Hikers heading to San Diego, bring your boots! A mountainous landscape covers Southern California filled with epic and diverse trails, all within an hour’s reach of the city.
- Potato Chip Rock/Mt. Woodson – One Hour From San Diego
Not only does this hike lead to the most instagram-able geographical landmark of the San Diego area, but the journey to get there is unforgettably beautiful.
Mt. Woodson can be summited from two starting points: Lake Poway is a longer hike (8 miles round-trip) and requires the purchase of a day parking pass, while the trail from Route SR-67 by the Ramona Forest Fire Station is free and much shorter (3.75 miles round-trip). Either way you are looking at climbing approximately 2,000 feet of elevation. Rock climbers love to practice on the many boulders along the trail.
Upon reaching the fork at the summit plateau, the higher road takes hikers to the true summit of Mt. Woodson, while the lower branch leads to the jaw dropping view and main attraction: a seven foot long Potato Chip shaped rock seemingly defying physics.
Likely you will have to wait in line – which is longer on the weekend, so try to plan your trip early on and during a weekday if possible. When it is your turn, be aware that a slight leap and some nerves of steel are necessary to make it from the boulder that connects to the precariously thin rock ledge.
Pro tip: Make friends with the person on line behind you so that they can snap a shot of you. Additionally, the person in front of you could get a crispier picture once they get down from the ledge.
- El Cajon Mountain – 30 Minutes From San Diego
Strangely you’ll find here a mountain that goes by two names. The second name is El Capitan, not to be confused with the infamous mountain in Yosemite National Park – but don’t doubt the glory of this hike in its comparison.
A great and challenging mountain for seasoned hikers to tackle, often touted as the most difficult day hike in San Diego.
The parking lot gate opens at 8AM and can fill up, it closes at 5:30PM sharp so sometimes it is better to park legally on the side of the road. The path is approximately 11 miles roundtrip and 4,000 of elevation – gained in exhaustive rolling hills that will hit you both ways. 
Caution, this is not a trail for beginners. After a half-mile up there are pit toilets. You will find that the trail is extremely well marked, showing mileage and even an elevation graph to better pace yourself with.
If you are lucky, there may be some distractions in the form of wildlife along the trail.
Almost concealed by camouflage, a horned lizard was an exciting find on this day.
Keep your eyes peeled for the rusted over car wreck which makes for a good place to hydrate before the final stretch to the summit.
The last quarter mile is a push, but the rewards atop are plentiful worth the effort. Find that as the trail narrows herd paths appear, keep a steady line up and follow the markers until reaching the sparkling green plaque reading: 3,675 Elevation.
A panoramic view at the summit is sublime, find a slab of granite to take it in, and enjoy a snack. 
Head back the way you came, and fully expect to climb 800 feet along the route back to the car.
- Iron Mountain – 40 Minutes From San Diego
One of the most popular hikes in proximity to San Diego, so beat both the heat and the crowds by showing up early.
Roundtrip the hike is approximately 5 miles, gaining over 1,000 feet of elevation, on a very well marked trail.
This is the perfect foray into mountain climbing for beginners, just bring enough water and a hat.
After gaining initial bouts of elevation along the trail, the views become quite captivating. Always watch for wildlife – on this day a vibrant hummingbird adorned the path.
The final push to the summit switchbacks up on a dusty and sometimes slippery track, and when you have reached the top there are many different alcoves from which to admire the view.
- San Pasqual Clevenger Trails – 40 Minutes From San Diego
On either side of scenic Highway 78 there are two paved parking lots, one labeled South and the other North, both are off the beaten path. Each set of trails climbs up the side of a mountain with truly unique views.
South Clevenger Trail is the shorter and more defined of the two, four miles roundtrip gaining 1,200 feet of elevation when both forks are explored. If you take the path east, or left as you are heading up, this is the longer portion of the trail.
What makes this so fun, other than the impeccable views, are the cemented down chairs to take in the valley on after you’ve summited the mountain.
There couldn’t be a better seat in town. You can continue along the ridge for sometime, meandering through the boulders.
A stunning sight caps the end of the line, make your way back the way you came.
Exploring the west portion of the trail is equally as impressive in the view department.
Find yourself at the signed end of the line, you don’t need to take a step further as it is quite pretty enough from here.
North Clevenger Trail is longer, and can meander on to a twenty miles roundtrip hike. Begin by walking through the rocky arched entrance and away from the noise of the road.
This was not a day to hike the full twenty miles, but it doesn’t take too long to climb up to astounding beauty.
Try to look past the unfortunate graffiti and it won’t be hard to appreciate the tremendous vistas.
When you decide to cap your hike and turn around, watch out for the corroded car that tumbled down the hillside, visible on your return.
Combing the two hikes makes for a great full day, or two wonderful separate adventures.
- Cuyamaca Peak/Stonewall Peak – 50 Minutes From San Diego
Bag two peaks in a lofty loop of 11.6 miles roundtrip gaining 2,671 feet of elevation, or of course you could split them into shorter treks on different days. The Los Vaqueros Trailhead on Route 79 with the marker denoting Trout Pond has no fee to park in (whereas the official lot right between the peaks does) and it is the perfect place to start the loop. GoogleMaps is very helpful in route finding and the trails are very well marked.
Cuyamaca Peak
Begin by heading up the gravel Milk Ranch Road, perhaps you will be greeted by a deer.
Surprisingly during this winter visit, Azalea Springs Fire Road started to look enchantingly frosty.
Break off on the right towards the Conejos Trail, which was now packed down with snow.
Finally turn on to the paved (when not covered with snow) Lookout Road which will lead right up to the summit.
Remarkable views extend forever, and down below you’d never know that a snow encounter was eminent.
Take Lookout Road all the way down where it ends up face to face with Stonewall Peak.
Cross the road and begin the ascent of your second summit of the day.
Stonewall Peak
Traverse the packed dirt path switchbacks up the mountain gaining 850 feet of elevation, it is two miles to the summit. Informational signs are scattered throughout this popular trail and cue hikers into environmental matters. At the fork near the summit, turn right to keep climbing upward reaching exposed rock, and finally stairs.
A completely different and legendary scene from here, a truly 360° view with maps pointing out all of the peaks in the distance.
To continue on with the loop take the Stonewall Peak Trail down the backside of the mountain, far less frequented.
Find your way back towards Trout Pond, many miles lighter after the fact.
- Mother Miguel Mountain/The Rock House Trail – 20 Minutes From San Diego
A lesser known local trail begins right at the end of a neighborhood cul-de-sac. This hike is 4 miles roundtrip gaining over 1,000 feet of elevation, making it very inviting for those who are looking to get into mountain climbing.
One things to note about this trail, is it isn’t marked extremely well. Initially there is wide and obvious trail leading out of the metal gate at the entrance to the hike – that isn’t the trail you want to take. Follow the more narrow path to the left of the gate, which will dip into a ravine before heading up in earnest.
You’ll find many routes, unfortunately, carved to the top – even one steep ascent that scales right up. Try and stick to the more environmentally friendly switchbacks. After a mile at the T intersection make a left and head up hill. At the summit there are sweeping views that reach out upon the hazy San Diego skyline.
They don’t stop until they hit the Pacific, and even out to Mexico on a clear day.
The most iconic sight up here, and where the hike derives its nickname from, is the rock house. This huge cairn holds up the American and POW MIA flags, flapping in the picture perfect wind.
Some say this pile of rocks has been here since 1890, how interesting to think that some things don’t change, like man’s need for nature.
Thanks! San Diego is one of my favorite cities to forget about the city and go for a hike.
Awesome views and so true about “man’s need for nature”.