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    Mt Helix Park

    4.6 (108 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Mt Helix Park

    Venue rental

    Mt Helix Park Photos

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    Bryan And G.

    We had a PICNIC on the TOP OF MT HELIX PARK, and it was amazing!!! We had never been before, and did not know what to expect. As we drove up the windy, windy road, we began to see cars lined up on the side of the road. We were expecting a crowded parking lot. IT WASN'T!!! As we turned the the corner, a car was pulling out. JUST IN TIME!!! We expected to eat on the cement steps, WRONG!!! To the side of the parking lot, there is a SINGLE PICNIC TABLE!!! I had a ROAST BEEF SANDWHICH and POTATO SALAD, and WATERMELON. AND DORITOS!!! As for my partner, he had a TUNA SANDWHICH and POTATO SALAD, and CANTALOUPE. AND DORITOS!!! We got 365 Degree VIEWS!!! I stayed at the table, GONZALO took off UP TO THE CROSS!!!

    Hopefully I won't be struck by lightening...LOL!
    Mikey H.

    It has been a really, really long time since I've been up here. Luckily the weather was great and Cako and I were in the area, so why not? Parking is a little tricky. There's a small lot with like 5 or 6 spots, one being a handicap one. As you enter the top, you can park along the road but space is limited. And if you do park there, please get into your car and leave because someone might be waiting. Which is what happened to us, and this car behind me, went around and parked in the space behind the car I was waiting for. Luckily, another spot opened up. There are some trails around the top that lead you to the amphitheater and cross. It would be great to see a concert here but probably a logistical nightmare! It's a great place to walk up to from below. If I lived nearby, I'd do it. Cako loved running around the amphitheater. On a clear day, you can see El Cajon, La Mesa, the ocean, even Tijuana. It's a great place to come and have a conversation, a solo tip to meditate, or even to smoke a doobie in your car...remember that car that parked in front of me? That's what they were doing! LOL! Cako Approves!

    Signs on the way up to the peak
    Emmett T.

    The centennial anniversary of this historical park in La Mesa is coming up next year. I made a recent stop after learning there was a short trail that wrapped the perimeter of this 1,370 foot mountain peak. There were very limited parking spaces at the top so it surprised me that an outdoor amphitheatre had been built into the hillside in the shadow of a 35 foot high Christian cross. During my walk, I noticed a sign advertising various community events that were held at the amphitheatre if you were a member of Mt Helix Park. The Yawkey Trail, named after the lady whose mother enjoyed the panoramic views here, was a 0.3 mile path that circumnavigated the summit. In each of the four major directions was a sign board that identified the various mountains and points of interest in the distance. They were very helpful and showed why the scenery was so beautiful. It doesn't take long to explore this park, and I can see why it's a hangout for those who want to chill and soak in the sunrise or sunset.

    Jenny P.

    Mt Helix is a vibe when you get up there I chose to park at the bottom across the fire station to get my steps in its only .9 miles up. The amphitheater stairs made me want to do more cardio! There is also parking at the top if you dont want to do alla that haha

    Before sunset and before the concert
    Imee C.

    We bought tickets to a Vivaldi 4 Seasons string quartet concert. We had to park at Grossmont HS. Trolley picked us up from there and drove us to the park. The trolley driver was very entertaining and made the experience memorable. We get dropped off at the venue. They offered wine and charcuterie box for purchase. The experience at the concert was incredible. Being outside with all those candles and the string quartet. Phenomenal!

    Night candles
    Robin N.

    This place is awesome. We went to the candle light symphony and it was beautiful. They shuttle you up to the park because of parking which was great. The ambiance was great too. Be sure to bring something to sit on. The park has the most wonderful views!

    Tiff H.

    360° View. Enough said lol. I come here almost exclusively for sunrise. It's so beautiful. Small. Chill. Quaint. I love this place. The view never gets old. Close to cute coffee and breakfast shops to go to after catching sunrise. Stairs for exercise. It's the perfect mix of exploration and simplicity.

    Guardian angel of Mount Helix.  They are servants of God Almighty.

    When I was younger, I would come up here and pray when I felt like I needed to be close to God. I was having a very hard time one day, and I was praying to God and looking at the majesty of the views. My aunt gave me an old Polaroid camera, and I stood at the cross to take a photo of it, and in the background appeared an image I've always thought it looked like a guardian angel with a sword strap to the side. Pretty powerful. This photo is circa1986.

    Sunset at the top 7/12/19
    Rich M.

    Always a gorgeous place to view sunsets on clear days! While the drive up doesn't seem like a drastic uphill climb, beautiful panoramic views await you once you reach the top. Clear, less smoggy days are simply the best times to go-although sometimes it's hard to tell/predict this before. It can be hazy at times. I have been coming here for more than 30 years, in my high school era having many fun times with friends back then. Underage partying of course, but not any trouble making that I can recall.. At the top there is an amphitheater type setup for private events, weddings, etc. It is very well maintained year round. Do you know about the rotating house? Yes, it is here. There are several small dirt trails surrounding the area for better viewing angles and photos of the entire area. Just take a little time to explore. We prefer to park actually on the road just before the entrance, which makes it really quick to exit down the hill. One of Southern California's simple pleasures that still remains free!

    Emily H.

    An incredible 360 view of the city! Great place for photos and a sunset view. There's a short hike around the mountain and a small concert venue. I came to read and enjoy the sunset on a Saturday night and parking was totally easy. But beware! It's mostly dusty....I made the mistake of wearing white sneakers (don't make the same mistake)

    See the city and the smog. Rise above it all & inhale, exhale deeply.
    VICTORIA C.

    Best place to see the city, exercise & chill, a date. There's even yoga here and events as well. Parking can be sketchy either get lucky or park along side as many do where it says No Parking. One way on one way out. Great for photography!

    View from the Mt Helix Cross looking south
    Caroline H.

    This mountain top has amazing 360 views, it's peaceful, beautiful native plants, historic amphitheater and walking up to the cross was inspirational! My husband asked me to marry him up there years ago. It's still just as beautiful and inspiring . We volunteer up there as gardeners caring for the native plants.

    Sunrise thru the branches
    Janie H.

    This place is a destination jewel of the East County. It was a cool place to go to in High School decades ago and now our grandkids love going there. The 360 degree view is just amazing. Morning sunrises and evening sunsets are pretty fantastic here. And if you want some time alone for dialing down your spirit, there are lots of places to sit and find rest. Or just enjoy the scenery! If you ever see an advertisement for a performance at this theatre, be sure to go. It's a venue like no other under the stars high above the city lights. Very romantic and inspiring. And a fun outing! I've taken so many pics up here. I'll have to dig thru my albums and post them here. My only drawback for Mt Helix is the lack of parking spaces. Way too few. ...but, I guess that's one way of keeping it from being overrun. I love the peace found at the top.

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    7 years ago

    Love the views here. Better to come early in the morning or in the evenings during the week. Parking is hard to find on the weekends

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    16 years ago

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    15 years ago

    Absolutely amazing and breath taking views. I wish I owned one of the houses around here though! it's awesome!

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    10 years ago

    Beautiful view! This location can be a simple sunset date for two, family picnic, a venue or just a place to mediate and pray.

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    13 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Its a beautiful place for a sunrise, just get there on time or the sun will already be up.

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    16 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Nice views - but unless you walk up the city streets leading to the summit, the trails are short and already at the top. Parking is limited.

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    14 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    13 years ago

    beautiful... it was a GREAT place to visit! only negative is lack of parking spaces... but being from LA, i'm used to that!

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    10 years ago

    Perfect place to relax, nice views, but not a place to hike if that's what your what your looking for.

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

    All I can say is beautiful. The view is just beautiful. Recommend people to check it out.

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    12 years ago

    Great place to take out of town guests. Not much facilities, but amazing views.

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    17 years ago

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Mt Helix Park

    Is there parking at the base and then walk up to the peak ? If so what is the address of the parking area?

    Yes! You can park at the corner of Vivera and Mt. Helix Drive and walk up to the top. There is a dirt lot there owned by the Mt. Helix Park Foundation you can park in.

    Is there a bathroom/port-a-potty here?

    Yes, there is a port-a-potty located near the parking lot.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Mt Helix Park

    People might like Mt Soledad more because it is in La Jolla and closer to the ocean, whereas Mt Helix is in La Mesa.

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    It's beautiful... and that's the most appropriate comment I will type…read more My husband and I met Joseph in August of 2024 to plan our daughter's quinceanera that just took place on May 9th 2026. We went over the contract thoroughly, eventually deciding that we would bring our own vendors (taquero, DJ, photographer, baker, event decorator, and 360 photo booth), as I have known many of these people for years and have an established, trusting relationship with most of them. Joseph said that was perfectly fine, the only service that we had to use from his side was the bartender, which my husband and I understood. During this meeting we also met his assistant Patty and were told that she would also be helping us through this process, but that he was always available, and we would have his complete attention the week of and leading to the day of our daughter's celebration. Part of our contract states that we were able to bring the supplies/decor/spirits to the venue the week of the quince. So, on May 4th, my family and I filled the event room with the decorations et al, that we would be using for the following Saturday, the 9th. Every single day, Monday through Friday that week, my mom and I were at the venue, sorting through boxes, opening packages, putting the cake table pieces together, setting up the candy bar, making sure that when the day of came, everything would be organized and ready for the staff to take out to decorate. Friday afternoon (5/8) we met with Patty to clarify all of this. But first let me elaborate a bit more... My family and I had informed Joseph and Patty that we would be bringing some salads, fruit/vegetable platters, and items for a nacho bar that would need to be set up before we arrived. Joseph explained that he did not have enough staff to help with that (8 people doing various jobs, still unsure of what) and that either myself or a friend/family member would need to come and get this ready because he could not accommodate this. We were so grateful that our BAKER, who is not employed by the venue, was able to help with this since she was also arriving early to bring the desserts for the cake table. More on that in a minute. When we arrived at the venue the day of the quince, it looked beautiful, the tables looked ready, centerpieces, runners, etc. then I started noticing that there was so much more missing, and my guests were already walking into the party space. For starters, I did not see hardly any staff in the party area and Patty was unfortunately running around like a madman. She was feverishly trying to set up the luminaries and LED pillars we had brought for the garden walkway. I also noticed that the fruit/veggie/nacho bar table was not set up. I ended up rushing to the clubhouse where all of this was being stored and took everything out of the refrigerator myself. I encountered a staff member on the way back who said to me, "Oh are you the mom? Oh let me know what you need help with." My mind was absolutely boggled. Did my family and I NOT just spend the entire week here and leave detailed instructions? And then... While carrying said fruit/vegetable trays, I walked by the tables to notice that there were not any "reserved" signs placed. We had asked for two tables to be held for the immediate family. I had mentioned this to one of the staff, I believe Lily (she was very lovely) and said she would get right on it. About 10 minutes later I saw that the signs were there, but what I learned the following week was that one of the tables already had guests sitting at it and they were promptly asked to move to another table. Sigh... And then... Once my husband and I were able to catch our breath, we grabbed a quick drink. Jason was our bartender, very kind and solid drinks. While we were at the bar, Joseph came up to talk to us, telling Jason that someone got sick in the bathroom and that he had to stop serving hard alcohol for an hour. Mind you, the bar has only been open about forty-five minutes, and no one has had any shots or is intoxicated. We all disagreed with this but had to oblige. By this time, we were falling behind schedule and had to do the main entrance. Then I realized that I had not seen my daughter in almost two hours, the sun was starting to set, and we did not take any pictures with her in this beautiful space because we had to do the jobs that we had hired this venue for. In the end: No pictures with our daughter in this space that cost half our budget Staff enjoyed our taquero without checking to make sure all of our guests had eaten Saw photos of Joseph and his staff enjoying our 360 photo booth Learned that 80% of my vendors experienced an unpleasant encounter with Joseph My guests were unsatisfied with parking/golf cart availability Not enough restroom signage Reports from vendors state as of 2pm, tablecloths weren't even on the tables.

    Mt Helix Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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