This review is for the Cuyamaca Peak Via Azalea Glen Loop which was a ~7.7 mile round trip that took ~4 hours to complete. There was a $10 day use fee. The views for the first half were mostly blocked by tall shrubs or trees. There were nice views of Lake Cuyamaca at higher elevation. The second half was a descent on paved road. Trail starts and ends at the campground. Furthermore, there were a lot of flies. Trail starts off flat, becomes a steady incline and eventually a steeper incline. In addition, it was around 25% shaded otherwise mostly exposed to the sun. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/7pV1e1tji1U read more

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I finally had the chance and energy to hike Cuyamaca Peak. It is paved to the top. For some it could be a good or bad thing. I could only imagine the black top would radiate the heat during the summer. For my hike with my friends the weather was perfect. It was warm but the nice breeze kept us cool and trees provided shade it made it comfortable for most of the hike. We hiked CP the 2nd weekend of October. Our hike began at 10ish, the trail started on the south east side of the camp, not far from out campsites (17, 18 and 19). Thereare plenty of native plants to see and of course many views perfect for some pictures. I felt the elevation was gradual until the last half mile. The area had rain a few weeks prior, the evidence left on the path that flowed in from the sides. Loose sand and gravel did cover some areas something to watch for especially coming down the peak. Nearing the middle of the hike you will notice the large pine trees that will have these beautiful, large pine cones. I think my friends said they are called, Widow Makers. The sides of the path are scattered with the pine trees decor. There were evidence of fire in spots too. We weren't sure if this was a controlled fire or not. You will find Stonewall Peak across from you become smaller as your reach the top of CP. On your way up don't forget to check everything around you! Also, stop to check out Cuyamaca Lake. At the top, soak in the views! I could almost see the ocean, a light haze makes its presence. It was definitely worth the hike up to CP. read more

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We did this hike on Saturday (1/13/18) and really enjoyed it. Parking- you park in the area of a campground along CA-79 and it is the same lot used if you are doing the Stonewall Peak hike which starts on the other side of the highway; you must pay $10 and if you get there early like we did before a Park Ranger is on duty you must fill out an envelope and drop the $/envelope in a slot so make sure you have exact cash; no special Adventure Day Pass is needed Trail/route- we did the loop starting w/Azalea Glen to the Azalea Springs Fire Road to Conejos Trail which at about 4.2 miles will take you to a paved fire road...make sure to turn right at this juncture and this will be the hardest steepest part of the hike for the final 1/2 mile to the top and you will have completed approx. 4.8 miles to get to the top; we took the paved fire road straight down to complete the loop and it will total about 7.5 miles when you get back to the parking lot and it takes around 4 hrs to complete starting at about 4,900 ft and reaching the top at nearly 6,500 ft My thoughts: this is a beautiful area and the drive to the trailhead offers so much to see; it is not a crowded trail; there are great views of Cuayamaca Lake and the hills to the east and when you get to the top you are rewarded with a great view looking west to San Diego and the Pacific on a clear day; most of the hike is easy especially the first 2 miles of the loop if you go counter clockwise like we did and the only difficult part was the last 1/2 mile going up the steep fire road to the top read more

Cuyamaca Peak - Great view of sunrise 1/13/18 - Hiking Near Me - Descanso, California

Beautiful hike, did the trail up to the summit in the snow and it was amazing. Trail was partially cleaned which is understandable. It was nice to experience a change of scenery in San Diego. Being from the east coast I loved it! Campground is very clean. Staff was nice. Couple cabins to rent Dress really warm wear gloves the temp drops as you het higher and it's a bit windy. read more

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"I've been waiting, for a view like you" I thought this place was included in the National Park Adventure Pass, but sadly not. It is part of a California State Park Pass, which is much more expensive (at least 100 bucks more...) "That's gonna have to be a no from me dawg." Located almost an 1 hr east in the Descanso area, this easy hike is paved but goes straight up. The impact on your legs on the descent ruins my hiking vibe, but thats okay. 10 bucks to park in the campground area. There are restrooms at the trailhead area. Started around 8am and summited (6512 ft) in less than 2 hours. You could use trekking poles to save your legs. There is not much shade for the majority of the hike. I would start early if I were you. The landscape shows alot of dead trees from a wildfire more than a decade ago (2003.) The top was beautiful, and you can spot some wildlife and pretty flowers here. Saw a rabbit scurry around and lizards doing some sunbathing. Towards the very end, some pine trees survived the fire, and you can imagine what this place used to look like. 6 miles of hiking and about 3 hours total time out here. I am probably not going to come back for a while due to the steep parking fee. It is nice to see the plants and grass growing post fire. read more

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Picture a beautiful mountain top with big rocks where you can sit and enjoy the fabulous view of San Diego because Cuyamaca is the second highest peak in SD at 6,512 ft... Reality: picture what looks like an abandoned radio tower with wood and trash and graffiti everywhere. We were greeted at the top with a dirty diaper (who throws a dirty diaper at the top?! Seriously people, have respect for nature) and a swarm of flies due to the dirtiness of the top. Oh yes and the smell of old stanky poop. Not what we imagined as Cuyamaca once used to be a very beautiful hike but due to the Cedar fire in 2003 that burned almost all of their big pines and oak tree left it looking scarred and bare. You can see new growth as small pine trees poke itself from the ruins. I can imagine 15 years ago it looking like a real forest and magical! What a site that would have been. The hike is all paved to the top, which makes it easy on your feet. Going up is all uphill and watch out for fire ants. We went on a hot day and it was a bad idea because the sun beats on your back. There wasn't a lot of shade until you get closer to the top. To get to the trail we went through the campsites and cut through at campsite 69 where the bathroom was located at. It took us about 3 hours and it's about a 5.6 mile hike. Since the top was so disgusting we walked about 5 minutes below the top and sat on some rocks and had a better view and smell. I wish they had some rangers to maintain the cleanliness of the hike... Or at least a trash can so disrespectful people will throw their used diapers in the trash and teenagers would stop graffitiing the place. It sucks that we had to see Cuyamaca like that. However we did love the campgrounds and booked a campsite in a few weeks and will be doing a different trail, fingers crossed that we won't see another dirty diaper! read more

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Distance round trip: ~ 6 miles Time: ~ 3 hours Difficulty: Easy. Paved trail. Constant incline. Not a lot of shade. We took the paved emergency vehicle trail up to the top of Cuyamaca Peak. It's the only trail that allows puppies, so it was kind of our only option. We parked at Paso Picacho Picnic & Campgrounds (there was a parking/park fee per vehicle, but I don't really remember how much. I was to say it was maybe $10?). It was a little difficult to find the trail head, but after wandering around for a bit and asking a few other people, we finally arrived at Camp 69 and the trail starts right about there on your left side - opposite of the restrooms. The incline isn't too steep, but it does go uphill pretty constantly. We used this hike as our first trial hike with all our gear on our backs as we are training for Mt. Whitney. Because it is all paved, we didn't have to worry too much about footing. Our main focus was to get an idea of how it felt like to go uphill with 35-40 pounds on our backs. The total trip was about 6 miles, elevation gain of about 1700 ft, and it took us about 3 hours with multiple resting stops for our pup. I killed a 3L hydration bladder easily. The views are absolutely stunning. There was a pretty significant forest fire that happened in the area a few years ago. A lot of the brush are beginning to grow back, but there's definitely still evidence of the fire all throughout the trail. It just makes the scenery hauntingly beautiful. There wasn't a whole lot of shade in May 2017. It was about 65 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze when we started. However, when we got to the top at 6500 ft, it felt more like it was in the 50s, breezy, and quite chilly. I'm glad I had a long sleeve with me. By the time we got back down to the campsite, it felt like it was in the mid 70s. There are also tons of other side trails, but they are not dog friendly. Overall, if you're just looking for a quick day hike, I would definitely recommend Cuyamaca! I would love to come back and explore some of the other unpaved trailed. Pssst.. Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen! I also brought bug spray too just in case, but we didn't have to use it in May. Lastly, always pack out what you bring in! read more

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New Year's Eve Snowy Hike. One of the best hiking trails in San Diego. Even though, it was snowy and about 7.7 miles loop back to the campground parking lot, the top is worth reaching. There are other ways to reach the peak, for instance a shorter uphill route about 2 miles from the campground. It is nice that this is my first time hiking on a snowy and muddy road. I saw a fox too! Definitely a must trail snowy or summer season! read more

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One of the best hikes in the county. The views are rewarding. The trail is all paved so i feel like that makes it a bit more difficult and harder on your feet and legs. You will have to pay $10 for day use at paso picacho camp ground so might as well make a day out of it and plan a nice picnic at the Campground. Some people say this is a difficult hike but thats all depending on level of fitness i guess. There is a portable bathroom up there. No water except at campground so make sure you carry enough water. Towards the last 2 miles you walk through high pines so it makes it even more beautiful. Most of this area was all burned down in the tragic Cedar Fire in 2003. There is alot of wildlife here and mountain lion activity. If you plan to hike later in the day (dawn or night) i would carry bear spray in case of a mountain lion. Nothing to be afraid of but safety is always better. Make sure to follow @sandiegohikers on instagram! read more

Cuyamaca Peak - Tall pines towards the end. - Hiking Near Me - Descanso, California

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I love this hike! Today was my 2nd visit to hike Cuyamaca peak. The 1st time I came, I had no idea where the trailhead was for this hike. I didn't even see the mountain I was hiking. I had read on the all trails app to start at Azalea Glen trail which is what I did... but it appeared to end... thought this was a loop. Idk. I was so confused. I sat on a bench looking this up online and found an article written by the hiking guy. He mentioned the trailhead was inside Paso Picacho campground next to campsite #69. So I went back the way I came in and went through the camp site areas until I found it. (Fell in love with Paso Picacho camp grounds btw....and I will camp there soon!). Anyway, I took the service road in out and back. Saw some other trails that met up to it or that I could take but I was so scared of getting lost that I just stayed on the svc road. At first there is not much shade. The wildfire from 2003 damage is quite sad. As you got up more, you were met by some gorgeous trees that made me feel like I wasn't in SoCal anymore. In my opinion, it was def a "moderate" hike. There is some construction up top but the hilltop views are around the tractor/electrical building they had. The views from over over 6k in elevation was amazing! This is the 2nd highest peak in San Diego county. Btw, there are bathrooms at trailhead and there was a port o potty at the top that's probably for the construction workers but it didn't appear to be locked . I also didn't try it though. Wear sunscreen for the non shaded areas and bring "off spray". The flys made today's hike unenjoyable because they were all over us bugging us! I did not experience this last time I came. Also, if you arrive before the ranger gets there, fill out the envelope and drop your $10 in the drop box. They will check you when you leave! read more

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Easy to moderate hike. I was able to finish in less then 2 hours, while walking at a brisk pace. No special gear is needed. I was able to hike this trail in my Nike free runs. Impossible to get lost, the trail is well paved. Very moderate incline, the only "intense" part was the start of the hike which had a pretty decent incline! But leveled out quickly. I used the directions on Yelp. It led me to the trail. The parking however is on the other side (don't pass it!) 8$ parking! Make sure to bring cash. Extremely clean bathrooms and plenty of clean tables/bbqs. I drove three hours for this hike!! The pictures of the peak fooled me. I was expecting it to be a bit more strenuous. However the view at the top is gorgeous. I'm not sure if it's worth the 3 hour drive from LA but if you're in the San Diego area I would recommend you to check it out :) read more

Wow. Just wow. This instantly became my favorite hike in San Diego. I wanted to get some actual elevation on a hike, so in my research I discovered Cuyamaca Peak. Though it is actually the second-highest summit in the county of San Diego, the other (Hot Springs Mountain) is on a reservation, and is not always accessible to the public. After making the drive out to the Julian/Cuyamaca area, park at the Paso Picacho Campground. There is an $8 fee at the entrance gate for day-use parking, but I'm telling you right now, it's worth it! Start the hike near campsite 69 and head up the fire access road to the top. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Walking along a fire access road? How can THIS be your favorite peak in SD?" Let me share with you the top two reasons... 1. This hike is a steady and relentless incline. Even though you are walking on hard ground or pavement most of the time, you will most certainly get a good workout. Your legs should be in prime condition when undertaking this trail. If not, they WILL be by the end of it! If you've got bad knees, or need assistance, some trekking poles would not be a bad idea. 2. The view at the top is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. As you finally crest the summit, you'll most likely get hit by a gust of wind, and experience a bite of cold--typically unexpected in San Diego. Find yourself a high spot and take in the majestic and expansive views of the entire county. As a matter of fact, on a clear day you can see not only San Diego County, but Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles county as well! For some added fun, bring some binoculars with you to the top. The view is out-of-this world, and is the most impressive I've seen in San Diego. Summit elevation is 6,512 feet, with an overall elevation gain of about 1,700 feet. The hike is 5.6 miles there-and-back, and is not for the faint of heart. Or leg. Expect it to take 3-4 hours of your day, even more if you spend a lot of time at the summit like I did. For a truly remarkable view, a fantastic workout, and a chance to see that it actually DOES get cold in San Diego sometimes, grab some buddies and head up this mountain. You can thank me later... read more

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We decided to take this hike because it was on our list of hikes and since it is one of the highest peaks in San Diego, but definitely not one of the nicest. It only took about 2 hours roundtrip. The hike was pretty except for when you get to the top because of the graffitied cell towers, flies, and poopy diapers. The view is breathtaking, but hard to enjoy with all of of trashy distractions. Tips: Sun block At least 1.5L of water Hike in the morning, as the sun is pretty brutal and warm. Park at Paso Picacho Campground for $8. read more

Did this hike with my dog. Only allowed to have dogs on one of the trails, the fire lane road up. It was pretty steep but also pretty quick. great views. read more

This is one of the best hikes i've done and as of now the hardest. We went through the Azalea Trail Loop and then passed the Azalea Springs, then the Fire road and then it felt like we've been walking forever until we reached the peak and it felt so rewarding. The azalea trail is great for pictures and it's well shaded. It was a rainy day but it comes and goes so it was ok to get wet. The Fire road i think is a shorter way to get to the peak so i would really recommend taking the Azalea trail to get a good workout. I've never imagined having blisters on my ankle but it happened thank goodness i brought my flipflops with me. The fire road is paved so if you have knee issues you better take your knee supplements and maybe wear a knee compression sleeve to help out especially walking back down. read more

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Some friends and I hiked this trail on Saturday, June 11. The weather was in the low 70's and there was a great breeze. Having hiked this trail for over 20 years, I was really surprised, yet relieved, to see how beautiful it still looked. The result of the Cedar Creek fire is still apparent. Many trees are still charred and it appears as though cleanup is still being done on this trail. I am happy to report that the landscape has never looked greener and the new growth is abundant. This hike is a must-see; the views are amazing and the scenery is other worldly. If you desire a hike with minimal people, this is your hike. We began our hike at 9:30 AM and arrived at the top about 10:45 AM. During that time we only saw three other couples.If you desire a get-away-from-it-all hike, this is the one to do. Once you reach the top, there is a strong breeze and an amazing view! It was completely clear the day we went and we could see out into the ocean. It really does not get much better than this. If you have the opportunity to experience this hike, do it! I run about 4 miles a day, and I hike Iron Mountain in Poway twice a week without any complaints, and this hike was STILL challenging to me. It is VERY steep and there are not many flat areas. That being said, I think a person of moderate fitness could complete it if given enough time. Be prepared for a good work out and to be completely sore the next day! You will pay $8.00 to park for the day and can take your time. If you are extremely aggressive, you can go across the street and hike Stone Wall Peak; a moderate hike appropriate for the young ones. Enjoy the beauty! read more

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When you get to the top the views are amazing! Worth it! Before you get to the top there is a look out point with a bench where you can take on the views, meditate and relax, the day we were hiking it was windy, perfect for us. We didn't see anybody the day we were there, made for a very relaxing hike with the wind blowing. Going up hike the pave service road. Is uphill all the way to the top, coming down is the easy part. Park at Picacho campground area, pay $10, water and clean restrooms are available. read more

This is the best hike I've been on. Also might be the longest. The views are amazing! They have a couple of trails to get to the top. We took the Azalea trail. Plenty of parking ($8). There is a great spot before you reach the top with an inspiring view and a cute bench (great for photos). There is also a camping site with cabins and picnic areas. Bathrooms are located near the entrance and further back (clean). At the top we found a box with a notebook and pencils to document our visit (some great stories in there). read more

Cuyamaca Peak - What you'll find at the top! Along with an amazing view! - Hiking Near Me - Descanso, California

Did this hike on New Years, so it was still snowy! Well not falling snow but somewhat soft snow on the ground. Starting the hike, it was dang cold. Then...we slowly had to shred our jackets. The hike is about 3 miles to the top, which is one of the highest peaks in SD. The trail is all paved, which is somewhat of a downside for me, but it's the fire road, so understandable. You can see all around the results of the cedar fire that destroyed so much of the area. Careful where you step, there are so much dog poops throughout the trail. The view on top was beautiful. On a clear day, you can see most of San Diego and the border. read more

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Bag this hike and you can throw out your "Buns of Steel" video. This is highest peak in the county at 6512 feet. Cowles is 1591. The 3.5 mile trail is paved, dog friendly, and TOUGH, but when you reach the top on a clear day, you will be greeted with a view of the entire county...you can even see Catalina after a nice rainstorm clears the crap out of the sky. Squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, and good old mountain lions call this home so hike with a friend. Weather conditions fluctuate dramatically from the bottom to the peak, especially during winter months... yes you can cross country ski at the summit when it snows. Bring a jacket... or two. It would be a five star hike if the unfortunate Cedar fires did not burn down all the majestic old pines that once covered the landscape, but (sigh)... a few still remain at the top. The trailhead is accessible through the Paso Picacho campground, which is a nice place to camp (pay showers and running water). The day use fee is $6 and if you are feeling especially adventurous the 2 mile Stonewall Peak hike across the street is almost as strenuous as this one, but Fido will have to stay behind. read more

One early December morning, my boyfriend and I decided to soak in some nature. I browsed a couple of my favorite hiking blogs and found Cuyamaca Peak. We parked at Paso Picacho campground for $8 and found the campground covered in SNOW! We were clearly not prepared: wearing thin hiking pants, sweaters and boots that were not waterproof. But we decided to go for it anyway. TROOPERS. =) The trail had a steady incline and was all fireroad (not so great on the knees, but the snow helped on the way down). There were plenty of woodpeckers in the area and evidence of deer as well. As we passed the cloud-line and reached the top of the peak, we were mesmerized. All I could think was, "This must be heaven." The sky above us was blue, and below us, nothing but clouds. Definitely my favorite hike of all time. We are planning to go back in the spring to see the view on a clear day. read more

Really enjoyed this trail. Parked at the Paso campground for $8 and cut through the campground to get to the fire road. Incline the whole way. About 1 mile up was snow. Toward the top was windy/cold so bring a sweatshirt! Dynamic hike the whole way. Lush for the last 1/2 mile. Great views on top! Good hike all around. Took about 3hrs for 6 miles. read more

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It's 3 miles of brutal incline. There is no flat area on the trail. No shade on first 2.5 miles. On the top views are nice and nice shaded areas with tall trees. Make sure you ask rangers clearly where is the trail head. It's not clearly marked and rangers don't seem to make that extra effort to tell you directions. If you want some real work out I recommend this trail but I won't be going back anytime soon. So total length of trail is close to 6 miles. read more

Cuyamaca Peak - Hiking Near Me - Descanso, California

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Now my second favorite site for camping with my boys! Love the sound of the wind through the trees at night! Gorgeous pines filtering the light, great weather, amazing friends, what more can you ask for? Oh yes, the brutal hike up Stonewall Peak. Well, it's only brutal if you are hiking with a 5 year old and have to carry him down in the blazing sun. I tried to convince him not to go but when all the others went...anyhow, it's about 4 miles and has forever views of the lake and terrain. We didn't actually all make it to the top. The 7 y.o. had a blast with his friends but we lost sight of them by the third switchback. Lots of manzanita (red bark) and salvia (purple blooms- related to sage). I ended up carrying my 5 yo back down all the way. All in all a good hike, but do it early and leave the kids at home! read more

A good short hike for a cloudy day, the paved 3.5 mile road that ascends from Paso Picacho campground to Cuyamaca Peak offers a slightly challenging climb with excellent views from the second highest point in San Diego County awaiting those brave souls who make it to the top. Shade is rather scarce with many burned out skeletons of older trees lining the trail, so be sure to wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water and bring a good camera. Visibility from the summit on a clear day is 60-100 miles, so you'll have no trouble at all seeing as far as the Pacific Ocean and the Coronado Islands about 40 miles away to the west, and perhaps all the way to Salton Sea to the east. read more

Awesome hike! Park in the lot next to the fire station, easy to miss as there's no signs off the road indicating this is where the trail is. It's a paved old fire road, so it's not considered a hike hike in my book(won't get dirty, etc), but it was still by far one of my favorites in SD. Good distance, not too easy or hard at all, great views and sights along the way, and best of all is reaching the top!! I've never seen as an amazing of a view in all of SD. I've done quite a few of the more popular hikes in the county, and this one ranks as one of my top faves. Definitely would like to do it again. read more

Did this on Saturday, started around 10am . Took us about two hours to get up. We were walking v.e.r.y. s.l.o.w.l.y. Not so steep but just continuous incline which was tough seeing as I haven't been to the gym for months. We took our dog and it was a great workout for him. It's the only trail we were allowed to take him on in Rancho Cuyamaca SP. We weren't too keen on taking our dog in the black top but it was pretty cloudy on the way up which helped keep it cool plus there was a nice breeze. On the way down the sun came out more which meant the black top got quite hot for our dog's feet. We probably should've left earlier though. Amazing view from the top. And if you shout you can hear it echo for miles. Very satisfying feeling to make it to the top and back. Not so difficult because it is black top but just the unrelenting incline makes it hard. read more

I've don't this hike two times. Once in October with Indian Summer conditions (AKA it was HOT) and the second time was on Christmas day and it was pretty cold...so cold there was ice at the top! I would say either time is lovely as I really enjoyed both times equally. It's almost like two different hikes when the weather is so different. It's mildy strenuous, but not the most difficult hike I've done. It is basically entirely uphill (which does suck when its hot) the whole way with the way back being very easy since it's downhill. Dogs are allowed on this trail. It located at the Paso Picacho Campground and it costs $8 for a day use pass. I would give it 5 stars if it was unpaved...I sort of feel like I'm cheating when it's not dirt! read more

This was a great steep "walk". The reason for the 4 stars and not 5 is only because it's a paved road the entire way up. What I strongly suggest is first hike stonewall peak directly across the street. I parked for free at the fire station located in between Cuyamca and stonewall. By accident I hiked Stonewall thinking it was Cuyamaca. The reason I suggest hiking both one after the other is because doing Stonewall first will give you the hike feel before the long paved road up to Cuyamaca. The views of this peak are by far the best I've seen in SD. I highly suggest going with at least one other person. I hiked it solo and it was so quite that it was eery at times. This is definitely a must for the day hiker. It was 3 hours up and down. I would rate the difficulty, moderate. Solitude at its finest!!! read more

About an hour and a half drive from San Diego, we arrived at the Paso Picacho camp ground at around 10am December 12, 2015. We paid the $8 day pass and got a trail map to start our hike. Since it was still cold that morning, the fire road from the parking lot was still pretty icy. We decided to take the Azalea Glen trail loop which took us to the right instead of going left onto the fire road. The trail was a mix of ice, snow and mud. The trees and surrounding was beautiful, and I would recommend the loop. We eventually made it to the Azalea Springs which connected us to the fire road. We took the fire road the rest of the way up. We stopped at a lookout which posed the most beautiful trees with hanging icicles. After almost being knocked off the mountain by the wind, we continued our way up the peak. At the top, we were greeted by strong winds and a beautiful view. The way down was a little tricky since it was icy and there was patches of black ice. Overall, it was a beautiful chilly and windy day. I wore long leggings with wool socks, a long sleeve, fleece, best, beanie and gloves and I was pretty good. There were only a few times where I was very happy for my gloves and where it was really chilly. Overall, be prepared for ice at this time and high winds. read more

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A nice hike with kids. Not a huge amount of shade but still a pleasant hike that wasn't too difficult. It was all paved -- hiking on a fire road. We did some Geocaching on the way up. It was fun and you get nice views if you can look past the burned remains from the fires. read more

This is a great "foresty" hike that's a perfect distance away from metro SD, where you can get there and back for a solid day hike, and different scene (more woodsy than the desert landscapes closer to SD). read more