28th Annual Men’s Gathering
July 17th – 19th 2026
Manzanita Reservation
REGISTER HERE

Hello relatives, we are excited to announce our 28th Annual Circulo de Hombres Men’s Gathering. The gathering will be held at the Manzanita Reservation, the land is property of the Elliot Family. There are important changes to this year’s gathering, please take the time to read the following information below the flyer. 

This year, we will have two gatherings. The first gathering is scheduled 7/17/2026 – 7/19/2026, the second gathering will be held 9/18/2026 – 9/20/2026, both will be limited to 50 men each. We are asking all the participants to commit to attending the whole ceremony, we arrive before sundown on Friday evening and remain until Sunday at noon. Please know that this is a CAMPING EXPERIENCE.  

Please bring the following camping items: 
Camping Chair
Camping Tent
Water Bottle
Sleeping bag or blankets
Personal hygiene items (ie. toothbrush, etc.)
Clothing (consider a sweatshirt or jacket for the evening)

For our Sweat Lodge Ceremony, please feel free to bring:
Shorts and Towel
Sacred items for the community altar
Small giveaways for fire-keepers, cooks, elders, loved ones.

Directions from San Diego
Get on the 8 East Freeway
Take Exit 61 for Live Oak Springs
Turn RIGHT on Crestwood Rd. and continue onto Old HWY 80
Take a LEFT on Live Oak Trail (You will see the Live Oak Market on the right side)
Continue forward to Live Oak Trail, it will eventually turn into Manzanita Road.
Stay on Manzanita Road for about 6 miles
Once the street turns into a dirt road, drive 50 yards forward
Take your first RIGHT (Please look for red FLAGS posted on the front gate)
Drive into the land for about 500 yards and look for cars and find your spot to park 

IMPORTANT – There is no cell service on many parts of the RESERVATION, including where our gathering will take place. In case your family has an emergency they can contact Sam Elliot at (619) 540-1005.

WORDS FROM OUR ORGANIZERS
This is our 28th year!!! Even though 28 years may seem like a long time, we acknowledge that gathering to share palabra in circulo has been part of our sacred heritage since time immemorial. The Men’s Gathering is an opportunity for male identifying relatives to experience story, laughter, ceremony, and reflection through an intercambio of words, feelings, pain, joy, and spiritual energy.  This tradition, handed down by ancestors, elders, grandparents, and families, is our way of cleansing from the false teachings and woundedness that have become part of our lives. We invite you to join us and we look forward to sharing space together to continue these teachings for generations to come. The San Diego Circulo de Hombres Men’s Gathering is coordinated through Izcalli and the National Compadres Network. There is an immense gratitude for our Kumeyaay relatives and tribal communities that have allowed us to continue this sacred tradition on Kumeyaay land. 

– IZCALLI