Pyles Peak | San Diego

Located in central San Diego, Mission Trails Regional Park encompasses 5,800 acres, with over 40 miles of trails. Several summits lie within the parks boundaries. Between the popular Cowles Mountain to the south and Fortuna Mountain to the north, rests Pyles Peak. This would mark hike number three for my 52 Hike Challenge.

At Cowles Mountain summit.

This long and tiring out-and-back trek has some fun and twisty trails. But first, I had to climb Cowles Mountain; at 1,591 feet, its the the highest elevation within the city limits of San Diego. (Pyles Peak summit is 212 feet below Cowles Mountain at 1,379 ft.) There must have been hundreds of people on the trail to Cowles Mountain summit. I'm sure the New Year's resolution crowd will thin out soon. But once I started off toward Pyles Peak, I must have left about 99 percent of the hiker traffic behind; passing only four other people. The views are serene and filled with the green colors of the Chapparal brush dotting the surrounding mountainside, something you won't experience climbing up the dried-out and relatively bland-looking trails of Cowles. Pyles in contrast has the special feel of a path less traveled. Just the way I like it.

From the main Cowles Mountain trail head, which lies at the northeast corner of Navajo Road and Golfcrest, to Pyles and back is 5.2 miles. After the 1.5 mile climb to Cowles Mountain summit, a short walk to the Pyles Peak trailhead begins just a hundred feet short of the summit marker. A sign on the left turns you down some steps. Another left turn and a short walk on the service road leads to the Pyles Peak trailhead sign. The first .5 miles of this spectacular trail drops through five switchbacks into a ravine. This is followed by a climb up six easy switchbacks with an elevation gain.

Along this ridge, a sign directs you east to an optional side trip of .4 miles up to a viewpoint overlooking the east county. Back down to the main trail and into a shallow ravine, then a small rise followed by yet another descent ending at another viewpoint. 

It is from here the real workout begins. Backtrack 50 feet from the overlook to the sign and the trail which follows nearly a straight line east up a steep climb to Pyles Peak's 1,379 foot summit. While there, enjoy outstanding views of Mexico to the south, Coronado, Point Loma, and downtown to the west, Palomar and beyond to the north, and Cuyamaca and El Cajon Mountains to the east. After enjoying the view be careful going back down the steep trail.

Directions from San Diego: From I-15, take Friars Rd. East which becomes Mission Gorge Rd., 5.0 miles east. Pass Jackson Drive and the Mission Trails Regional Park turnoff. Continue up Mission Gorge Rd. to a right turn on Golfcrest (the first traffic light past Jackson Drive). Follow Golfcrest one mile south to the trailhead on the left side of Golfcrest at Navajo. On weekends the parking lot is usually full, however curbside parking is permitted on Golfcrest

From Interstate 8 - Take 8 to the College Avenue exit. Proceed north on College Avenue 1.0 miles to Navajo Road. Turn right and proceed on Navajo Road 1.9 miles to Golfcrest Drive. Turn left on Golfcrest Drive to enter parking lot.

From Route 52 - Take 52 to the Mast Blvd. exit in Santee. Driving east, turn left onto Mast Blvd., go under the freeway to the first traffic signal (West Hills Parkway) and turn right. Driving west, turn right onto Mast Blvd. and right onto West Hills Parkway. Take West Hills Parkway to Mission Gorge Road and turn right. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road 1.9 miles to Golfcrest Drive. Turn left onto Golfcrest Drive and proceed to the top of the hill. The staging area is on the left at the intersection of Navajo Road and Golfcrest Drive.

From Route 125 - Take 125 north to Mission Gorge Road. Exit at Mission Gorge Road and make a left. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road 3.3 miles to Golfcrest Drive. Turn left onto Golfcrest Drive and proceed 1 mile to the top of the hill. The staging area is on the left at the intersection of Navajo Road and Golfcrest Drive.

Distance: 5.2 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 2000'/2000'