Grapevine Mountain Hike

Grapevine Mountain Hike

Distance:6.25 miles | Hiking time:4-5 hours | Difficulty: 7/10

Grapevine Mountain is a prominent mountain located in northeastern San Diego County about 12 miles east of Julian in the Anza Borrego Desert.

The hike from the trailhead takes you along a cactus-strewn section of the PCT. Making the summit will require a little route-finding skill and a lot of off trail travel, including some rock 3 and 4 rock scrambling and bushwhacking through fields of cactus and thorny things. Notable sights from the summit include views of Mt. San Jacinto, the Superstition Mountains, Granite Peak, and Cuyamaca Peak.

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Grapevine Mountain Hike – Going Off-Trail from the PCT in Anza Borrego

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Bell Bluff Hike

Bell Bluff Hike

Distance:7.2 miles | Hiking time:4-5 hours | Difficulty: 7/10

Bell Bluff is one of several prominent peaks located around the town of Alpine, Ca. The trail leading to Bell Bluff starts in a quiet neighborhood where it crosses the Sweetwater River before leading you up and out of the canyon. The hike to Bell Bluff is relatively easy and the trail is well-traveled and good for hiking and trail running.

The summit of Bell Bluff is accessed by way of a small trail that leads you up the western face of the peak. Getting to the top will require a steel will, some good hiking shoes and a willingness to do some light bushwhacking and rock scrambling. Take care when attempting to summit, however, because you are exposed in some areas of the climb. A fall could be serious, and this hike should not be attempted by people who are inexperienced, improperly prepared, or not physically fit.

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Bell Bluff Trail: Adventures in Off-trail Bushwhacking and Scrambling

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Garnet Peak Trail

Garnet Peak Trail

Distance:2.4 miles | Hiking time:1.5 hours | Difficulty: 5/10

Garnet Peak is located just off the Pacific Coast Trail on the northeastern edge of the Laguna Mountains. At 5900’ in elevation, it sits at number seven on the Sierra Club’s list of the 100 highest peaks in San Diego County.

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Pine Mountain Loop

Pine Mountain Trail

Distance: 10 miles | Hiking time: 5 hours | Difficulty: 7/10

Pine Mountain Loop is a fun, scenic hike that uses a series of connecting trails and fire roads to circle around, and eventually past the summit of Pine Mountain. The route is frequented by hikers and mountain bikers and offers views of Cuyamaca Peak, Middle Peak, Stonewall Peak and more. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a short hike off trail to the summit for a secluded picnic in a pine tree forest.

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Los Penasquitos Canyon East Approach

Los Penasquitos Canyon waterfall hike

Distance: 6.4 miles | Hiking time: 3 hours | Difficulty: 4/10

Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve is centrally located in San Diego and is easily accessible from the 805, 15 and 56 freeways. The focal point of the canyon is Penasquitos Creek, which runs the length of the preserve. A little over 3 miles west of the Black Mountain Road trailhead there is a quaint, quiet spot with a waterfall, perfect for a picnic lunch.

Trails are abundant on both sides of the creek and there are several creek crossings, including a couple of bridges. Hike as little or as much of the trail as you like. This suggested 6.4 mile route is just one of many possible longer or shorter routes you may choose to take along the creek.

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Stonewall Peak

Stonewall Peak hike

Distance: 4 miles | Hiking time: 2.5 hours | Difficulty: 5/10

Stonewall Peak sits just outside Paso Picacho Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. The trail to the summit is a well maintained series of switchbacks that gradually ascends the western face of the mountain. This is a quick, relatively easy hike with outstanding views that stretch north as far as the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains.

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Cuyamaca Peak

Liebster Award Nomination

Distance: 6 miles | Hiking time: 3 hours | Difficulty: 6/10

Standing at 6512 feet, Cuyamaca Peak holds the top spot on the Sierra Club’s 100 Peaks of San Diego County list, and is officially the second highest point in the county. During the winter, Cuyamaca is one of the few places in San Diego that’s almost guaranteed to get snow. Aside from the views along the way, hiking the paved road to the summit isn’t that noteworthy. But if you don’t mind putting in the work to get there, the views from the summit are better than anywhere in the county.

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My Cold Weather Clothing System Tested on Cuyamaca and Stonewall Peaks in the Snow

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South Fortuna Peak

South Fortuna Peak hike

Distance: 4.5 miles | Hiking time: 3 hours | Difficulty: 6/10

South Fortuna Trail is best known for the wooden stairs that lead you up the final ascent to the summit, but there’s so much more to love about this trail. If you’re in search of a fun and diverse hike with an abundance of scenery and a few worthy challenges, then the hike to South Fortuna Peak will not disappoint. Oh, and did I mention that the views from the summit of South Fortuna Peak are spectacular?

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Viejas Mountain

Viejas Mountain Trail Hike

Distance: 3 miles | Hiking time: 2.5 hours | Difficulty: 6/10

The Viejas Mountain Trail hike takes you straight up the western face of the mountain to the summit. Viejas Mountain is a thigh busting, lung burning hike that’s the perfect length for a quick workout, and the rewards at the top are worth every ounce of energy it takes to get there.

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