The call of The Sirens…

Rick and Andrea decided to hike up to Kay Benchmark, and I decided to tag along and continue toward The Sirens and/or San Ysidro East Peak. At least that was the original plan. I got to the Anza-Borrego Visitor Center and waited for the rangers to open the gate. While waiting, I got a text from Rick that they were running late and I should go ahead and start. The rangers finally arrived at 7:20 to unlock the gate. I quickly paid my day-use fee and parked, then grabbed my gear and set off for the ridgeline. I cruised up the ridge toward Ode Benchmark. Once there, I quickly signed the register and snapped a few photos. From there, I began the steep climb up to Kay Benchmark. From time to time, I would glance back to see if I could spy Rick and Andrea. I could see their car parked next to mine. I got through the bouldery section near Kay without any real issues. Once at Kay, I took a short break and scanned my next section. I was going to follow Greg’s descent route to reach the saddle between The Sirens and San Ysidro East.

The route-finding went fairly smoothly, and soon I was closing in on the saddle. While my route was a bit higher than Greg’s, it was still 1000x better than the route I took down back in 2020. Now at the saddle, I had to decide which peak to attempt first. I decided to go for The Sirens because it was “easier” and I was mindful of the time. With that in mind, I opted to head for The Sirens. I turned southward and roughly followed the contour line to its base. Once there, I recalled that the best way up its very steep and rocky slope was to approach it from the western side. I found the slab section I scaled that last time, and followed it up. At the summit, I got a message from Rick that they had just reached Kay, almost due east of me. In fact, we did shout at each other from our respective summits, but nothing intelligible. As I ate my PB&J and drank some electrolytes, I learned that part of the reason I did not see them on the ridge was that they ascended from the small saddle just west of Ode. While we were texting, they offered to pick me up in Ranchita if I wanted. I debated this for a bit and decided to go that way. I knew I wouldn’t have time to climb San Ysidro East, so this would at least give me some insight into my options for my return.

After signing the register, I found an alternate path down from the peak and headed back to the saddle to drop down into Hellhole Flats. Once down, mostly following a small drainage path, I cruised along, aiming for the north of Lookout Knob. As I drew near the western edge of the flats, I again worked my way down through some rockier sections until I reached another drainage. I followed it to where it met with the drainage from the west, as that was the one we used when we recently climbed Goat Benchmark. But here, where they met, the brush was too dense, so I headed back north along that drainage for a short bit, then exited and continued westward.

Now, I began the climb out of Hellhole Flats. For the most part, I stayed hiking westward, skipping the detour to Goat Benchmark. I snacked a few times to keep my energy up, as this is still a modest climb. Soon, very familiar terrain came into view, including some recent footprints. The water was still flowing in that one section of the drainage, and there was even a thin sheet of ice next to it. Once I turned southward and was more exposed, I donned my wind shell, as a cool wind was blowing! One of the sections that I disliked last time was the section passing White Benchmark. This time, I decided to see if it was easier to just try to stay along the fence line as best as possible. While I might have drifted off the state park land, I never crossed the fence itself; this was the right choice for this section. I continued along the fence line until I reached the road, and Rick and Andrea were waiting for me. We had been texting back and forth, and they had only arrived about 15 minutes earlier. They then kindly shuttled me back to my car. Now for the big question: which route is better?

Since I need to return to climb San Ysidro East, I have to decide which route to take. Both routes have pros and cons. Honestly, I don’t know which way I will take. It probably depends on whether I am hiking it solo or with some friends, and whether they need a peak along the way. The upside is that I am now familiar with both options.

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.

A visit to Death Valley

With the re-emergence of Lake Manly at Badwater Basin, I decided to drive out to Death Valley National Park to see it. With two campsites in the park still closed due to the severe storms, I opted to stay at Stovepipe Wells. This is a first-come, first-served site, so I made it my first stop to secure a site. With that chore done, I headed down to the heart of the park; Furnace Creek and the Badwater Basin area.

After grabbing my passport stamp, swapping my plastic Junior Ranger badge for a wooden one, and picking up a few souvenirs, I headed directly down to Badwater Basin. The winds were calm, so the shallow lake reflected the surroundings nicely. After enjoying the views for a while, I headed back to the car for lunch. Being mid-week, there were no issues parking, but I had heard the weekend was a different story.

My next stop was to hike the Natural Bridge Trail. This is a short, easy trail up to the bridge, then onto a nice, dry fall.

Next, I opted to take the Artist Palette drive and make the short hike to view the stunning, colorful views. The afternoon light really brought out the colors.

I then made the 30-minute drive back towards Stovepipe Wells, but stopped at the Mesquite Dunes first. I hiked out to the tallest dunes and watched the sun emerge from the clouds. The light and shadows across the dunes were incredible. The recent rains made the sand a bit firmer, so that was nice.

Back at my campsite, I set up my Luno mattress and got a campfire going. I ate my dinner under the glow of the fire, as the stars slowly began to appear in the night sky. After the fire died out, I crawled into the Outback and read a chapter of my book before turning in for the night.

I awoke before sunrise, quickly broke camp, and drove south again to Zabriskie Point to watch the sunrise. It was fairly overcast, so it wouldn’t be as dramatic as it could be. Properly bundled against the cold, I watch the sun’s rays illuminate the mountains to the west, including the snow-covered Telescope Peak.

After some hot oatmeal, OJ, and coffee in the parking lot, it was time to head home. Rain fell intermittently along the drive as I listened to two guest lectures for one of my classes. I stopped at the NASA Goldstone Visitor Center for a quick tour, then grabbed lunch at the Original Del Taco, before the final drive home.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Returning to Goat Benchmark

The plan was to hike out to Goat Benchmark with Rick & Andrea, and if I was feeling up to it, I might push on to The Sirens and San Ysidro East. With the access closure from Lease Road, the only real option for us to hike to Goat Benchmark was to start from Montezuma Valley Road. I had hiked portions of this route, as far north as White Benchmark, but not between that point and the route I had taken before on my trips into Hellhole Flats. I arrived a bit early and saw the sunrise was really putting on a show, so I continued past our meeting point and drove farther along Montezuma Valley Road to a couple of turnouts to capture it. What a sight!

We were meeting at 7, so I turned around safely and met them at the fence line of Anza-Borrego State Park. The general plan was to head north, following the fence line (and the terrain), then link up with the gully descending toward Hellhole Flats. I was almost over a cold, so I wasn’t sure I had the energy to make the whole trek, but I carried enough to do so. At a minimum, I would have eyes on that new section that I would have to traverse at least once more with Ted to hike up to San Ysidro Peak. The recent rains made the ground a bit soft and damp. The brush was low, so our pants should remain dry. This new route adds about 1.5 miles to the junction of the routes and about 1,000 feet. We worked our way northward, following small use trails and trying to avoid unnecessary climbs. As we approached White, the route options became more complex, with more boulders and steep sections to contend with. We tried to follow the contour lines, but eventually opted to head up toward White Benchmark and a gap to its north. In hindsight, I think it would have been easier just to follow the slope south toward White, then cut across near the summit to that gap. That is what I did upon my return, and that is the better route.

After passing White, we tried to stay on the east side to avoid the property line. A small bump sits just to the north of White, and we found ourselves unable to continue. We debated heading straight east and down a steep slope, then up toward Goat from there, but we opted to try the west side and hug the property line. After a couple of downs and ups across some minor gullies, we turned onto one that would eventually link with the gully that I have used in the past. Once in it, we cruised along. At one point, we had a bit of flowing water that appeared briefly, then faded back underground. I kept a mindful eye for the turn off to Goat. I spotted a familiar landmark, just a small bump, and knew we were getting close. One thing I remember about Goat is that it is not the pile of rocks you think it is, nor the next one… Once there, we took a short break, and I pulled out my wind shell, as it was chilly and breezy. We had been adding and removing layers throughout the hike. We signed the register and snapped a photo of the benchmark. Rick and Andrea were hoping to continue and make it to Webo. I kept debating about my options. I had broken down the various sections for my attempts, and it seemed too much, as we had lost some time on the way out. Plus, the weather was supposed to worsen in the afternoon. I made the call that I was going to retrace our route. I then suggested, since they would be at Webo, why not just take the ridge down rather than slog back the way we came? I could drive down to the parking area and shuttle them back. So, that became the new plan. I gave them a few navigational pointers, and we parted ways.

I found some nice use trails to return me to the main gully, then to the side gully to begin my journey south. I was able to follow our route in with no issues. As I approached White, my right knee began to ache. Not sure if it was cold, or overused, but I was not happy. I wondered if the soft terrain had put some stress on it… Since I was so close to White, I opted to climb it formally. As I mentioned earlier, our route out almost took us to its summit. I climbed the rocks to the top, and then took a quick break for a PB&J. Both Rick and I had cell coverage, and they were atop Webo hunting for the benchmark and the register. They found the benchmark, but the register could not be located. The same was true for me. I could see a pile of rocks on top where one might have been, but no more. I did not look that hard to see if it had been relocated. I then headed southward, not following any particular track, letting the terrain guide me. Since my knee was hurting, I skipped climbing some of the other benchmarks scattered along the way. It had gotten colder and windier, so I was wearing all my layers. Ignoring my knee, I suspected I made the right call to not stay out longer.

Back at the car, I changed and drove on down to Borrego Springs. I grabbed a cold soda from the market and played on my phone a bit while I waited. I got a check-in message from Rick, and eventually made my way over to the parking lot for Hellhole Canyon. I relaxed for a bit until I spotted two tired but happy hikers emerging from along the trail. They tossed their gear in the back, and we made the drive back up to Ranchita. As we drew near where we started from, rain was falling! Boy, did we all make the right choice. It would have sucked hiking back in that! I tracked my hike at 8.3 miles over 6:15 with 2,087 feet of gain.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Out to Sheep Canyon

In August 2023, Hurricane Hillary caused significant damage in portions of Southern California. In Anza-Borrego, one of the lasting impacts of that storm has been the closure of the road to Sheep Canyon. While the road would close seasonally during the summer to protect the Big Horn Sheep, since 2023, it has remained closed to all vehicles. The primary issue is that Coyote Creek was rerouted onto the road near the Third Crossing. This closure has made climbing five of the peaks on the San Diego Sierra Club list even more challenging, as if those five weren’t hard enough. With some weather in the forecast, and me getting over a slight cold, I decided to hike out to the Sheep Canyon Primitive Campsite and get a sense of what the hike out to the trailhead for three of these peaks would be like. As I drove through Ramona and Santa Ysabel, I could feel the wind blowing against my car, and I wondered if I might have issues down in the desert. Thankfully, as I made a quick stop at Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, the winds were calm as the sun rose between the clouds. I then drove north until the pavement ended and continued on the very well-groomed dirt road. One challenge of reaching the closure point is that there are two crossings of Coyote Creek. The first crossing was minor, but the second one was a bit more intimidating; the Outback fjorded it without issue. I parked next to the closed gate and gathered my gear.

I enjoyed the sounds of the flowing water as I carefully worked my way along its banks toward dry ground. The water was flowing right down the road, its original channel, just to the west. I continued on, following a well-defined trail and collection of footprints. After navigating another couple of wet sections, I came to the infamous “Boulder Alley”. I remember climbing up this in Greg Gerlach’s truck, wondering if the Outback could safely handle it. I could see the storm damage, but nothing a little grading couldn’t repair. Once over this hill, Collins Valley lay before me, along with my first views of Square Top, Palm & Elder, and Collins Benchmarks. Knob lay hidden behind Palm & Elder. The road was in fine shape, and I made great time. I came to the junction of the Santa Catarina Marker and opted to visit it upon my return. After another 0.6 miles or so, I came to another intersection, this one for the Sheep Canyon Trail. I had seen this marked on my maps, so I opted to give it a go. The route was incredibly well blazed, makers clearly guiding you across the desert floor (the footprints also helped). Eventually, it rejoined the road and continued westward toward Sheep Canyon. The road turned southward and crossed a wide wash; there it split. The road continued southward toward Cougar & Indian Canyons, a place I have been meaning to explore, or westward to the Sheep Canyon Primitive Campground. I stuck to my primary objective. I wandered the various campsite, fire rings, picnic tables, and even a couple of pit toilets. I stared at the bouldery face that I climbed to reach Palm and Elder to my north, and the ridgeline I followed when I summited Square Top, while enjoying a well-earned snack.

As I headed back, I began thinking about how we might shuttle our water cache, and maybe some firewood? At the junction with the Sheep Canyon Trail and the road, I opted to take the road this time. Here, I hiked across softer sand than I had underfoot on the trail. When I reached the junction for the historical marker, I took the short detour to view it. It offers a nice view of the Lower Willows area. You can see the palms and other plant life growing along the creek. I hiked back down Boulder Alley, enjoying the podcast I had been listening to. Before too long, I was back along the flowing waters of Coyote Creek and then to my car. After again making the two water crossings in the Outback, I headed home.

The entire hike was 8.7 miles, in 3:10, with 689 feet of gain. The scouting trip was an overall success. I don’t see any issues, hiking out to Sheep Canyon, camping for the night, then tackling Square Top or Palm & Elder Benchmark. For Collins and Knob Benchmark, I would like to explore setting up our base camp in Salvador Canyon.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

A stroll to Split Rock

I drove to the end of Pinyon Wash and parked, finding one other car there when we arrived. Jeremy and I gathered our gear and set off. The plan was to hike down to Split Rock and try to find any of the pictographs. Our adventure began with a bit of scrambling over some rocks before exiting into a nice wash. Jeremy had never done any desert hiking, so this was a new experience for him. The wash worked its way through the canyon before opening into a vast open expanse. We continued southward, finally exiting the state wilderness and onto the road. We heard the sounds of a motorcycle, but never saw it. Whale Peak loomed over us to the southwest.

After our route turned eastward, we found some rocks to take a short snack break. A light breeze kept the day pleasant. Before too long, Split Rock came into view. We had passed one set of morteros along the way, but found many more here. A truck was parked nearby, but we never saw the owner. I scanned the rock for any pictographs and wandered the hillside as well. I came up empty. Our route was basically a lollipop, and this was the top of the lollipop, so we began our arc back toward the stem.

The wash we were now following was a bit narrower, so we had to navigate around some vegetation from time to time. After about a mile, we left the wash and began hiking across the open desert. More “firsts” for Jeremy. We would weave around the agave and other plants, following a generally northwesterly course for about 1.75 miles, until we met back at the point where we had exited from the canyon at the start of this journey.

When we reached the boulders at the beginning of the hike, I decided to take the east side to see if there might be an easier path down. While it initially seemed easier, we found a few drops that took a bit of care to descend. I managed to get Jeremy down safely. Once back at the car, we drove back to the highway and into Borrego Springs for some tacos. We did stop to view the latest sculptures, a rattlesnake and a roadrunner. Now properly fueled, we headed home, but did stop for a pint of cider at Calico Cidery.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Reaching Monument Mountain

With a series of storms on the way, I wanted to get another desert hike in before they arrived. I opted to return to Joshua Tree to hike up Monument Mountain, a peak on the Lower Peaks Committee list. Since it requires about 5 miles of off-road driving along Pinkham Canyon Road, I wanted to do it now in case there was an access issue. The road wasn’t too bad. I wouldn’t take a Civic on it, but nothing was too bothersome. The mountain is quite visible, with a prominence of over 1000 feet.

Mountain prominence is a measure of a peak’s vertical separation from its surroundings.

I parked near where several other hikers had started from and gathered my gear. Angling across the desert floor, I made my way to the base of a ridge. Double-checking my track, which I would do from time to time, I began my climb. The route was pretty uneventful; the ascent wasn’t too steep, except for one small section, and there were a few use trails.

The summit was actually hidden by the various ridges and minor false summits along the way. With regards to those, you can usually sidehill past them with no trouble. Finally, the well-defined summit came into view. I drew next to its base and worked my way up its rocky slope. At the summit, I found the register in good condition, along with the benchmark and two reference marks. I enjoyed a snack and the vistas. Once properly refueled and hydrated, I picked my way down the rocks and back onto the ridgeline.

I was able to follow even more of the faint use trail on my descent. As I came down the final ridge, the sun’s glint bounced off my car, acting as a beacon. Along the desert floor, I spied several different flowers blooming.

Back at the car, I enjoyed some cold water before driving back along Pinkham Canyon. I stopped at the visitor center to give a quick report on the road and hike, knowing the storms might make that information worthless. The parking lot was full, and I had to circle around once to find a spot. I had considered making the hour drive to Malapei Hill and climb it, but opted not to deal with the holiday traffic and save it for another time. This was my 22nd LPC peak, and it took me 3:39 to hike the 5.8 miles.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Out to Bernard and Little Berdoo

I awoke just before sunrise. After a nice warm breakfast, I drove down Geology Tour Road to the start of the hike. The road was in pretty good condition, except for two rutted spots that were muddy and had been “enjoyed” by others. At marker 14, I turned off the road and parked. I left a note in the window, grabbed my gear, and set off.

I worked my way eastward toward the wash, which I would follow southward for about 1.5 miles, when it split into two forks. Here, a large cairn marked the exit from the wash, and the climb would begin in earnest. My route took me up a gully and toward a small saddle. A lone boulder just to the east of it helped give me a target to aim for. Once along the ridge, it was now a “simple” process to follow it in a generally southward direction, ever climbing. The route would alternate from mild to steep. After a very convincing false summit, the true summit of Bernard Peak came into view. I scrambled to the summit. A light breeze helped temper the day’s warmth. I found the benchmark and a reference mark. I signed the register before setting off for the next peak (Little Berdoo) after addressing a hot spot on my foot.

I dropped down to another saddle, sad to lose some elevation, but I did pick up an excellent use trail for a while. My route arched over to the summit. Here I found the benchmark, reference mark, and the register. The Coachella Valley was spread out before me as I enjoyed a snack and some electrolytes before heading back.

My route back went well with a few drifts off track, but I quickly corrected my navigation. I enjoyed a Walking Tamale, a new trail food for me, during one of the mellower sections to keep my energy levels up. Way off to the north, I could see the volcanic rocks of Malapai Hill and Geology Tour Road, as I kept descending. Soon, I passed that lone boulder again and down to the wash. Initially, I planned to follow the wash back to the road, then to my car, to avoid the open desert portion again. With a quick check against the saved GPX track I had been using, I saw that I was drifting to the east, so I was going to have some last open desert hiking before reaching the road.

Once back at the car, I enjoyed some cold water, as the day was now in the mid-70s. The thought of hiking up volcanic rocks to the summit of Malapai Hill on a warm day with some tired legs was not something that appealed to me. Tonight’s campsite was down at Cottonwood Springs, so I had a bit of a drive to recover from the day’s efforts. I stopped at the visitor center to ask about the road to the Monument Peak trailhead. The rangers said that up to that point, an AWD car would have no issues. Past that, well, you’d better have a real 4×4 with recovery gear. I got the same campsite as I had last year. The light pollution is a bit worse here, so astrophotography wouldn’t be as good. I quickly set up camp and started cooking while I started a campfire. Unlike last night, there was no breeze, so it was an enjoyable night to enjoy a nice beer and watch the fire.

I awoke slightly before dawn and captured a short time-lapse of the sunrise.

After some oatmeal, OJ, and hot coffee, I decided not to attempt Monument Peak. My legs were still spent from the past two days, and as I still needed to climb Malapai Hill, I knew I had a return trip to Joshua Tree in my future. With that decision, I headed home very satisfied with the hikes and camping. The entire multiple peak hike covered 8.7 miles in 5:44. The total elevation gain was 2,221 feet.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

A Pair of Queens

After climbing Mount Mel, my next hike would take me to the Queens: Queen Mountain and Queen Benchmark. I turned on Big Horn Pass Road, then continued northward onto O’Dell Road. The parking lot was empty, as expected on a Monday. I gathered my gear and 3 liters of water before setting off. The hike actually begins along an old jeep road, so I cruised along toward the base of the mountains. The road eventually faded into a well-worn trail and started its climb. Cairns dotted the way as well. From time to time, I would add or repair them. The steep climb came to a small plateau, then over to a gully for the final push to the saddle between the two peaks.

I opted to make the short climb to Queen Mountain first. A nice, wide slab led to the actual summit. After locating the reference mark and soaking in the views on this HPS peak, I returned to the saddle and then arched around the north side of Queen Benchmark. Once at the summit, I signed the register and found the benchmark. I didn’t stay too long, as I still needed to get back to the car and set up camp at Jumbo Rocks Campground.

The descent went reasonably smoothly, and I was soon back at the car. The campground was a short drive away, and before too long, I had camp set up. After a nice dinner next to a warm campfire, I enjoyed some astrophotography before turning in. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, hiking two more HPS peaks, Bernard and Little Berdoo Peaks, and if the legs have any gas left in them, Malapai Hill. The hike was 3.97 miles long and had a healthy gain of 1,204 feet, which I did in 3:00.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Ascending Mount Mel

With my first semester of graduate courses behind me, I set off to Joshua Tree National Park for some camping and peak bagging. First up was Mount Mel, near Indian Cove Campground. I previously considered climbing this peak while backpacking the Boy Scout Trail, but opted to skip it. I parked at the Nature Trail trailhead and set off to the west. The trail took me past a wash that would follow almost to a saddle to the south of Mount Mel.

Once at the saddle, I scanned the boulders that make up this peak to find a route up. I set off, working my way carefully up through the rocks. Soon, I was nearing the top and began exploring how I might reach the actual summit block. I found the register and then scrambled to the proper summit. From there, I snapped a few photos and began picking my way back down. Once back at the car, I set off to the day’s second hike, up to Queen Mountain and Queen Benchmark. But first, lunch in 29 Palms and some more firewood for camp later. The hike was 2.2 miles, in 1:24, and 400 feet of gain.

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

A 5 peak day!

Today’s adventure was going to be a collection of HPS peaks near Silverwood Lake. I set off pre-dawn toward the 138 near the Cajon Pass. I had never gone east on this highway; my usual route is west toward the Baden-Powell trailhead. I soon turned off the highway and onto the forest road that would snake around the mountains and 4 of the HPS peaks. Initially, I was behind two trucks making their way up the dirt road ahead of me. One was pulling a trailer, so it was slow going, but before too long, they turned onto a private road, and I continued on the forest road. The first peak of the day was Cajon Mountain. I parked at the junction with the closed gate, grabbed my gear, and set off. Most of this hike would be on the closed road, with just a touch of off-trail fun at the actual summit. I had views of Mt. Baldy and Cucamonga from time to time. Their snow-capped summits shone in the morning sun. At the junction with the use trail to the summit, I opted to go to Cajon Lookout first, just a very short distance further. Here I had more views of the pass, and from time to time, the distant sound of a train whistle. Since I had a long day ahead of me, I returned to the junction and began working my way to the summit. There was both a register and a benchmark here. After signing in, I snapped a few photos and retraced my route. One peak down, four to go.

Cajon Mountain & Lookout

Sugarpine Mountain

Back at the car, I set off to my next summit, Sugerpine Mountain. I knew this was going to be a simple walk-up. I parked off the road, gathered my gear, and hiked up to this summit. Here, I only found the register tucked next to some rocks. While this was another road walk, the road was something beyond what my Outback could handle. Back at the car, it was time to drive to Bailey Peak, a short distance away.

Bailey Peak & Benchmark

The road became a bit rougher, but the Outback still had no problem. I again parked off to the side at a junction and set off for Bailey Benchmark first. There were two communications facilities, and the benchmark was atop a rock between them. A large wall structure was also there, of which I have no clue about its purpose. On the way back, I took a use trail to the summit of Bailey Peak. Sadly, I did not locate anything on the actual summit. Returning to the car, it was off to the last peak along this road, Monument Peak.

Monument Peak

This road did have one tricky section that I had to deal with, a sizable rut to straddle. I conquered it with relative ease. I walked up the road and found an actual monument erected here. It said,

THE MOHAVE INDIAN TRAIL: TRAVELED BY FR. FRANCISCO GARCES

MARCH, 1776 AND JEDEDIAH S. SMITH NOVEMBER, 1826.

I snapped a few photos and had a choice to make: which route back to the 138? I could completely retrace my route, or gamble by taking another forest road that would drop me into the community of Cedarpines Park. I figured I’d keep exploring. The road down was fine and dropped me at the western edge of the community. I weaved my way past all the cabins and eventually back onto the 138.

Cleghorn Mountain

I drove back north, parked at the Lake Vista parking area, and had my lunch. Properly fueled, I headed for my last peak of the day, Cleghorn Mountain. The road I was going to take is part of the Silverwood OHV area, so I expected to encounter some traffic. Not 5 minutes in, a group of off-roaders was parked. A Cybertruck had tried the technical shortcut and gotten stuck. I just missed the recovery. This route has a mainline road, which is not an issue; in fact, it was recently graded. But scattered along the way are side routes that are much more technical. I met a few others enjoying the road as I made my way toward Cleghorn Peak. I found a parking spot near the summit and parked. It looks like you used to be able to drive almost to the summit, but this road is fenced off, and debris is scattered across the former road. I walked up to the top and enjoyed one last summit vista.

I drove further westward until I reached a junction; one road continued west toward the 15, just before the 138. The other option went northward to the Summit OHV Staging Area, then on to the 138. I opted for the latter; in part, I wanted a cold Coke from McDonald’s. The drive was uneventful, and the staging area did have pit toilets (which I did not need, but good to know). Once at McDonald’s, the drive-thru line was pretty long, so I opted to grab a soda from the gas station next door. A small fire erupted just off the 215 but was quickly contained. The final stats for all these hikes were:

Peak	Distance	Time	Elevation
Cajon Mountain	3.25 miles	1:16	575 feet
Sugarpine Mountain	0.3 miles	12 minutes	119 feet
Bailey Benchmark	0.5 miles	16 minutes	95 feet
Bailey Peak	0.3 miles	20 minutes	144 feet
Monument Peak	0.1 miles	5 minutes	26 feet
Cleghorn Mountain	0.25 miles	11 minutes	76 feet
Offroad Driving	22 miles	–	–

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!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.