Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Stonewall Peak Loop

Beware of Stonewall Peak's poodle-dog bush

Beware of the poodle-dog bush on this hike. Touching it can cause an allergic reaction.
Beware of the poodle-dog bush on this hike. Touching it can cause an allergic reaction.

The drive to Paso Picacho Campground, plus the views along the Stonewall Peak, Vern Whitaker, and Cold Stream Trails, show both the devastation of the 2003 Cedar Fire plus signs of recovery. Started on October 25, this human-started fire burned close to 275,000 acres and has the title of being the largest wildfire in recorded California history as part of the SoCal fires labeled as the 2003 Firestorm.

This hike is best taken in the early morning or late afternoon to better take advantage of the panoramic scenery of 6512-foot Cuyamaca Peak, 5883-foot Middle Peak, 5993-foot North Peak, and Lake Cuyamaca and to better take note of the evidence of later controlled burns and plantings of pine trees among the fire-follower plants and dead oaks. It makes for a contemplative hike.

Begin the hike by carefully crossing SR-79 at the kiosk to intersect Cold Stream Trail and Stonewall Peak trail. Turn right on Stonewall Peak Trail and follow it to the 5730-foot peak past the northeast spur on the left near the summit. At the end of the dirt trail, walk over the sloped boulder and behind another before veering to the left, where, after a few feet, the steps and pipe handrail can be seen. Depending on the traffic to the summit, this is a good spot for a snack; or, for more shelter, come down to boulders where the wind is warmer and not as strong.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Return to the dirt trail and follow the northeast spur of the Stonewall Peak Trail, now on the right. After a 20-foot walk onto the spur, there is a pipe rail and signage stating “STAY ON TRAIL CRR 4326 to Los Caballos Horse Camp in 1.5 miles.” In early spring, snow can be seen in patches on the trip down on the trail shaded by the ceanothus or California lilac. A pair of binoculars is helpful in viewing acorn woodpeckers, flickers on the dead branches, hawks in the air, and possibly mule deer among the downed trees. Continue on the trail until it terminates, then turn left along the Vern Whitaker Trail to another left on the Cold Stream Trail to return to Paso Picacho’s parking area. Beware of the poodle-dog bush, a fire-follower seen on both sides of the Cold Stream Trail. It has a rank smell and is a skin irritant (if touched) that can cause large blisters that can last for weeks.

One mile further north on SR-79 N is the exit to Stonewall Mine with another mile to the parking lot. Look closely in the meadow for herds of mule deer — 24 were seen in early March. The final destination is a schoolhouse with the history of the mine found inside along with some remnants of mining equipment behind a fence. Gold was discovered in 1870; the mine produced $2 million before it closed in 1892.

  • Distance from downtown San Diego: 50 miles. Allow 65 minutes driving time (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park). From I-8 E, exit north on CA-79 N/Japatul Valley for 3 miles, then left to stay on CA-79 N for 9.5 miles to the Paso Picacho Campground parking lot. Restrooms. Parking fee is $8, though subject to change.
  • Hiking length: About 5.6 miles to complete the loop.
  • Difficulty: Moderate. Approximately 900 feet elevation gain/loss in the first 3.5 miles. Steep steps to the windy peak, where a windbreaker is recommended. Do not hike to the top during lightning storms.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Celebrate Holi, Borrego Springs Music Festival

Events March 23-March 27, 2024
Beware of the poodle-dog bush on this hike. Touching it can cause an allergic reaction.
Beware of the poodle-dog bush on this hike. Touching it can cause an allergic reaction.

The drive to Paso Picacho Campground, plus the views along the Stonewall Peak, Vern Whitaker, and Cold Stream Trails, show both the devastation of the 2003 Cedar Fire plus signs of recovery. Started on October 25, this human-started fire burned close to 275,000 acres and has the title of being the largest wildfire in recorded California history as part of the SoCal fires labeled as the 2003 Firestorm.

This hike is best taken in the early morning or late afternoon to better take advantage of the panoramic scenery of 6512-foot Cuyamaca Peak, 5883-foot Middle Peak, 5993-foot North Peak, and Lake Cuyamaca and to better take note of the evidence of later controlled burns and plantings of pine trees among the fire-follower plants and dead oaks. It makes for a contemplative hike.

Begin the hike by carefully crossing SR-79 at the kiosk to intersect Cold Stream Trail and Stonewall Peak trail. Turn right on Stonewall Peak Trail and follow it to the 5730-foot peak past the northeast spur on the left near the summit. At the end of the dirt trail, walk over the sloped boulder and behind another before veering to the left, where, after a few feet, the steps and pipe handrail can be seen. Depending on the traffic to the summit, this is a good spot for a snack; or, for more shelter, come down to boulders where the wind is warmer and not as strong.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Return to the dirt trail and follow the northeast spur of the Stonewall Peak Trail, now on the right. After a 20-foot walk onto the spur, there is a pipe rail and signage stating “STAY ON TRAIL CRR 4326 to Los Caballos Horse Camp in 1.5 miles.” In early spring, snow can be seen in patches on the trip down on the trail shaded by the ceanothus or California lilac. A pair of binoculars is helpful in viewing acorn woodpeckers, flickers on the dead branches, hawks in the air, and possibly mule deer among the downed trees. Continue on the trail until it terminates, then turn left along the Vern Whitaker Trail to another left on the Cold Stream Trail to return to Paso Picacho’s parking area. Beware of the poodle-dog bush, a fire-follower seen on both sides of the Cold Stream Trail. It has a rank smell and is a skin irritant (if touched) that can cause large blisters that can last for weeks.

One mile further north on SR-79 N is the exit to Stonewall Mine with another mile to the parking lot. Look closely in the meadow for herds of mule deer — 24 were seen in early March. The final destination is a schoolhouse with the history of the mine found inside along with some remnants of mining equipment behind a fence. Gold was discovered in 1870; the mine produced $2 million before it closed in 1892.

  • Distance from downtown San Diego: 50 miles. Allow 65 minutes driving time (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park). From I-8 E, exit north on CA-79 N/Japatul Valley for 3 miles, then left to stay on CA-79 N for 9.5 miles to the Paso Picacho Campground parking lot. Restrooms. Parking fee is $8, though subject to change.
  • Hiking length: About 5.6 miles to complete the loop.
  • Difficulty: Moderate. Approximately 900 feet elevation gain/loss in the first 3.5 miles. Steep steps to the windy peak, where a windbreaker is recommended. Do not hike to the top during lightning storms.
Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

India Hawthorne is common in coastal gardens, Citrus trees are in full bloom

The vernal equinox is on March 19
Next Article

The Digital Currency Wave Hits the Shores of San Diego

Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.