[1] Ballena is east of Ramona and west of Santa Ysabel, at the junction of California State Route 78 and the Old Julian Highway.

The Ipai name for the mountain was Epank, meaning "whale," and ballena is the Spanish word for "whale."

Ballena began in 1870, as a way stop and layover point for freight wagons, which provided fresh teams of horses and mules for the wagons on the road between the gold rush camps of Branson City, Coleman City, Eastwood and Julian − and the ports of National City and San Diego.

Sam Warnock opened a general store and post office there.

This San Diego County, California–related article is a stub.