South Fortuna Mountain (west approach)

DISTANCE: 4.0 miles
ELEVATION: 1,094
TIME: 2 hours
DIFFICULTY: STRENUOUS

"333 steps to the top" is what the Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) visitor center volunteer told me about this hike. I'll be honest, though I've done this hike a few times, I lose my count early on about as fast as I start losing my breath up to the peak.

South Fortuna is is actually the smallest of the five major peaks in MTRP, and doesn't look like much from a distance. However, it's plateau like shape doesn't offer any simple way to get to the top. The easier route starts from Old Mission dam via Oak Canyon and then east to the Fortuna Saddle. However, the route I will describe in this post is a west approach, and is a great little hike if you are looking for a serious step aerobics workout.

Take Clairemont Mesa Road east until it dead ends in Tierrasanta at a parking lot near the trailhead. As you start out on foot, cross the bridge over the canyon and stop at the first kiosk to get a map. Mission Trails is well marked with signs, but there are so many forks and trails you'll definitely need a map for this one. You'll also need shoes with very good traction. After a few paces on the main road, look for an opening in the fenceline that leads to a narrow shortcut single track trail. Eventually you meet up with one of the fire roads. Take a right at the T, then hook a sharp left at the next intersection which takes you down into the Suycott Wash valley. South Fortuna will be directly in front of you.

Follow the signs down a rocky and steep path to Suycott Wash, an Oak filled creek bed which is dry most of the time. After following an obscure trail and crossing the creekbed via a small bridge, you emerge from the grove onto the trail to South Fortuna. The trail ascends gradually at first in a southeast direction, and then hooks left (east).

Now is when you'd better get prepared. Ahead of you is the rocky south face of the mountain, and you'll see the dreaded steps. The steps are far apart at first, but as the route becomes more vertical it necessitates more steps which are closer together. It's akin to going up the stairwell of a 33 story skyscraper (if you figure 10 steps per story). At least you get a nice view along the way and a breeze every now and then.

Upon reaching the top, stop and take a breath and drink some water (most likely you've already done it a few times before getting to the top). You'll be near the south face which is almost a straight vertical dropoff into the San Diego river where you will see Father Junipero Serra road and tiny walkers and mountain bikers far below. Signs warn not to get too close to the edge. By heading northward on the trail that traverses the top of the mountain, you'll eventually approach the highest point which is marked with a sign designating the summit. Enjoy the panoramic view which includes the Pacific Ocean to the west and several larger peaks to the east.

At this point you can either turn around and go back down via the steps, or you can continue northward to the Fortuna Saddle. Once you reach the saddle, head west back down a steep grade known as "the wall" and follow the series of roads/trails closest to the power lines, past the two taller blue water towers, then back to the trailhead. Prepare for sore legs the next day.

Black Mountain - North Approach

DISTANCE: 4 miles
TIME: 2 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
ELEVATION: 1,536 ft

The Black Mountain Open Space Preserve is becoming more popular now that the north trailhead parking lot has been made easily accessible with the completion of Carmel Valley Road near 4S Ranch. Black Mountain is one of the more prominent peaks in North County and is distinguished by several radio towers at its summit. At the parking lot there is a kiosk which contains high quality colored brochures with a map of the area. The map can also be downloaded by following this link. I would definitely recommend taking a map on this hike.

The Preserve has a network of several hiking trails, some more obscure than others, but generally if you head in the direction you want to go you will eventually meet up with a trail that was designed to take you there, but not everything is clearly marked. The more traversed route up Black Mountain is a fire road that gradually ascends up the south face, and I have posted a description of this route in a previous post. Here I will describe a route up the north face via a trail called the "Miner's Ridge Loop Trail," as designated on the map.

Start at the gated entrance to the parking lot off Carmel Valley Road near 4S Ranch. The Miner's Ridge Loop Trail heads east (left) from the kiosk. The trail is broad at first and is lined with wooden fence posts, some of which designate closed trails. There are a lot of interpretive markers identifying native plants, but to be honest, this chaparral is probably something only a botanist could be excited about.

After about 1/3 of a mile, you'll notice a broad trail off to the left which is marked keep out. It leads to a steep ravine where the remains of an old arsenic mine can be found. According to one hiker, the mine was built in 1926, operated for a year, then was closed. I guess arsenic can be used for rat poison but also gun powder. Along other segments of the Miner's Ridge Loop Trail you'll be able to look back and see a long smokestack resembling a concrete pipeline laid against the hillside. The picture to the left was taken from another website.

About 1/2 mile into the hike, you come to a fork, where the loop begins. If you just want to do the loop, then it doesn't matter which direction you go at the fork. However, if you want the quickest route to the Black Mountain summit, follow the fork to the left. The trail narrows and the brush thickens and forms walls on each side. There are also a few designated but obscure viewpoint trails along the way which end with a bench, but take my word for it, press forward to the summit for the real viewpoint.

After about 3/4 mile, be looking for another trail on the left side. This is a short 1/4 mile trail that dips down to a low point and quickly ascends again and connects you to the "Nighthawk Trail" as designated on the map. When you meet up with the Nighthawk trail, be sure to go right, and after a few hundred yards you'll meet up with the main fire road up to the summit which should be within view (the radio towers).

Less than a mile later, you'll enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view, and most of the major San Diego peaks will be within view on a clear day. The day of this post, I could clearly see the Coronado Islands in Mexico, as well as the faint outline of San Clemente and Santa Catalina.

Stephenson's Peak

ELEVATION: 6,200+

32° 53' N; 116° 25' W

This is a unique post to my blog because Stephenson's Peak really isn't a hike, but I guess you could make it one if you chose to walk up the public paved road which stems east off of the Sunrise Highway just north of the Laguna Mountain Lodge. Because it was driveable though, I drove as far as I could up to the top.

I'm posting it because it is a prominent peak and it's #7 on the list of high points in San Diego County, so it's been on my list to bag. Just a few problems though - 1) it's not a hike, and 2) you can't really access the top of the summit because it's occupied by a deserted Air Force radar base where signs clearly mark "No Trespassing." The most distinguishable feature of the Air Force base is the giant "Golf Ball" reminiscent of Disneyworld's Epcot Center.

The other thing that makes Stephenson's Peak postworthy is the view east of the desert. Truly magnificent and worth an early morning sunrise drive if you're not up for hiking Garnet Peak (see hike description in the archives).

Wooded Hill

DISTANCE: 1.5 MILE LOOP
TIME: 1/2 HOUR
ELEVATION: 6,223 FT
DIFFICULTY: EASY

32° 51' N; 116° 26' W

Although the summit of Wooded Hill ranks 6th among the highest peaks in San Diego County, there is little to distinguish this "hill" from other surrounding high points in the Laguna Mountains merely because much of the plateau of the Lagunas is already near the 6,000 ft mark. That being said, Wooded Hill is unique because it is the only notable summit in the Lagunas covered with tall pine trees (Monument Peak and Stephenson's Peak are mostly brush). While the other peaks sit on the edge of the escarpment of the Lagunas that overlooks the desert, Wooded Hill sits quietly in the southwest corner of the main Laguna area.

The trailhead is located off a deteriorating road that crosses the Sunrise Highway (S1) a few miles south of the Laguna Mountain Lodge. The southern segment of the road is Morris Ranch Road, while the northern segment is Wooded Hill Road. About a half mile north on Wooded Hill Road there is a dirt area where cars can be parked, and a sign designating the trailhead. A box for trail guides was empty at the time of my hike.

The trail is a figure 8; the lower loop is about a mile, while the upper loop is about 1/2 mile. The summit is located on the upper loop. The elevation gain is gradual, and most of the trail is shaded by tall pine trees; the trail is also suitable for mountian biking. Several objects have been marked with numbers along the way, but without a trail guide, the numbers are meaningless. At the crossroads of the 8 there is a sign indicating distance in each direction.

When we did this hike, we came across a Navy soldier on an orienteering exercise. I thought he was a Marine because he was dressed in camo, and I didn't expect to see Navy guys training out in the middle of the mountains. He had a map and compass, and I had my GPS. He came across as confident that he knew where he was, but when he pointed to me on the map where he thought he was, I knew one of us had to be very wrong. I told him where I thought we were, and he didn't buy it at first. A few minutes later he timidly asked if he could check my GPS. I knew we were at the summit and the elevation confirmed it. But I must admit he had me doubting myself for a moment.

There isn't much of a view at the top because of the surrounding trees, so despite it's elevation, don't expect a panorama of any kind. If you stand on a rock and look south you'll be able to see Tecate peak and a few other San Diego peaks near the Mexican border. There is a hiker's log box a few paces down from the high point of the summit area.