Not the highest peak but maybe the best view

Eagle Peak is not the highest peak in the area but it has a commanding 360-degree view of the San Diego River canyon, the river’s main tributaries, and all of the surrounding peaks. It is a popular destination for local area rock climbers, but the trip described here does not require any special climbing skills. Much of the hike goes through grassy fields with scattered Engelmann oaks or relatively open chaparral. When the ceanothus is in bloom, the shrubs will be covered with a mist of blue blossoms and a wonderful fragrance can be experienced. Wildflowers are abundant here in the spring and include wine cup clarkia, the shy mariposa lily, caterpillar phacelia, wooly paintbrush, and many others.

The trail leads straight ahead from the trailhead, passing through chaparral dominated by chamise. Closer inspection will allow discovery of a scattering of manzanita, wild cucumber, virgin’s bower, and mountain blue curls among the gray-green chamise, some or all of which may be blooming depending on the season. The trail begins to rise and goes to the top of a hill and under a few Engelmann oaks set in non-native grassland. Engelmann oaks are not as fire resilient as coast live oaks, but these managed to survive the 2003 Cedar Fire that scorched this whole area.

From the top of the hill, the trail declines to a saddle, 0.66 mile from the trailhead where the trail to Boulder Creek’s Three Sisters Waterfall splits off and down to the south. The trail to Eagle Peak goes straight ahead (west) from this point and continues up the side of a south-facing slope vegetated with a mixture of foothill chaparral shrubs, including scrub oaks, ceanothus, and California sagebrush as well as chamise.

Beyond the Three Sisters Falls split the trail is less traveled and can be narrow in places so there is a chance of ticks hitching a ride. Light colored long pants and sleeves help! At 1.35 miles from the parking area, the trail crosses a saddle and begins a slow descent into a shallow valley, while staying on its north-facing slope. The aspect of this slope protects it somewhat from the sun’s direct rays, permitting the growth of a more lush coast live oak woodland with an understory of scrub oak, white-thorn and cup-leaf ceanothus, winter current, and manzanita. If hiking in late winter or spring, there will be an abundance of blooming wildflowers including the scarlet bugler, baby blue eyes, owl’s clover, and the fringed Indian pink.

There is a second fork in the trail 1.7 miles from the start. The trail to the left goes about 0.2 mile to a lookout with spectacular views of the rugged Boulder Creek and Eagle Peak cliffs. The trail straight ahead continues 0.4 mile with about 300 feet of elevation gain to the peak. The trail becomes increasingly difficult to follow from here, with several false peaks to surmount before actually reaching Eagle Peak itself and care needed due to the sharp drop off. However, the climb is worth it for the perspective it gives you on this whole area that includes views of San Diego to the west and Cuyamaca Peak to the east. Sign the hiker’s register before returning to your vehicle the way you came.

The shear portion of Eagle Peak is closed to rock climbers during raptor nesting season. A map is available.