeteries and have never been scared of them (welll maybe when I was a little kid!). Anyways, I’ve been here a few times before and it always looks different at different times of the year. It is perched on top of a hill looking down onto the city. The pretty mountains and cute little buildings of Julian make this my favorite cemetery. It makes me sad at times to see some of the headstones and who they were at one time and what life they lived. Call me weird but kind of puts my life in perspective and appreciate my life and how short it is.
It is definitely a workout with all the stairs. But, it’s worth it. And it’s something to do thats free. :)

On a recent day trip to Julian, I found parking near the Julian Pioneer Cemetery. Only being exposed to the cemeteries with neat little rows and perfectly manicured lawns, I saw some interesting Unilocal reviews and decided to take a walk through this interesting place.
One can only wonder about the history of those who have gone before us. Each person had a story and their gravesite was personalized by their loved ones. There are some very ornate headstones, and modest markers. Some markers were hand carved.
There are benches sprinkled throughout and you can have a seat and take in the views from the hilltop.
A very interesting place to say the least and the highlight of my trip to this quaint mountain community.

I don’t know why, but I expected this cemetery to be a little greener. Perhaps it was because it was the end of summer, but this hill-​top cemetery was rather drab looking. Weeds, dirt, and dust on the ground as though the grounds are not well-​kept. However, it’s definitely worth a visit when wandering around Julian.
We walked up to the stairs at the edge of Farmer Road after having some pie at the Julian Pie Company just a stone’s throw away. At the bottom of the wooden steps begins the old «casket walk.» That alone, was spooky and unsettling to me… even in the middle of the afternoon. I can’t imagine people bringing a casket up a hill and having the body accidentally fall out. Rumor has it, that’s happened!
In any case, a short «hike» up the steps and you’re in this old cemetery with hap-​hazardly placed graves. This isn’t your average Forrest Lawn where there are neat rows and clearly marked residents. Instead, it was a mix of old and new. Pioneer era graves mixed in with more recent additions– some even from a year ago. There’s no clear path and I can’t explain how they decide where the plots go… probably just where there’s some space, really.
The views of the town and the mountains are nice from up top. There are benches you can sit on and it’s a good photo-​op. I’m always fascinated by old cemeteries because I think it’s a good way to read about a by-​gone era or the history of a town. If that’s your type of thing to, definitely check this place out.

Some people may find it creepy that upon honeymooning in Julian, we decided to take a stroll through the cemetery.
There is more history in cemetery’s than in most books sold anywhere in that town! I never realized this hill was the final resting place for centuries of Julian residents and let alone the view they ended up with! The old steps going up to it were treacherous and the plaque at the bottom of the hill noting back in the 1800’s a woman’s casket was carried up the hill in the dead of winter and took several hours and 12 men to hoist her up to where she would be laid to rest. My complaining of poorly configured stairs ended there.
I did not know that people are still being buried there in present day and was shocked to see no uniform layout of the graves. Perhaps I was just spoiled seeing newer cemetery’s like Fort Rosecrans in Point Loma, but literally there are graves all over the place. Some with dignified markers, other with a brick and a piece of paper indicating someone is there. And don’t expect any nice lawns or freshly manicured bushes, this place rolls with all natural mountain landscaping with weeds taller than some small children.
The hill is huge and looks like there will be enough space for more Julian residents to call their final home centuries from now.

Close to the heart of town, yet you get a little walk in (help burn a few of those apple-​pie-​calories). Just take the stairs next to the Julian Pie Company. Once at the top, you get a great view of Julian.