This is the prettiest hike I've been on in San Diego. The trail itself is pretty typical for a San Diego trail- rocks, succulents, sandy dirt/gravel pathways. The surroundings, though, is what I found most impressive- it was so green! Many San Diego trails (while sometimes having better views of the city) have a view that's predominantly 'dry' from dirt/rocks. The hike was a bit longer than I expected, but not terribly strenuous. After the first stretch, the incline is pretty steady. The top of the mountain is not terribly large, so I didn't spend too much time up there. The trail was pretty busy, but not too crowded. Lots of dogs were on the trail as well. read more

Iron Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

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I really liked this mountain, wasn't to hard definitely for a intermediate hiker. It took me and my friend only two hours to hike this one hour there and one hour back , but we are pretty experience hikers we did jog a little big back so it took up less time. I must say though It was supper hot outside though make sure to bring sunscreen a hat and plenty of water! The top has amazing views deff. A must see !! Oh and we went around 1030 not a lot of people there at that time I guess.. So try around that time if you don't really have nothing planned for the rest of the day. read more

Iron Mountain - At the peak - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

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This was an awesome hike that was very easy to get to and find parking. We went the day after Thanksgiving (too much foooood) and expected it to be super crowded but to our surprise, it wasn't too bad! We went around noon and it was a tad hot but we brought enough water and left the pup at home so we were able to finish the whole thing in about 2.5 hours. The view at the peak was great! It was a super clear day so we could see all the way to downtown! The hike is pretty flat for half of the hike and the ascent to the peak gets a bit steep. There are several places for you to stop and get some shade and rest on the way up. Great hike with great views! read more

Iron Mountain - Beautiful view at the peak! - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

Amazing workout. Try to go from the parking lot to the summit in 45 minutes if you wanna time to beat. Beautiful trail.

This hike is similar to Potato Chip and Cowles in the SD area. I liked Potato Chip more, but I like this one more than Cowles. It is similar to Cowles with many parts of the trail that are rocky and jaggedy. It was about 5.5 miles from the parking lot to the top and back. There are some great views of the surrounding area. It is just that these inland SD county trails are a bit boring in terms of the plant life and very little in the way of trees. I prefer coastal hikes. It took us about 2 hrs to complete. read more

I usually do the Grasslands Preserve trail daily but they close the gates at 7 and I wasn't going to make it so I stopped by Iron Mtn which is on my way home. I've done Iron Mtn before but it seemed a lot easier this time.. Yay! Guess the Grasslands is a good workout! I hate the first mile. It seems the hardest. Not sure why. Guess getting started with anything is hard. Anyway, it was uneventful snd it was good to work up a sweat. I started at 6:30 and got back to the car at dusk. Nice hike! read more

Iron Mountain - Ya don't see this every day! - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

I love this hike. It has lots of switch backs so Its not too challenging and has a really beautiful view of Poway. Takes about 2 hours round trip. The best time I've ever gone was when I went up before sunrise and there was a fog rolling in. By the time I got to the top the sun came up and there was a fog sitting over all of San Diego and Poway. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It was like I was standing on top of the clouds. I have never been so breath taken and so in awe at nature. I've posted a picture but a must experience of you ever get the chance. read more

Iron Mountain - Sunrise when a fog rolled in. Can't believe this is here in San Diego. - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

So far the best hiking place I've been in San diego. I love that it has literally a mountain feels. Trail going in the center surrounded by mountains. Make sure to wear hiking sure specially when its raining. Very muddy but overall it was fun experience definitely coming back again!!! read more

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Took about 3 hours to hike roundtrip, it was a simple, "easy" hike. Hiked on a Sunday warm morning (there was a nice breeze though). The only shade you can get is at the beginning where the trees make an arc. This hike is easy compared to potato chip rock/mount Woodson trail. Not many inclines, more flat parts, not that much at the top. There are nice views at different parts and at the top. There are benches at the top, no trash cans or bathrooms, it's all at the beginning so do all your business there! They do have doggy bags at the bottom and top though! Encountered many hikers and dogs. Parking lot is small, people also park along the 67. Make sure to bring at least 2 bottles of water and some snacks, depends on you and the weather. read more

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Good intermediate Trail, about 3 miles from bottom to top! Lots of rocky switchbacks once your about 1mile away from peak. 360 degree views of the county is real nice! Gets crowded on the weekends so if you got time during the weekday do that instead! #tryityoumightlikeit read more

Iron Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

Great hike , the place is well kept , very good for people trying to challenge themselves , moderate for strong athletes, me and my dog loved it read more

Iron Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

I'm guessing this is one of the most easily accessed hikes in the San Diego area. Best to hike Iron Mountain in the mid-Fall, Winter & early Spring portion of the year. Just did this hike for 10th time on Friday/Caesar Chavez Day and it was perfect conditions, clear for nice views, maybe 75 degrees and a cool steady breeze. One troublesome part of this otherwise challenging/relaxing hike is the remnants of past car break-ins on the off-street parking, (smashed windows) I've been lucky so far. Although, I probably just jinxed myself... read more

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I would say that this is a pretty moderate hike. I came here with a friend to watch the sunrise and it was GORGEOUS. There was quite a bit of water in the creek since there was a lot of rain in San Diego County for the past week. The first part of the hike is pretty flat and level. Once you get near the top, there are a lot more rocks and it's much steeper. Be careful not to slip in the gravel. Also, it was very windy once we got to the peak, but a beautiful view nevertheless. I saw a lot of people bring their dogs as well, so it's definitely a dog-friendly hike. It took around 2 and a half hours round-trip for us. Definitely bring water and appropriate shoes. My friend wore her Chacos which seemed to work well since there were some muddy areas on the trail. read more

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This is one of my favorite east county hikes. It takes just over an hour to get to the peak and there are alternate trails along the way. The view at the top is awesome. On a clear day you can see...well, everything! It's not a difficult hike but may be a bit tough for a beginner. Plenty of parking at the new trailhead. read more

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Today couldn't be a better day to hike here, nice cool weather. I took my in-laws who are visiting us from Europe. We have hiked other places like Potato Chip Rock, Elfin Forest... But today they admitted it was one of the best and most difficult hikes we have done. Most people did same way to Iron Mountain Peak up and down, which is about 6.5 miles round trip. On the way back we took Elaine Trail which is narrower, rockier and steeper, in the end we hiked over 8 miles to go back to the parking lot. On the way back I almost thought that we got lost but my adventurous father in law found the way back to the car Our legs and butt got a really good workout today, let me tell you if my 60+ year old in-laws can do this kind of hike, anyone can do it except small kids! read more

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Nice place to hike but parking gets crowded and some people don't pick up after their pets.. Rest rooms are also a bit under maintained but it's to be expected for an unstaffed and free recreation area. read more

I really enjoyed this hike. I went early to beat the crowd and there was only a couple people at the top with me. There is a good amount of parking, but I would make sure to get there early because it appeared to fill up really fast. When you start the hike you will be on a groomed dirt road/ish for about the first mile. After that you will be at the base of the climb and be taking the switchbacks all the way to the top. Once you get the switchbacks the hike feels a lot like a Cowles Mountain. I felt challenged by the hike, and really enjoyed the surrounding views. Make sure you bring lots of water on warmer days, there is not shade! read more

Iron Mountain is a fun, partial day hike! Bring lots of water- I promise, you'll need more than you think. It is an enjoyable hike! Nothing crazy special, but I would recommend making an afternoon of it with friends! read more

Iron Mountain - On the hike up, almost to the top - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

Beautiful scenery, moderate hike, very well marked almost impossible to get lost, busy on the weekends read more

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IRON MOUNTAIN is a park located at the intersection of Poway Road and Route 67. Route 67 is distinguished by the fact that it takes you to a very special town, known as, "Julian." And just north of Julian, is Volcan Mountain. Volcan Mtn. has two hiking trails, one leading you directly to the summit and the other, which is a loop, taking you through groves of 5 kinds of oak trees. Anyway, two parking spots (two "staging areas") are available for starting your day at Iron Mountain. The first is at the intersection mentioned above, and the second is at Ellie Lane, located about a mile north on Route 67. SHORTER WAY TO IRON MTN. PEAK; LONGER WAY TO IRON MTN. PEAK. The shorter way to Iron Mtn. peak is just to take Iron Mtn. trail the entire way. Start at the eastern terminus of Poway Road, hike the arrow-straight trail to the ridge, and turn south at the ridge, and enjoy the multiple, scenic switchbacks that bring you to the peak. The longer way to Iron Mtn. peak is to first take Ellie Lane Trail up to the Table Rock area, followed by a relatively level walk that takes you southwards to Wild Horse Trail. Wild Horse Trail then takes up eastwards to the top of the ridge, which is followed by walking downhill a short while and then passing Ramona Overlook, and then continuing southwards by taking Iron Mtn. trail all the way to the peak. To date, I've hiked to Iron Mtn. peak (2696 feet) on three different occasions. Highlights of the scenery include: (1) On Ellie Lane Trail, you can get real close to those huge, spheroid boulders that dot the northern landscape and make the mountain slopes look like a field of scattered marshmallows; (2) Ellie Lane Trail takes you to "Table Rock." Table Rock is not much to look at, but if you stand near table rock and gaze to the south, you will see a mountain peak in the shape of a perfect cone. This perfect cone is abundantly photogenic, especially in the early morning. Then you hike past the spur trail leading to Ramona Overlook; (3) On the Iron Mtn. Trail, once you are above the 2,500 foot elevation level, the scenery becomes more photogenic. In the early a.m., when you gaze to the east, what you see three or four different horizon lines. MAGIC OF 300mm TELEPHOTO LENS. Each horizon line is defined by a different mountain range with its own profile. This is the perfect opportunity for using a telephoto lens. I use a 300mm telephoto lens for photographs. The 2,500 foot high location provides a perfect opportunity for that "special effect" where the 300mm telephoto lens compresses all of the horizons in a special way, so that the following effect becomes more dramatic. The effect is that the closest horizon is most distinct, the next horizon beyond that is hazy, and the next and most distant horizon beyond that is very indistinct (as though it was obscured by smoke); (4) As you approach the very top of Iron Mtn., what also comes into view is the marshmallow-dotted slopes of Woodson Mountain (2 miles to the east). And so, this provides another photo-op for those using a standard 50mm lens, as well as for photographers with a 200mm or 300mm telephoto lens. METAL DISC-MAP AT THE PEAK OF IRON MTN. At the end of the trail is a metal disk, with a map on the disk. The map has names of various mountains with lines pointing to each of the mountains, near and far. One of them is "Mount Whitney" and the marker states that it is 15 miles away. "Look at this," I said to another hiker, a man about 50, "It says that Mount Whitney is only 15 miles away!!!" The man replied, "Ohhh, it looks like for all of these years I have been taking the long way to Mount Whitney!!!" I was glad that the man immediately understood my point. My point was to suggest that something was really, really weird about the disk-map. But later that day, I learned that there are two Mount Whitneys, where the nearby Mt. Whitney is in San Marcos. WATER, HORCHATA, AND CHILI RELLENOS. Even as late as November, you may encounter hot days when hiking Iron Mtn. For this reason, I recommend taking two cans of soda water (or whatever form of H2O you prefer). If you take the longest route, the hike can be around seven miles altogether. On a hot day, a 7-mile hike on Iron Mtn. can pose a real health risk, if you don't bring one or two cans of water. Please also note that, at Iron Mtn., Mount Woodson, and at Mission Trails Regional Park, helicopter rescues of injured hikers or of hikers with heat stroke occur every year. And so, as they say, "Better safe than sorry." Afterwards, I recommend Oscar's Mexican restaurant on Poway Road. Please see my review of Oscar's. After my first Iron Mtn. hike, which was on a hot day, I ordered a large horchata and after that, had a refill of a large horchata. I was shocked by how much water I needed to drink, to recover from my 7-mile hike. But I was pleased with the yummy, yummy horchata (and also pleased by the yummy, yummy chili rellenos). read more

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Great easy trail with plenty of brush and switchbacks. It's gotten a bit more popular over the years but nowhere near Mt. Woodson. There are some additional trails that branch off from the main trail to the summit of Iron Mt. I highly recommend trying some of the detours as they are generally devoid of other people and much more rewarding. Please be sure to observe trail etiquette to make this hike a great experience for others: - Leash and pick up after your dogs. - Refrain from playing music from speakers. - Don't litter, especially at the summit. - Bring lots of water and proper shoes/clothes. This is a nature hike, not a house party. So please be respectful and considerate to others who wish to get away from the city. read more

I definitely would not say that this hike is easy, it was quite grueling going up because its a bit steep and you have to climb a lot of rocks a long the pathway. But I can say that it has a lot of beautiful views. TIP: If you don't hike often, then I highly suggest you bring more than one bottle of water, because one bottle of water is good for one way. It takes about 2-3 hours depending on your speed and durability. We kept having to wait for my older sister because she was out of shape. I would say that it is dog friendly as well. It could possibly get a little bit confusing because there are some different directions on the path. When you get to the top of the mountain, there are a couple table benches you can rest at or have a picnic. You can see the city, mountains and lake from the top. I do recommend this hike. And it's super easy going back down. Overall, great hike. read more

I really like this one! There are a bunch of trails so you can work harder or not so much. My dog loves it and it's pretty beautiful at sunset. I definitely recommend bringing some water as it gets pretty hot during the day, but also recommend hiking in the evening. Also, the parking lot is directly across 67 on Poway Rd. GPS took me down 67 for awhile, but just go straight through the light. read more

Iron Mountain - Adventure Frank takes on Iron Mountain! - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

Good hike in the Poway area. Lots of switchbacks as you get closer to the top. Not a difficult hike, but it's not a short one as well. Be prepared with some water and a snack and you'll be fine. There is designated parking lot for this trail. A bathroom is also located in this lot. Be careful and don't leave valuables in the open in your car. Other than that, good hike after you've down Cowles Mountain a few times. read more

Iron Mountain - Signage - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

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What a great hike! Just finished this hike yesterday with my fiance and siblings and took us a little more than 3 hours. Plus we stay at the top for a bit to take a lot of pictures. It's real windy up there! The Iron Mountain Peak trail has plenty of signs to keep you on the trail, and it's very scenic. Lots of lush green shrubs and trees. At the top there's some picnic tables for those who decide to eat up there after the trek. It's pretty chilly up there. It was a solid 38-40 degrees the entire way up, but the view is gorgeous! Worth the trip. My fitbit said it was almost 7 miles all together. Out of all the hikes I've done in San Diego, this is my favorite and moderately easy. read more

Went on a very busy holiday. Hike itself was beautiful and rocky. Inclines were not difficult. Only problem was that it was very crowded at the top. It may have just been due to the holiday. I would still recommend this hike and plan to go again. read more

Iron Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

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This place is my idea of the perfect first date. 1. Enough of a hike to impress the guy with your fitness level, and enough flat ground for you to catch your breath because you're not actually fit. 2. Beautiful view at the top, and plenty of places to sit and soak in the sun. You can chat if you want, or not. You don't have to worry about what your contorted shape your cheeks form when stuffing sushi in your mouth. No alcohol = no dirty laundry aired. Perfect! This hike is approximately 6-7 miles of a (mostly) gradual incline. It took us exactly 2 hours round trip, walking at a very brisk pace. Paths are wide but rocky, and require a bit of careful navigation. Lots of dogs, dogs, and dogs, so stay home if you are afraid of them. Bring water! read more

Folks! Iron Mountain is a challenging natural beauty of a hiking trail within easy driving distance of everywhere in San Diego. However, the Poway Parks Maintenance Supervisor of Public Works, a fellow named Bob Hahn, is busy FLATTENING this otherwise rugged and perfectly suitable trail that has been in use for many years as-is. Marines from Miramar train for Afghanistan running up this rugged path. Now they may as well walk the beach for "training." Apparently there is some prison contract to do labor and the best thing they can think to do with the money we all don't have is to pick-axe, shovel and rake the granite steps aside to make way for a soft sand dump that will just get washed away next rain. I don't think prisoners have any exceptional trail-building skills, they just like getting out of prison for a few days and look productive. I have no idea why they are doing this. It is so destructive to the trail and the environment. Please voice your opinion about what you would like to see done. Apparently they are trying to get all the way up to the top and 1/3 of the trail is left. Time is short to request forbearance on this mission. I have been told the number is 668 then 4721 and that he may be reached at bhahn at the ci dot poway dot ca dot us Please let the man know what you think. read more

This is one of my favorite places to hike in the county. It's a fun and easy place to hike. You start the hike through a path of trees that you walk under which leads you to the main hiking trail. You get warmed up by going through some turns and a little elevation gain. Then you come to a fork in the road. The trail to the left will lead you to a trail that gets you a view of Ramona. It's pretty nice. The trail to the right will lead you up Iron Mountain for a view of Poway and San Diego. That is a nice view too. The trails zig zag most of the time. There's huge boulders to climb and chill on. There's a place where you can yell and hear your echo. It's pretty awesome and easy. I highly recommend. A+. Would hike again. read more

This is a great place to hike an see the entire San Diego area. The view from the top is spectacular and on a clear day you can see the ocean. You get a panoramic view of Ramona, north county basically everywhere. It is important to get there early in the morning if you want to get a parking space. Otherwise you will have to park on the side of the Hwy. If you go in the summer it is best to start before it gets hot out. read more

Iron Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

This hike is super awesome! I went yesterday for the first time, and enjoyed myself. The views are awesome. It's a little rough towards the top (steep, rocky), but not horrible. Make sure to wear shoes with ankle support for the way down. I almost twisted mine multiple times because I was wearing light-weight running shoes without much support. Also, it can get pretty hot, so make sure you have enough water and that you go early or after 2pm. I made the idiot mistake of starting at 11:30, and was overheating pretty quickly. There isn't much shade, so just be smart about starting times :) Took me 2 hours and 10 min including stopping at the top for 5-10 min to take dorky pictures and admire the views read more

I haven't exercise in months, and my job causes me to be sedentary most of the time... I haven't been hiking in over a year, but I'll be damned if I couldn't do a 5.8 mile hike up and down... It's a bit more steep the last mile up, but overall completely doable. I would say its even easier than Cowles, despite being longer - We completed it in two hours with plenty of short breaks. Watch out for unsteady rocks on your way down. Being essentials to avoid sunburn and dehydration : 50+ SPF sunblock, chapstick (SPF if you're not sensitive), a good water bottle, and a light snack. There's a bench on the top with a telescope of some sort. The top is a bit rocky, so you'll find yourself climbing around to take pictures. I wouldn't say this has the best view. If you're looking for a sweet view, Cowles Mountain or Torrey Pines would be your best bet. It is a bit crowded in the morning, but the longer distance allows everyone to be more spread out. read more

If you're tired of Cowles Mountain and are looking for something new, check out Iron Mountain. The name is only half right. All I saw was dirt and rocks, but it is definitely a mountain. It tricks you but starting off with a nice foliage the first couple hundred feet, making you feel like Frodo in the Shire. In fact, through the first 2/3rds of the hike, it doesn't seem like much of a mountain at all. But it's a trap! Once you can actually see the peak, it turns into Mordor. Switchbacks to the top. There is no shade. But there are picnic tables at the top. It must have sucked for whoever dragged those things up there. QUICK TIPS - Get there early (before 10AM) as the parking lot gets filled pretty quick - Germaphobe? Bring your own hand sanitizer for the bathrooms read more

Iron Mountain is a wonderful hike in the Poway area. With a nice zig-zag trail and some hidden shortcuts, you can have some fun with this trail. There is very little shade and we went around 11 a.m. so the heat was pretty brutal but it was still a fantastic view towards the top and it's pretty simple to find your way back when taking the shortcuts. Parking isn't too bad though there is no water fountain at the restroom area and the restrooms themselves are pretty run down. Overall, if you enjoy a good hike, I would say Iron Mountain is a great option and it's best to get here a bit earlier if you have problems with heat exhaustion. read more

Iron Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

I hiked Iron Mountain recently and fell on my tired and out of shape Gluteus Maximus. It used to be called a butt, but it has recently Maximized its Gluteal properties, so I feel a more formal address is required. Oops, got distracted again. On to the hike, it was so freaking hot and I felt like I was reenacting the Bataan death march at times, but what a pretty place to suffer. This is a classically beautiful So cal hiking location. Not your verdant green coastal hike, but has it's own unique scrub, beautiful flowers and plants that are able to live in this dry terrain. The other people hiking that day were so friendly, like fellow sufferers we all smiled and bemoaned the heat and marveled at the collective insanity of people who decided that this was a good idea. The midpoint of the hike took us to the top of Iron Mountain and to a breathtaking view of San Diego. I was so happy to make it to the top even as I was tired and wondering how I would get back to the bottom. Thankfully a few breezes started up and it was cooler on the way back. Several hours later with a bruised and lacerated arm and a bruised GM, I decided that it was all worth it and I want to go back (after I get in better shape) read more

San Diego is beautiful all year round so the weather was perfect in December for this 6 mile hike. I don't think I would want to do this trail in the summer though, especially when it hits 80 degrees. There isn't that much shade so you should probably bring some sunblock to reapply at the top. I found the hike to be fairly easy. I was hoping it would be steeper considering I desperately need a serious workout after the holidays. I saw a lot of families that day with young kids which shows that it's a safe trail. The layout is nice for a slow jog up and down the mountain. I'd definitely come back early in the morning when there are less people so that I can keep a steady pace. Closer to the top (which btw, has a great view), I saw a woman come down on her dirt bike which was really awesome! She was my girl crush for the day. I love that you're allowed to bring your dogs but people seriously need to pick up after their pets. ESPECIALLY when it's a piece of shit the size of a baby's head. Come on, that is so gross! I'll have to try Ellie Lane the next time I'm over here. Happy hiking! read more

The trail is well defined and there is a large parking lot with pit toilets at the trail head. This is a great place for people that aren't familiar with the outdoors to spend the afternoon outside. The trail at all hours of the day has lots of traffic. Its well maintained but lots of people. Moderate incline and clearly defined trail at all times. If you're seeking the solitude of the outdoors then this isn't the hike for you. Be careful this place can get REALLY HOT mid day during summer months. Brings lots of water and stay hydrated or avoid peak heat hours altogether. Temperatures exceed 95 regularly on summers days and there is no shade on this hike. At the top you'll see an expansive view of the cityscape. You can enjoy a Birdseye view of Poway and the rollings hills of Ramona with the notorious giant sphere shaped granodiorite boulders jutting out of the coastal shrub-land landscape. read more

We got up early this morning and went to Iron Mountain for the first time. We wanted to switch it up from our standard Mission Trails. It was a beautiful hike, pretty rugged. I wore my hiking sandals and was quite comfortable, although I did see a couple people eat it on the loose rocks. I'm quite a clutz but did okay! It was hot, but we had plenty of water so it was bearable. Will definately come back here next weekend, it was wonderful exercise and beauty. read more

Iron Mountain - hiking gods look down on us! - Hiking Near Me - Poway, California

Popular San Diego area hike. Budget 2.5-4 hours depending on what you plan on doing (there are some secondary trails). Avoid in Summer (too hot) unless early AM. read more

********IRON MOUNTAIN******** Disclaimer: I can only recommend hiking to the summit at night during a full moon. That way no one else is on the trail, there's plenty of parking space, and it will be nice and cool out. Also hiking by moon light is just pure badassery. Consult your lunar calendars. Difficulty: This hike starts out piss easy and gets harder the further along you get so pace yourself and take rests when needed. You'll want water. Hazards include a plethora of stone-rock steps to scale throughout, steadily increasing in frequency and complexity before you summit. Make sure you get good footing on those loose stone-rock fuckers that want to kill you. The summit has a picnic table and mounted telescope which are free to use. The main reward is the view. Descent is easy as pie but I suppose you could still die... P.S. Don't use the bathrooms at the base. The foulness that lives in there cannot be slain by mortal men. ProTip: POOP on the mountain instead! read more