Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor's Center View

South Fortuna is on the left, Kwaay Paay is on the right.

Mission Trails Regional Park - San Diego River Crossing

Mission Trails Regional Park - San Diego River Crossing trail is fun, but there is a chance you will get a foot wet depending how much rain there has been. The rocks and logs are lined up so hopefully you can make it across.

Black Mountain Hike San Diego

The Black Mountain Open Space Park is a large park with plenty of hiking opportunities. The mountain gets its name from the Black Sage, which make it look darker than the surrounding area, you can see this on Google Maps.

I parked at the Hilltop Community Park and went up the most popular Nighthawk Trail to the top of Black Mountain (which at 1,554 feet includes a bunch of antennae), the hike is around 4 miles round trip. I found Black Mountain not as good as most of the Mission Trails Peaks or Iron Mountain. The path was mostly dirt and large pointy rocks, mountain biking is fairly popular. On the plus side the facilities are generally better.

Fun fact, there is an old abandoned arsenic mine in the area. Also included below is the Black Mountain Trail Map I found.

Cholla Cactus Garden, Joshua Tree National Park

Cholla Cactus Garden Self-Guiding Nature Trail flier, Joshua Tree National Park

Iron Mountain Hike, Poway, CA

Iron mountain is a popular hike in Poway, CA the Iron Mountain trailhead is just south of the intersection of Poway Road and CA - 67. The location shows up in maps as Iron Mountain Trailhead. The first mile or so is fire road, before it starts going up the mountain as a trail, which is about 5-6 miles and moderate work out for a morning hike. I rate this hike better than Black mountain, Cowles, and Kwaay Paay. The Iron Mountain Trail Map is below, I scanned it from the handout at the trailhead.

Torrey Pines at Golden Hour

Just a few pictures from Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Park in the south beach lot and walk up the hill.

Sand dollar, La Jolla, CA

Sand dollars collected at the La Jolla Shores beach, San Diego, CA.  They break easily, try going on a big surf day after high tide to find them washed up on shore.

Carmel Mountain Preserve Succulent

Cowles Mountain, Mission Trails Regional Park Hike

Cowles Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park is part of the 5-Peak Challenge and is probably the most popular hike in San Diego. Parking is a pain, with a small lot (drive to 7027 Golfcrest Dr, San Diego, CA 92119) that fills up before 7AM on weekends. The parking lot has restrooms.

The trail is nice and you certainly won't get lost as it is clear where to go (and hundreds of others going the same way). The hike itself feels a bit stressed because of people trail running and trying to pass others, dogs, just generally a lot of people. The views at the top of San Diego are great.

The hike is about 3.1 miles round trip depending on where you park for the main route, it is a serious uphill climb to the top, then down. There is a route up the back that is part of the 5-Peak Challenge, but very few people take this route. Plan on about an hour and forty minutes if you're reasonably fast. You can extend your hike to Pyles peak, which makes the whole thing 8 miles or so.

Views from the top:

South Fortuna Hike Mission Trails Regional Park

South Fortuna peak is in Mission Trails Regional Park and the lowest peak in the 5 peak challenge. The views at the top are great, and you can hit North Fortuna on the same hike for a challenge. There are several route and a few different parking lots. I like parking at the East Fortuna Staging Area at the Intersection of SR 52 and Mast Blvd. which is right off the highway and has plenty of parking and a restroom. This route avoids the stairs, for an almost equally steep climb up a fire road.

 

Pyles Peak, Mission Trails Regional Park

Pyles Peak in Mission Trails Regional Park is part of the 5-Peak Challenge and requires you to first hike to Cowles Mountain, walk over as if you're going to the hill with the antennas on it to a not obvious from the top of Cowles path (it does have a sign).  Then up to Pyles Peak, then down, the back up Cowles Mountain, then down to the parking lot.

Since you have to park in the Cowles lot, parking is a pain, with a small lot (drive to 7027 Golfcrest Dr, San Diego, CA 92119) that fills up before 7AM on weekends. The parking lot has restrooms.

The trail is nice and well marked once you start on it. Also probably like 2% of the Cowles crowd continues to Pyles, so it is much less stressful. The views of the San Diego skyline and Pacific Ocean in the distance are very similar to those at the top of Cowles.

Carmel Mountain Preserve

Carmel Mountain Preserve in San Diego has an extensive trial system, you can end up hiking 7 or 8 miles on the official trails, and there are quite a few more unofficial trails. The preserve has no facilities, and a little shade. Hiking is mostly on sandstone or dirt / sand trails. There are some keep out areas due to the vernal pool's ghost shrimp in the winter and spring. There are some moderately rugged areas, or you can stick the more dirt road like paths. The place is not busy, there are several small, free parking lots and available street parking. Hiking San Diego County has an additional write up.

A horse path under Carmel Country road.

North Fortuna, Mission Trails Hike

North Fortuna in Mission Trails Regional Park is part of the 5-Peak Challenge and getting there is probably the most interesting hike of the five peaks.  At least in the winter or early spring, once it dries out it is probably not as interesting. There are several routes, I found the lower part to the Oak Canyon trail not obvious with many chances to get lost, so maybe take a map.  The trails at the top part are obvious. If you take the Fortuna Saddle route, there is a really steep climb at the top, so you have a couple miles of relatively easy trail then BAM, a half mile of steep uphill.  The round trip is 5+ miles depending on the route, but not really something you could kick out after work.