Cuyamaca Peak

ELEVATION: 6,512 FT
DISTANCE: 5.5 MILES
TIME: 2.5 HOURS
CHALLENGING

Cuyamaca peak is the second tallest peak in San Diego County (Hot Springs Mountain beats it by just 21 FT). On a clear day, the peak can be seen in the distance from many other locations within San Diego County. By enlarging the picture on the right (which was taken atop Mt. Woodson), you can see in the background (left to right) North Peak, Middle Peak, and Cuyamaca Peak (the tallest).

The trail is a paved service road that begins off Highway 79 adjacent to the Paso Picacho Campground. The trail maps say it is a 7.2 mile round trip hike, but it seemed shorter than that, so I am going with the 5.5 mile distance used in Jerry Schad's books (I lost my pedometer that day). The road is a gradual uphill, with some steep spots but enough level spots to give you a break every now and then. The surrounding trees were all burnt by the 2003 cedar fire, with the exception of the trees at the very top.

It was very cold when Byron, April, and I made it to the top, and the winds must have been at least 40 mph. On the left is a picture of my brother Byron attempting to eat sunflower seeds on the highest rock of the summit. One of them hit me and because of the wind propulsion it felt like being hit by an air soft gun. The clouds above us were flying by at great speeds, and a storm was moving in so we did not spend too much time at the top.

The view west was the most spectacular, because the elevation drop on the west side of the mountain is the greatest. If that park ranger who seemed to doubt our hiking abilities is reading this, WE MADE IT!