The drive up to Tool Box Springs Campground was uneventful, but I would not recommend opening a carbonated beverage for a bit upon arrival. There was one other camper here, and I found a relatively level spot to call camp for the night. There were still fire restrictions in place, so no campfire to pass the time. I brought up some BBQ from The Rib Shack in Fallbrook for dinner, which I ate under the fading light. I crawled into the car and watched one of my lectures for my Business of ORE course. Once it was truly dark, I spent some time photographing the night sky.
The night was not terribly cold; the low was just about 44°F. I awoke to the sun shining into my back window and then quickly made a cup of coffee and ate some oatmeal. The goal today was to climb Thomas Mountain and then on over to Little Thomas Mountain. The trailhead was directly next to the campground, so once I had broken down my sleeping kit, I set off. The trail used to be an old road that had long since been closed. I cruised along, rewarded with some great views from time to time. I would periodically check my progress, and before long, the summit came into view. A lone communications tower stands there, as well as the remains of a fire lookout tower.
This is also one of the yellow post campsites on Thomas Mountain, and I could have spent the night here instead. After a few photos, I headed north to another yellow post site, then down a use trail that followed the ridgeline. That trail connected with the main road, which I continued to follow northward toward Little Thomas Mountain. While this summit is not an official yellow post site, one certainly could also camp here. The day had warmed, so I shed my fleece and began my return.
Instead of completely retracing my route, I opted to take the road back to the campground. That would give me a chance to see some of the other yellow post sites. Snow-capped San Jacinto loomed to the north, and San Gorgonio would appear behind it from time to time. Sites 6-8 were empty, but each looked great for an overnight. The only advantage of staying at Tool Box Springs Campground is that there is a pit toilet. At site 8, a rope swing hung from a limb, and I had to stop and enjoy some time on it.
Before too long, the campground came back into view. A faint smell of a campfire filled the air. That other camper had a prohibited fire the night before and another in the morning as I left, and they had since departed the site. After stowing my pack, I walked over to the site to find a still glowing log in the fire ring. I returned with 2 gallons of water and drenched the embers out properly. The drive down the mountain and eventually home went quickly, even on the day before Thanksgiving. The loop covered 5.99 miles in 2:21 with 1,108 feet of gain. This also crossed another peak of the Hundred Peak Section list for me, with just 49 to go.
I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, coming in Spring 2026!
In 2019, I became the third person to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Not stopping with that accomplishment, I set my sights on the harder San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list, which I completed in 2021. In addition, I have conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).
I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.