Red Hill

The second hike of the day was up to Red Hill. The ‘trailhead’ was very close to the turnoff to Mine Benchmark. I use trailhead loosely, while there is a nice parking area right off the S2 and an informational sign, there isn’t a trail. So across the flat desert, I headed, weaving my way past the chollas, my summit stood clear out, as it certainly earned the name Red Hill. This summit is covered in the aftermath of volcanic activity. Following my map and GPS, I soon found myself at the base of the peak, I scanned the various routes up, picking one I began my climb upward.

As I worked my way eastward toward my planned route, the terrain changed from the ‘standard’ desert I have been hiking on all day, to that of more red rock.

With the summit drawing near, I began to pick my way through the rockier ground, taking care with each step. I did not want to turn an ankle with a misstep. (although I had better cell coverage out these hikes than I do at my home in Penasquitos!) Soon, I found myself on the summit plateau, a vast field of red rocks spread out before me.

According to my topo map, the high point was near the southern end, where I did find the register wedged in a small rock cairn.

The views were stunning from the summit, I think in part because I was feeling proud of completing two solo desert hikes.

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.

Denk Tank Mountain

Denk Tank Mountain is located in the Rancho La Costa Preserve and is a trek up switchbacks that offers panoramic views of the Batiquitos Lagoon, the Pacific Ocean, and the city of San Diego. I decided to summit this peak one Friday after work since the family was not going to be home and I work in Carlsbad. Well, the best-laid plans…I packed everything except for my hiking shoes. I opted to race home and fight the traffic back to the trailhead.

The trailhead is near the beginning of Corte Romero street, where you’ll see a wooden trail marker with a pouch for informational brochures.

The trail up Denk Tank mountain is a narrow single track that winds through the coastal sage scrub. There is a network of trails that criss-cross the mountainside, so depending on your mood, energy or time can make this hike fit your needs. I knew I was going to be fighting daylight and opted for the quickest route up.

Along the way, I did encounter a few mountain bikers enjoying the trails as well.

As you near the summit you will see a wood awning in the distance. Follow the trail straight toward the awnings to complete your hike to the summit of Denk Tank Mountain. At the top, you’ll find two benches and a picnic table where you can sit and relax in the shade. Additionally, there is a workstation for mountain bikers.

With light fading, I began my trek back down to the car. Soon, I was rewarded with a spectacular sunset.

I made my way down in no time, taking care in the dark with my footsteps, looking forward to tomorrow’s summits…

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!

Sunshine Mountain

For my Sunday peak, I decided on summiting Sunshine Mountain on an overcast day. My friend Mark Better was able to tag along for this adventure. The trailhead is near the new shared Three Sisters/Eagle Peak one, instead, you continue down the dirt road to the north of that entrance. There you will find a small turnout to park at.

You will follow the trail past a seasonal pond, the drift toward the east. The summit is clearly in view. This is not a well-traveled trail, so it is very overgrown. You will reach a fork in the trail, take the left one. It is almost completely hidden. You can faintly see the outline of tire tracks from years ago to guide you to the base of the peak.

Once at the base of Sunshine Mountain, you will need to bushwhack your way toward the southeastern shoulder of the mountain and begin an easy scramble to the summit.

The sun would peek out from behind the cloud, offering some nice contrast to the peaks around us. We signed the register and enjoyed the views. To the south, we could see Eagle Peak, perched on the edge of the San Diego River Valley, which I had done just a week before. Off to the east, Cuyamaca Peak was shrouded in clouds the whole day.

As we made our way down, we hunted for that faint trail again.

We could see the car parked off the distance and did consider just bushwhacking directly back to it. But we a little more sleuthing, we found the trail and made our return trip less eventful.

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!

Cemetery Hill

I was able to have Dave join me again to summit Cemetery Hill near Julian. This is one of several summits at can be reached from Eagle Peak Road. We were considering maybe adding one or two more of the nearby peaks in if time allowed. Parking near the same starting point for Oak Benchmark, we head south and down the trail. It is easy to spot due to the metal railing.

The trail works its way down about 400 feet of elevation to Deadman Flat. As we began working our way to the summit, we crossed paths with some deer hunters. I had forgotten it was hunting season. I am glad I opted for my red baseball cap. We let them pass as they were tracking a deer.

Dave and I were certainly a bit more alert for others that might be wandering the hills. Since Oak Benchmark was an off-trail summit, we made the decision to come back after deer hunting season.

The route to the summit was easy to follow. Once at the site, there were just some remnants of some posts that outlined the actual cemetery. I suppose the Witch Creek or Cedar Creek fires might have damaged what had been here.

The views were nice of the area and the weather was delightful. No register nor benchmark was located. We retraced our steps since we did not hear the echoes of a rifle shot, we had to assume the hunters had not found that deer yet.

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!

Ramona Benchmark

The trailhead to the Ramona Benchmark looks like a dirt path in a vacant lot between houses. After a couple of minutes of hiking, you will come to the entrance sign to Simon County Park.

From there, I followed the wide trail leading up to the grassy ridge that is Ramona Peak. Soon, you will begin your ascent to the ridgeline. Once at the top you can follow the trail to the north end of the ridgeline.

Once there you can sit and enjoy the views from the bench. There is no benchmark to be found nor the register. Looking around you can be thankful that this section of Ramona was not developed. This would be a summit that I would not want to do in the summer.

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!

Eagle Peak

In late May 2024, Forest Service officials renamed this trailhead, Cha’chaany Hamuk, which translates roughly to “three sisters” in the Kumeyaay language. Plus, there is a new parking lot, restrooms and a helicopter landing area for fire and rescue crews.

Somehow I convinced Ted, Dave, and Jeremey to tag along for this hike out to some of the best views of all of San Diego. This peak shares the same trailhead as Three Sisters and was recently expanded. Since there was no water flowing at the falls, the crowds were light. We set off west along the old dirt road, We quickly reached the top of a small rise where a cluster of Engelmann oaks stood. I knew this would be our almost back-to-the-car indicator.

The trail began descending again, and the turnoff to Three Sisters was to our left, but our destination was straight ahead. The trail turned from a simple road into a single-track trail. As the trail began its climb to the summit, it would tease us with false summits. But before long we found ourselves at the rocky peak. As we stood top, taking in the promised views, we found the register and two benchmarks.

After a bit, we began our return to the car, as we passed the junction to Three Sisters, we began to see more folks headed down to the dry falls. All in all, the four of us enjoyed another one of Chris’ crazy adventures.

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!

Airplane Ridge

My final peak for the day was Airplane Ridge, further along, the West Mesa trail. The trail worked its southward. Cuyamaca Peak loomed over me to the west. The trail was mostly empty as the peaceful quiet surrounded me. I crossed the dry Japacha creek and began to slowly gain some elevation. As I neared the sharp right to begin the climb toward Airplane Ridge, I made the short detour to see the monument for which the ridge is named.

On December 7, 1922, a twin-seat model biplane carrying Col. F.C. Marshall and Lt. C.L. Webber crashed into a ridge near Cuyamaca Peak. Despite extensive searches, the wreckage and pilots’ remains weren’t discovered until May the following year.

After pausing for a bit, I continued on as the day was getting warmer and still had the summit and return trek to the car. I worked my way up the ridgeline until I found a reasonable spot to leave the trail and reach the high point itself.

I rested under the shade of a tree, enjoying the sweeping views to the south. With my third peak bagged, I begin the 3 miles back to my car. Toward the end of the hike, my IBT began to tighten, making it a bit uncomfortable.

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!

Arrowmaker Ridge

Update: Have been informed that this peak is now off-limits. It lies within the Pilcha (West Mesa) Cultural Preserve, and since there is no trail it should not be accessed. The replacement peak is now Paradise Mountain.

From the West Mesa parking turnout, I crossed the highway and passed through a gate onto the West Mesa Fire Road. After about a half-mile along the fire road, I reached the junction with the Fern Flat Fire Road. I knew from researching the route to this summit, that I wanted to continue south through a meadow and approach it from the south side. The growth appeared to be thinner based on the satellite imagery I reviewed.

This strategy proved to be correct, as I found the high point. I took my summit-selfie and headed back down and onto the fire road to bag the third summit of the day, Airplane Ridge.

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!

Middle Peak

This was the first of a three-peak day. I arrived at the trailhead just as the sun was beginning to rise.

As I followed the fire road up toward the peak, I spotted several deer enjoying some meadow grasses.

Once covered in pine and oak trees, Middle Peak, like the rest of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, was hit hard by the 2003 Cedar Fire. As the summit loomed, the lack of trees did offer some sweeping views. With the trees gone, much of the mountain is now covered in ceanothus, and the charred remains of blackened trees line the slopes. Near the summit, I began looking for any routes through the thickets to the true summit. I worked my way partially toward the summit but eventually decided to call it.

In part, I knew there was no view to be had, and I had two more summits planned for the day and began back down the fire road to the car.

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!

Corte Madera

Known as the Half Dome of San Diego, this was a fun hike with Dave and Ted in tow. Located in the Pine Mountain Wilderness, we found one of the few parking spots and began our hike along a dirt road under the shade of coast live oaks. Once we reached the Espinosa trail, we began to slowly climb up toward the saddle between Los Pinos Mountain and Corte Madera.

Turning northward, we passed near the summit of Coulter Peak, working our way through the chaparral along a single-use trail. Eventually, the trail reaches the summit of Corte Madera.

We took a nice break, enjoying some snacks and the view. Corte Madera’s dramatic south face plays host to a number of nesting birds of prey, including falcons, hawks, and golden eagles. These birds tend to nest during the late fall, winter, and early spring months. Cleveland National Forest has introduced seasonal closures along the mountain’s sheer cliff. We did not spot anything flying while we rested.

Returning back to the saddle, we considered adding in the extra miles and elevation to Los Pinos Lookout. But, we were tired and decided to save it for another day.

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!