Pyles Peak

Overview

Located in central San Diego, just eight miles northeast of downtown, Mission Trails Regional Park employs both developed and natural open space to be used for recreational enjoyment. Founded in 1974 and encompassing 5,800 acres, it is nearly seven times the size of New York City's Central Park (843 acres). Several summits lie within the parks boundaries, between the popular Cowles Mountain to the south and Fortuna Mountain to the north, rests Pyles Peak. With several steep, yet easy hikes to its summit, the views from its at 1,379 ft peak are second to none. Outstanding views of Mexico to the south, Coronado and downtown to the south and west, Palomar and the Ranges beyond to the north, and Cuyamaca and El Cajon Mountains to the east are all obtained from its summit.

Getting There

There are several ways to attack Pyles Peak with four of the five routes requiring you to summit Cowles Mountain first. The most popular route is to climb from the main staging area at the Golfcrest / Navaho trailhead, summit Cowles, head north off the summit and continue on the trail to Pyles Peak. The other three requiring one to summit Cowles Mtn are from the Barker Way trailhead, Mesa Road trailhead and the Big Rock Park trailhead. The last way to summit Pyles Peak is to climb an unmarked trail off of Mission Gorge Rd just around the corner(east) from Golfcrest. After working your way up the steep western slope, you hit a more maintained trail. As you follow this trail up to the saddle you take a use trail off to the left(northeast) up to the summit of Pyles Peak.
































The directions to the various trailheads are below.

Golfcrest Trailhead:
From I-15, take Friars Rd. East which becomes Mission Gorge Rd., 5.0 miles east. Pass Jackson Drive and the Mission Trails Regional Park turnoff. Continue up Mission Gorge Rd. to a right turn on Golfcrest (the first traffic light past Jackson Drive). Follow Golfcrest one mile south to the trailhead on the left side of Golfcrest at Navajo. On weekends the parking lot is usually full, however curbside parking is permitted on Golfcrest

From Interstate 8 - Take 8 to the College Avenue exit. Proceed north on College Avenue 1.0 miles to Navajo Road. Turn right and proceed on Navajo Road 1.9 miles to Golfcrest Drive. Turn left on Golfcrest Drive to enter parking lot.

From Route 52 - Take 52 to the Mast Blvd. exit in Santee. Driving east, turn left onto Mast Blvd., go under the freeway to the first traffic signal (West Hills Parkway) and turn right. Driving west, turn right onto Mast Blvd. and right onto West Hills Parkway. Take West Hills Parkway to Mission Gorge Road and turn right. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road 1.9 miles to Golfcrest Drive. Turn left onto Golfcrest Drive and proceed to the top of the hill. The staging area is on the left at the intersection of Navajo Road and Golfcrest Drive.

From Route 125 - Take 125 north to Mission Gorge Road. Exit at Mission Gorge Road and make a left. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road 3.3 miles to Golfcrest Drive. Turn left onto Golfcrest Drive and proceed 1 mile to the top of the hill. The staging area is on the left at the intersection of Navajo Road and Golfcrest Drive.

Barker Way Trailhead:
From Route 52 - Take 52 to the Mast Blvd. exit in Santee. Driving east, turn left onto Mast Blvd., go under the freeway to the first traffic signal (West Hills Parkway) and turn right. Driving west, turn right onto Mast Blvd. and right onto West Hills Parkway. Take West Hills Parkway to Mission Gorge Road and turn right. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road 1.9 miles (past the Father Junipero Serra Trail entrance to Old Mission Dam and Kumeyaay Lake and Campground) to Golfcrest Drive. Turn left and proceed to the top of the hill. Turn left onto Navajo Road and proceed 0.7 miles to Cowles Mountain Blvd, turn left. Proceed down Cowles Mountain Blvd. 0.5 miles to Boulder Lake Avenue and turn left. Proceed to the end of Boulder Lake Avenue and turn right onto Barker Way. The trail head is approximately 75 yards down Barker Way on the left. Parking is limited at this location.

From Route 125 - Exit at Navajo Road. Turn west onto Navajo Road and proceed 0.7 miles to Cowles Mountain Blvd, turn right. Proceed down Cowles Mountain Blvd. 0.5 miles to Boulder Lake Avenue and turn left. Proceed to the end of Boulder Lake Avenue and turn right onto Barker Way. The trail head is approximately 75 yards down Barker Way on the left. Parking is limited at this location.

From Interstate 8 - Take 8 to the College Avenue exit. Turn north onto College Avenue. Proceed down College Avenue 1.0 miles to Navajo Road. Turn right onto Navajo Road and proceed 2.6 miles to Cowles Mountain Blvd, turn left. Proceed down Cowles Mountain Blvd. 0.5 miles to Boulder Lake Avenue and turn left. Proceed to the end of Boulder Lake Avenue and turn right onto Barker Way. The trail head is approximately 75 yards down Barker Way on the left. Parking is limited at this location.

Mesa Road Trailhead:
From Route 52 - Take 52 to Mission Gorge Road in Santee. Turn west and proceed 0.4 miles to Mesa Road. Turn south onto Mesa Road and go past the Big Rock Park trail head to the end. The trail head is 0.5 miles down the dirt road. There is limited parking at this trail head.

From Route 125 - Take 125 north to Mission Gorge Road in Santee. Turn west and proceed 0.4 miles to Mesa Road. Turn south onto Mesa Road and go past the Big Rock Park trail head to the end. The trail head is 0.5 miles down the dirt road. There is limited parking at this trail head.

From Interstate 8 - Take 8 to the Mission Gorge/Fairmount exit. Turn north onto Mission Gorge Road. Proceed on Mission Gorge Road for 7.5 miles to Mesa Road. Turn south onto Mesa Road and go past the Big Rock Park trail head to the end. The trail head is 0.5 miles down the dirt road. There is limited parking at this trail head.

Big Rock Park Trailhead:
From Route 52 - Take 52 to Mission Gorge Road in Santee. Turn west and proceed 0.4 miles to Mesa Road. Turn south onto Mesa Road and proceed 0.5 miles to the trail head. The trail head is on the right side of the road just past Big Rock Park.

From Route 125 - Take 125 north to Mission Gorge Road in Santee. Turn west and proceed 0.4 miles to Mesa Road. Turn south onto Mesa Road and proceed 0.5 miles to the trail head. The trail head is on the right side of the road just past Big Rock Park.

From Interstate 8 - Take 8 to the Mission Gorge/Fairmount exit. Turn north onto Mission Gorge Road. Proceed on Mission Gorge Road 7.5 miles to Mesa Road. Turn south onto Mesa Road and proceed 0.5 miles to the trail head. The trail head is on the right side of the road just past Big Rock Park.

Red Tape

No Permits required.

Drink and Bring Plenty of Water.

For more rules and regulations and to learn more about Mission Trails Regional Park click Here

Camping

Camping is available at:
Kumeyaay Lake Campground
Two Father Junipero Serra Trail
San Diego, CA 92119
(619) 668-2748

From Interstate 8 – Take 8 to the Mission Gorge Road/Fairmount Avenue exit. Turn north onto Mission Gorge Road, then east at the Friars Road junction, to stay on Mission Gorge Road. Proceed east on Mission Gorge Road for 6.5 miles, passing both Father Junipero Serra Trail and Golfcrest Drive. Continue east and turn left onto Father Junipero. The entrance to the campground is located two-tenths of a mile at the stop sign on the right.

From Highway 52 – Take 52 to the Mast Blvd. exit in Santee. Turn north onto Mast Blvd. and then right at the 1st traffic signal, onto West Hills Parkway. Take West Hills Parkway to Mission Gorge Road and turn right. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road for two-tenths of a mile, then merge right onto Father Junipero Serra Trail. The entrance to the campground is located two-tenths of a mile down the road on the right, at the stop sign.

From Highway 125 - Take 125 north to Mission Gorge Road and turn left. Proceed west on Mission Gorge Road for two miles and merge right onto Father Junipero Serra Trail. The entrance to the campground is located two-tenths of a mile down the road on the right, at the stop sign.

From Route 15 - Take Route 15 to the Friars Road exit and head east. Friars Road will turn into Mission Gorge Road, which you then follow for about 6.5 miles. After you pass the light at Golfcrest Dr., turn left onto Father Junipero. The entrance to the Kumeyaay Lake Campground is located on the right, at the stop sign

External Links and Topo Map

Mission Trails Regional Park

My Photos of Pyles Peak

Images

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