Location: San Diego County, about 13 miles south of Julian, 160 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: San Diego County

Forest Service: Cleveland National Forest

USGS Topo: Cuyamaca Peak 7½

HPS: Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Nearby Peaks: Cuyamaca Peak, Stonewall Peak

Distance: 5.5 miles round trip on road and trail

Gain: 1000'

Time: 2-2 1/2 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, easy

Navigation: Easy

Original: Carleton Shay, April 1997

DRIVING ROUTE 1

(Northern approach)

• Take I-5 south to SR 78 in San Diego County.
• Go east on SR 78 through Escondido to the junction with SR 79 just past the town of Julian. Turn right (south) on SR 79.
• Go south on SR 79 for 9 miles to the Cuyamaca Dam.
• Continue 2.7 miles to the entrance to Paso Picacho Park on the right.
• Continue 5.6 miles further (mile marker 4) to a gated dirt road on the left side. Park on the left just before this road.

(Southern approach)

• The drive is longer, but generally quicker by taking SR 79 north from I-8 via San Diego.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area (4020'), hike a few yards south to a gate. Pass the gate and hike up the road about 0.5 mile past the signed "Lower Descanso" trail, to a trail on the right with a sign "Upper Descanso" trail. Follow this trail 0.1 mile to an unsigned fork at a stream crossing.
• Keeping left at this fork, continue on the trail (dense poison oak) another 1.5 miles to a saddle with a fork and a sign "Oakzanita Peak".
• Turn right and follow the trail 0.6 mile up to the summit.