El Cajon, California, is minutes away from the thriving San Diego metropolis. It's a breeze getting onto the freeways that take you into the city for dinner, shows, and the beaches. It's also just as easy driving into the mountainous areas surrounding El Cajon to hike some of the most scenic trails in the area. From moderate to challenging hiking adventures, here are our recommendations for the best five hiking trails near our city. Our crew at Team Kia of El Cajon is sure you'll have a blast.
Mt. Woodson Trail
Mt Woodson Trail by chrisinphilly5448 is licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0
When you want to get to the famous Potato Chip Rock high above the San Diego skyline, you'll want to hike the Mt. Woodson Trail. This trail is not for the faint of heart. Although quite popular for its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and mountains surrounding the Poway and El Cajon area, this is still a steep climb to the top of Mt. Woodson.
This hike is almost 8 miles round-trip and takes you to the summit of the mountain — where most hikers wait in line to take a picture of themselves on the thin slice of earth known as Potato Chip Rock. You'll climb nearly 2,000 feet to get to the top of the summit, so you'll want to be prepared with a sun hat, plenty of water, and sturdy hiking boots. Be sure to bring a camera and binoculars to see the amazing views from the top of Mt. Woodson.
Location: 14644 Lake Poway Road at the Lake Poway Recreation Area
The El Cajon Mountain Trail
When you're looking for a strenuous hike that will take you most of the day to complete, consider the rugged El Cajon Mountain Trail. This trail is nearly 11 miles out and back. You'll have an elevation gain of 3,579 feet so you'll want to be very prepared before hiking up this mountain. People familiar with El Cajon Mountain often call it El Capitan or El Cap for its sheer granite cliff face. However, the El Cajon Trail winds its way around the mountain instead of taking you up the side.
Several parts of the trail do have a 36% grade, which is quite steep. The slopes can be rocky and loose, so make sure you have sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support. As you make your way up the trail, you'll find trail markers showing where you are so you can gauge your energy level to determine whether you can make it to the top and back down again. You'll want to stop to rest and take in the stunning views of the rocky boulders and hillsides of this sparsely populated part of San Diego County.
Once you make it to the summit, sit back for a much-deserved rest and soak in the magnificent views below. Once you're ready, head back down the trail to the parking lot.
Location: 13775 Blue Sky Road at the El Capitan County Preserve in Lakeside
Valley View Truck Trail
If you like birding while hiking, then you'll enjoy the Valley View Truck Trail inside the Crestridge Ecological Reserve. This 2,800-acre property is home to a variety of birds, reptiles, and mammals including bobcats, foxes, and deer. You'll find lots of hiking trails within the preserve, but one of the most popular ones is the Valley View Truck Trail.
Hikers and mountain bikers share this trail, and people consider the trail to be moderately challenging. The trail is well-marked, which is helpful as there are several branches that take you out to other trails in the preserve. If you stay on the 3.3-mile Valley View Truck Trail, which has an elevation gain of about 450 feet, you'll be rewarded with views of boulder-strewn hills dotted with native plants. In the spring, you'll see the hills become quite colorful when the wildflowers bloom after the early season rains.
Location: 1181 Horsemill Road in El Cajon
Hollenbeck Canyon Loop Trail
When you feel like getting away from the crowds that frequent some of the El Cajon hiking trails, take a trip to nearby Jamul and visit Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area. This 6,100-acre wildlife area is filled with coastal scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands, and open grasslands. For the best views of this wild area, choose the Hollenbeck Canyon Loop Trail. This trail system is made up of two loops for a combined 13-mile trek. However, you can break the hike up for a smaller day hike. You'll mostly be hiking on old fire trails with some single track that can get slippery after rain.
As you walk along, you'll have vast views of Hollenbeck Canyon with its creek running through the canyon. You'll share the trail with mountain bikers and horseback riders as you climb up the hills through varied Southern California terrain. As long as you keep your well-behaved dog on a leash, they are welcome to join you on the trail.
Location: 1898 Honey Springs Road in Jamul
Damon Lane County Park Trail
If you're looking for a quick hike that's close by, you'll enjoy going to Damon Lane County Park and hiking the short trail within this 29-acre county park. You'll find that the trail is well-marked as it takes you through thick groves of oak and eucalyptus trees and open grassy spaces. With its easy access to town, Damon Lane County Park is a great place to get some exercise after a day of work or school.
Location: 11502 Calle Albara in El Cajon
Are you excited to lace up your hiking boots and hit these five trails in the El Cajon area? Which trail is your favorite and why? Is there a trail near El Cajon we missed that you could recommend? If you know of an outstanding hiking trail, let us know — we're always interested in discovering new and exciting places to go hiking. To ensure your vehicle can get you safely to the hiking trailhead, be sure to schedule a time to get your car serviced with us at Team Kia of El Cajon.