At 1,369 ft, Pyles Peak is located near Cowles Mountain…read more There are a couple of ways to get to this hike, but I went through Cowles. I believe the other way is going to less trafficked route, the Barker Trail. At Cowles summit, if you follow the path near the antenna, it will lead you to Pyles Peak--a quieter 1.5+ mile out-and-back hike from Cowles summit. To get to Cowles summit you can either take the scenic route, which is a 1.5 mile hike to the summit or the service road, which is a 1 mile hike. There is a parking lot you can park in or street parking. There's restrooms at the entrance near the scenic side. There is not much shade so be aware of that. This hike is kept very clean. I just find it to be a little more on the boring side. This was the last hike I did for the five peak challenge! That could have influenced my feelings towards this hike.

Instead of following the traditional route of hiking up the front (south) side of Cowles Mountain,…read moreI started my trek from the end of the Mesa Service Road on the east side of Mission Trials Regional Park. The Mesa Trail actually had more shade to protect you from the heat and sunlight than if you started from the main trail head at the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. The tough part began when you ascended west on the Cowles Service Road towards the summit of Cowles Mountain. It was nearly a mile stretch in which the incline became rather steep in a couple of spots. As soon as you pass the top of Cowles Mountain, you keep going west for a few hundred more yards before you see a sign that directs you to a trail towards Pyles Peak. From that point, it was another 1.5 miles of decline and incline before you reached the summit of Pyles Peak. About halfway into this part of the trek, there was a view point (i.e. Pyles View Peak) where you could branch off back east for maybe a 1/4 mile until the path ended in a cul de sac. At that location, you get a wonderful view looking back towards the top of Cowles Mountain. It's a nice rest stop and photo opportunity. There was about 3/4 mile left to hike before reaching Pyles Peak. A sign posted 1/4 mile from the summit warned hikers that this was a difficult climb. I actually didn't find it any worse than the ascent up the Cowles Service Road. The sign at the Pyles Peak summit indicated you were 1379 feet above sea level. After taking several pictures and eating some snacks, I started my journey back to where my vehicle was. In total, this hike took approximately 3.5 hours with breaks to cover about 6.5 miles.

I am generally happy to have any time outdoors, and I will preface this review to say, that I think…read moreit simply wasn't the best trail at the best time with my dog. Last weekend, I decided to meet up with a friend and his dog, and we decided to take the trek up the mountain Generally, Cowles Mountain isn't my favorite, as it gets too crowded. Also, I typically hike at night, meaning that I rarely ever see anyone. This was my first time taking my dog on Cowles, which meant that I had to be careful about other dogs on the trail, to ensure her safety. I generally choose Barker Way when I hike Cowles, as there is ample street parking, and it is slightly less crowded than the other side of the mountain. However, the trail still got crowded and quite narrow on the top. Despite my efforts, a random dog snapped at mine, which made me wary of the crowded, narrow trail. Luckily, my scared dog did not get injured. I then pulled off into the brush each time I saw another dog in order to keep some distance. On the way down, we decided to take the other route back to the trailhead, as it was wider, and less traveled, It was an extremely steep dirt road. Unfortunately, there was very little traction, as most of it was dirt and loose gravel, which doesn't bode well with an excited spaniel who wants to pull off into the bushes to chase lizards. So, I took a little tumble. Luckily, I was fine, however, I went extra slow after that. All in all, I prefer less crowded trails, and the trails that have loose gravel are not best with dogs. I still enjoyed being outside and getting some exercise with a friend, but will choose another mountain next time for hiking with my dog.

Less incline and traffic on this trail which made it more enjoyable as we didn't feel like we were…read morerushing or over exerting ourselves. Plenty of dogs and regular hikers on the trail here and there, and a handful of areas to stop off and take a break. Took 2hrs round trip from the base of the trail to the top of the trail, but not including to the top of Cowles Mtn.

Beautiful hidden trail with plenty of parking. You can find all different plants, insects, birds…read moreand native animals. It's a great spot to observe wildlife in their native landscape here in Southern California.

This is a beautiful place to visit if you happen to be out this way. The trail itself is short…read morehowever there are lots of areas that are not maintained but I still enjoyed climbing small rocks to get through some parts. This is good for bird watching or if you want a little peace and serenity! If you ate looking for more of a hike there are plenty of other trails around that you can take but I truly enjoyed being out here with a little drizzle and the birds.

It's a great river swim with the family…read more However be very careful.. I feel in a whole in Sept 5th,2022 and twisted both ankles. Which I'm still suffering pain from Two month in my injury. My family had lots of fun( I didn't since I was in pain but since it was 2hr drive I suck it up for them). My toddler love it.. we went when LA hit over 100* heat... it very nice in the water!! Many ppl with floating I do suggest to make sure everyone know how to swim as its now drag ppl down the stream..

I could see this being a 3 or 4 star hike depending on the season and weather conditions you do the…read morehike in. I hiked it on 2/24/19 and found the conditions to be ideal for my enjoyment! Location- it was only about a 30 minute drive for me since I spent the night after attending a party at a family member's house in El Cajon (suburb of San Diego); I jumped on the 8 East and as the elevation reached 3,000 ft I could begin seeing snow on the hills near the fwy and I got even more excited for this hike- took Exit 47 for Sunrise Hwy and the trailhead parking was about 2 miles away from the fwy and there was a large lot on the side of the hwy to park Trail- you access the trail by walking across the road and going to the right of the metal barrier...the snow was the deepest on this portion of the hike for about half a mile and the first part of the hike is where the trail is the narrowest with portions where you have to bend over and get low to continue past low branches; at about 3/4 of a mile you will get down to creek level and make a left to get to the waterfalls...I carefully climbed up to reach about 4 parts of the waterfall and it was flowing really well with all of the recent precipitation of this winter and it was a pleasant surprise to find this so close to the city of San Diego; it is about 2 miles RT and not anything too extreme in the way of incline and I loved having the trail/falls all to myself for the nearly 2 hrs I was there *I used microspikes just to be safe but I could see it being fine with just hiking shoes

This trail is relatively easy. Paved road all the way through with little to no incline. The dam…read morewas absolutely gorgeous Wish I had been here earlier in the fall season when the leaves started changing colors. Would definitely do it again for a nice stroll/ leisure exercise

This is one of my favorite places to hike in San Diego because, I truly enjoy seeing and hearing…read morewater . It has such a relaxed feel about it . Different level of trails here from easy family friendly to more challenging with incline . It's a great place to view nature with an easy nature stroll if you want to take it easy . Some benches are set up for taking a rest near the dam or down the paved path. Bicyclist , runners, walkers and hikers can come out to play and go home happy . I did notice also a few picnic benches setting near the damn parking lot as well a water fountain is available . Porta potty's available there as well . The visitor center has regular bathrooms and maps for the trails .

This was an enjoyable hike that is best to do in the morning. I came with my hubby and a friend who…read morehas done this hike numerous times. The lot has plenty of parking and not crowded at all for being a weekend. There is a porter potty (bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer) but no drinking facilities. I could see this hike being miserable on direct heat so do bring plenty of water. I drank about 48 oz on a relatively cool day (when we finished the hike it was 82 degrees). It took us just short of two hours (started at 8 am) to complete the loop. When you see the trail split we ventured to the right of the trail (you'll come back on the other side). After a nice relatively flat walk you'll start to ascend. This is the toughest part of the hike but it doesn't last long. Key is to go slow. The view from the top is fantastic and totally worth it. Then you'll descend and end up going through this abandoned corral. The scenery is very nice. Only a slight incline awaits you before it goes flat again and you branch off to the trail you've started. It's a very nice easy to moderate hike (moderate being the incline). Terrain can be slippery due to loose dirt, rocks, and gravel so wear shoes with good traction. Nice hike overall. I'd definitely do this again. My advice- come early to avoid the heat, bring plenty of water/snacks, shoes with traction, and hand sanitizer and toilet paper in case the toilet is not stocked.

I haven't been out here for a while...Spring flowers are in bloom, everything was GREEN, water…read moreflowing! So beautiful! It was chilly early in the morning, but as you start to leave the valley, you'll feel a warm breeze coming off the mountain. As you ascend towards the mountain side you'll feel the sun beat down on you, so don't forget sunblock and plenty of water! There's plenty of shade down in the valley, but limited on the mountain. Get up and get out!

Alltrails lists this as 'Horse thief Canyon', then I saw that I had this listing bookmarked on Yelp…read morefor sometime and noticed that they were the same thing! Distance: ~3.3mi., reverse out-and-back (you will be going uphill on the return trip) Difficulty: easy-intermediate-ish (~0.5mi ascent on your way out which can get the heart pumping!) Time: 1.5-2 hours Permit required?: No (according to permit site - https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5208699&width=full) Sights of Interest: Mini waterfall and pool Parking is in a big dirt lot just off of Japatul Lyons Valley Rd.. Turn in at Forest Rt 16S04. No bathrooms, so bring some T.P.! There are three gates as you approach - two smaller ones and a large one leading to a service road. Take the gate with a sign marking the 'Epinosa Trail to Secret Canyon Trail'. You'll end up on the service road either way. Continue on the service road until you see a sign off to the right that says 'Trail'. This is where you'll begin the descent into Horse thief Canyon. Eventually it evens out into a nice shady area alongside a stream. Lots of vegetation and growth everywhere, so make sure to *bring the bug spray*! There's a stream crossing after which you'll come upon the pool! Lots of great places to hang out on and relax on boulders. Water is pretty clean for swimming too. Awesome place to bring your dogs to cool off after the dusty trail. Just remember to pack your trash out if you plan on picnic-ing down at the pool! Most of your journey is on the Epinosa Trail and supposedly the Secret Canyon Trail is just beyond the pool, but the trail doesn't seem to continue anywhere beyond it. Great trail either way that experiences very little foot traffic so the area is very well preserved and wild! FYI, apparently this area experiences an influx of illegal immigrants and smugglers, but I think that was in earlier years. It was pretty safe when I went and I only had my dog in tow. But, I like to live life on the edge, so if you are wary come with a group!

If you go during the week during normal business hours this trail is dead! It was our 2nd time here…read moreand there was only 1 car in the parking lot and we never even ran into the people. This is nice but also kind of scary especially since it's kind of in the middle of nowhere and you don't have great service but luckily I am alive today to write this review. The first time we went on this hike we missed the path and ended up just heading straight through on a dirt road so pay attention on your right hand side for a sign marked trail. This trail would have gotten more stars if it wasn't for the ridiculous amount of flies. I almost turned back because I couldn't stand them constantly flying in my face and in my ears. Maybe I am not an outdoorsy person if I cant handle that but it was hard to enjoy this hike when I was having to smack flies away the whole time. This is also one of those hikes that is fairly easy on the way down but tough on the way back because you have to go back up. I will say though that it was a really pretty hike and there is a creek at the bottom. We didn't go the whole way but did about a little over 3 miles of it. It's about a mile and a half to see the beginning of the creek. Maybe wearing bug spray might help with the flies?

An outstanding "under the radar" waterfall hike is right here in Descanso. The Merigan Trail (aka…read morethe Merigan Fire Road) is closer than you think at just five minutes off the 8 freeway. Once at the trailhead, you will start your hike through an open meadow, passing some shady oak groves then finishing with waterfalls crashing on large boulders. I was introduced to this gem when I was at sixth grade camp, at Camp Oliver. I knew the Merigan Trail was great even then, but now I can truly appreciate how this area was left untouched after all these years. If it is your first time here, you will be back. FYI..there was still snow on the ground when we went in early January. There is no official address, but the place is right off Viejas Boulevard at Mitzpah Lane. Since it is part of the Cuyamaca State Park, they have their own signs, dirt parking lot, port-a-potties and the "honor system" check in station. I guess they ask for an 8 dollar fee to park. From the parking lot, walk to the trail head going left that passes right in front of a ranger's cabin. You can't miss the trail, since it is wide enough to drive a truck through. Stay on the trail and you will pass through a meadow, then an oak grove, this will then turn into a few mild inclines on the trail that will eventually lead you to a fork in the trail. At the fork, you will see a sign with the option to go to the "Dead Horse Trail" or stay on the "Merigan Fire Road." I always take the Dead Horse Trail, and go left at the fork in the trail to get to the waterfalls. The hike to the waterfall takes about 30-40 minutes for the average hiker with a few stops to admire the scenery. On a scale of 1-10 for difficulty, I would rate it at a 3. There are some inclines, but nothing too bad. Remember, my entire 6th grade class made the hike. Although I love Mission Trails and Cowles Mountain as much as the next hiker...those spots are flooded with way too many bodies. Just when you think you hear a coyote or deer up ahead, it always ends up being another hiker. Kind of a buzz kill. The Merigan Trail has always been the opposite of that experience for me.

We did this hike based on the review above. There's something about the adventure of trying to…read morefind a waterfall based on one yelp review that sounded fun. It's pretty much just as the above review describes. Drive east on I-8 two exits past the Viejas outlets to Japatul rd and make a left. Make a left at hwy 79 and then an immediate left on Viejas Blvd. Look for Mitzpah rd and park in the dirt lot. Parking is $8. The hike to the waterfall is about 30 minutes. Take the fireroad and make a left at the fork down towards Dead Horse Trail. You will start to hear water. The falls aren't big and majestic, but it's quiet and uncrowded. We had 4 kids with us ranging from age 6 - 9 and they all had a good time.