Pyles Peak - Peak #10

Pyles Peak (via Cowles Mountain)
Elevation: 1,379 ft.
Miles: 5.5
Location: California, United States

Pyles Peak

Pyles Peak summit

Pyles Peak is just one bump in a series of distinct high points stretching between Cowles Mountain and Fortuna Mountain in East County's Mission Trails Regional Park. After reaching the summit of Cowles Mountain, set your sights on Pyles Peak, which lies more than a mile northward. From the edge of the service road just north of Cowles summit, find and follow the nicely maintained trail leading north toward Pyles.

Humphreys Peak - Failed summit attempt

Humphreys Peak
Elevation: 12,633 ft. (only reached to 11,950 ft.)
Miles: 7.0 miles
Location: Arizona, United States

San Francisco Peaks with Humphreys Peak at the center

Trailhead at 9,282 ft.

Not the best trail conditions I had imagined

Humphreys Peak is the highest mountain in Arizona and resides in Coconino County, in the northern part of the state. It is the 26th most prominent mountain in the lower 48 states, rising over 6,000 feet. Humphreys Peak and the greater San Francisco Mountain range is part of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area, which includes over 18,000 acres.

Picacho Peak - Peak #9

Picacho Peak
Elevation: 3,374 ft.
Miles: 6.2
Location: Arizona, United States

Picacho Peak sticks up out of the desert next to I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. From the base it looks like it can only be done with ropes, as it is flanked with cliffs on all sides. Two trails exist leading to the peak. Hunter trail is the most difficult, steep and twisting, 2 miles to the summit. The trail heads up steeply to a pass then goes down the other side, loosing over half the elevation in a short amount of time. The trail then continues back up cut through the rock and there are cables to help you up the mountain. Sunset Vista Trail is 3.1 miles long and circles around the backside of the mountain.

Combs Peak - Peak #8

Combs Peak
Elevation: 6,193 ft.
Miles: 9.0
Location: California, United States

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

The road to Combs Peak trailhead was not an easy one. It started with a narrow 5 mile dirt road leading to the PCT trailhead that veered off from the main paved road. It was recommended to utilize a 4 x 4 vehicle or high clearance vehicle. My vehicle did not fall under that category; however, I figured I'll give it a shot. It turned out to be a slow, bumpy ride. I was only able to make it half way through the dirt road due to a small rocky creek that had cut through the road. I decided to park the vehicle along the road and hike the remaining 2.5 miles to the trailhead making the journey twice as long than anticipated.

Garnet Peak - Peak #7

Garnet Peak
Elevation: 5,900 ft.
Miles: 5.0
Location: California, United States

Trailhead

Monument Peak

Located at the northern end of the Laguna Mts, Garnet Peak marks the boundary between the alpine mountains and the Borrego Desert below. Views include Monument Peak and Stephenson Peak to the South, the Borrego Desert and Salton Sea to the East, and San Jacinto and San Gorgonio to the North. The true magic of Garnet Peak is discovered by those adventurous enough to be on the summit for sunrise. The sun's warm rays slowly bathe the desert and the jagged peaks that rise from it.

Monument Peak - Peak #6

Monument Peak
Elevation: 6,271 ft.
Miles: 3.0
Location: California, United States

Trailhead

A view of Cuyamaca Peak from the trail

Monument Peak is a small bump along the Laguna Mountain ridgeline that drops down to the Anza-Borrego Desert. The peak was among 3 peaks that I've ascended that day due to the easy nature of difficulty. This was an easy 3 mile roundtrip hike with 500 feet of elevation gain. The views from the top were rewarding with a 360 degree view of the desert and surrounding mountain ranges.

Wooded Hill - Peak #5

Wooded Hill
Elevation: 6,223 ft.
Miles: 3.0
Location: California, United States

 

Trailhead

Snow covered trail up to the summit

This will have to be the easiest hike so far. It is less than 3 miles round trip with an elevation gain of about 300 feet from the trailhead. Like it's name, Wooded Hill is exactly that...tall trees cover the majority of the trail and does not provide a 360 degree view from the summit. However, on a clear day you can view Point Loma, Santa Catalina Island, San Clemente Island, and the Coronado Islands. You can also catch a glimpse of the white domes of Mount Laguna Observatory.

Boucher Hill - Peak #4

Boucher Hill
Elevation: 5,438 ft.
Miles: 3.0
Location: California, United States

Boucher Hill summit in the distance

Boucher Hill is a nice little summit in Palomar State Park. It has a unique lookout tower on the summit. The tower was an important structure in the network of fire detection towers protecting southern California. It offered an unobstructed view of the Aguanga and Pauma valleys below, revealing areas that were blind spots to other towers. It is one of only two lookouts of its kind left in California.

Cowles Mountain - Peak #3

Cowles Mountain

Elevation: 1,591 ft.
Miles: 3.0
Location: California, United States

                                                    A view of Cowles Mountain

  A look towards the Trailhead

Cowles Mountain is the highest point in the city of San Diego, lying within the Mission Trails Regional Park. The hike to the summit is an easy 1.5 mile with 900 ft. in elevation gain and for that reason is a very popular trail. The views from the summit has some of the finest views of San Diego County with an unobstructed 360 degrees view.

Stonewall Peak - Peak #2

Stonewall Peak
Elevation: 5,730 ft
Miles: 4.0
Location: California, United States

After hiking to the top of Cuyamaca Peak, I decided to conquer Stonewall Peak while I still had the time. It is located next to Cuyamaca Peak and the trailhead was across the road from Paso Picacho Campground.

Cuyamaca Peak - Peak #1

Cuyamaca Peak
Elevation: 6,512 ft
Miles: 6.0
Location: California, United States

It was a chilly San Diego morning at the end of December 2010. A snow storm had passed over the mountains west of San Diego the day prior so I was excited to hike in the snow for the first time. Leaving my room at around 7 a.m., I made my way to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and arriving at the Paso Picacho Campground.