San Diego Hiking Trails

As a newbie to SD I finally made the trek to Poway Park and experienced the trails I have read so many comments on...I arrived at the park at 8:00 this morning with a nice layer of clouds blocking out the sun but by the time I arrived at the Mt. Woodson trail head that layer had burned off. The trails are very well posted and as many have commented the Mt Woodson trail narrows as you make the climb...I thought I was in pretty good shape but the hike really taxed me and I was starting to wonder if I should turn around about a half mile from the top...while the way up was tough on my back and upper legs, the way back down was pretty tough on the calfs and feet. The trail shoes I used were a little too soft soled...any suggestions on a good trail shoe/hiking boot hybrid? Wonderful views all around...there were quite a few people out this morning on the trails but always going the opposite way. Enjoy!

So this is my second review because what actually happened with my experience at this hike was that I started at the bottom of Mt. Woodson right off the 67. I wasn't really paying attention and did not start at Lake Poway. So we started the hike walking up Mt. Woodson which is a 2.2 mile steep curvaceous road. At the top of that was the top of the peak where the radio towers are. We then proceeded and continued our hike down to Lake Poway. After relaxing at the lake for 20min we hiked back up to the peak and back down Mt. Woodson. The hike ended up being a good 13 miles. If you want a good challenge I recommend this path. If not, REMEMBER to start the hike at Lake Poway Park and not off the 67.

So I'm actually going to review this twice. Once for just the Lake Poway trail to the peak. So my buddies and I went out today to this trail around 11am, so we started a little late. It gets really hot due to the lack of shade so bring a hat and a good amount of water. Its a pretty good steady incline to the peak, with some parts a lot stepper than others. So make sure you conserve some energy. There are a couple of spots along the way where you can stop to rest in the shade, one being behind a large rock and the other under a tree. The view is rather nice up as others have mentioned. My favorite spot is actually on top of this cracked boulder. Its like a ledge that goes out over the mountain. It can be kind of dangerous getting to it, but its quite relaxing to just sit there and relax. It's also a popular photo spot as a lot of people were getting to that spot to take a picture. No doubt a new facebook profile picture for many!

We are new to San Diego, and were looking for a place to go for a hike, and found the website, took the top rated hike and really enjoyed our day. feet are nice and sore and spirit is nice and high. Was great day, not a cloud was in the sky, we could see the ocean, with the late afternoon sun shimmering a golden light... we made it to the radio towers and felt at home. met a guy there who told us the elevation at the top was around 2600 feet. I was most impressed when we saw the mountain from the i 15 and it really felt like a day.

the big question.? what next?

I've been up mt woodsen the past 4 sundays in a row. Excellent workout. Last sunday the low lying fog was beautiful once we got above it. Well maintained. At a casual pace its about 4 hrs. Power hiking with a trail run back down its about 2.5 hrs (and about 2,000 calories).

I just did this alone, it was a great hike...If your in decent shape I don't believe you will run into a lot of issues. I would say I am above average fitness level...So I rated the hike a 4 for difficalty.

The Scenic view is great - it was a little cloudy so it was great to see the clouds.

Great day!

We're new hikers, relatively fit, and enjoyed this hike immensely. We did 4.8 miles, 2.4 in and out. 'In,' was nearly 100 % upward; a great (albeit unexpected) aerobic and an-aerobic workout.

My calf muscles were speaking to me the next day, not complaining, just letting me know that they hadn't been used in a while like this.

Take your time on the way up, bring plenty of water, and enjoy the scenery. We were lucky enough to spot an amazing eagle overhead.

I agree SD Hiker. This hike is nowhere as crowded as Iron mountain. The sun will be at your back during the afternoon and there isn't much shade to take breaks at. I suggest wearing a hat and bringing plenty of water. There's a paved road and a radio station at the peak that you get to poke around as the fruits of your labor. Awesome hike.

To be honest this has got to be one of the best hikes I have been on in all of San Diego.

The trail begins with a steep ascent on a relatively wide dirt trail. Once you hike about 3/4 mile up the trail, the Mt. Woodson trail will be clearly marked and you will begin the ascent to Mt. Woodson. The main part of the trail is about 5-6 ft. across and is well maintained. Be careful about being the first one on the trail because there are many spider "webs" that you will have to push through. The latter part of the trail nearing the top is singletrack and becomes very steep. I was very satisfied with the difficulty of the trail. I was pushing a relatively fast pace and reached the top in about an hour.

Just FYI the gates for the park opens at 7am for this early birds...

I love this trail. It is only minutes out of Poway but a world away. This trail is much better than Iron Mountain