Wilderness Explorers: Cowles Mountain

Hike #3 started on yet another beautiful day in San Diego. The weather could not be more perfect. For the 3rd hike for the 5 Peak Challenge we decided to go with Cowles Mountain. Even though this is the highest of the 5 peaks, there are multiple ways of getting up there and one of the ways is actually rated 4 out 5 in terms of difficulty (5 being the most difficult). I had work the next day and I didn't want to not be able to move so we decided to start at the Barker Way Trailhead (the service road) up to the Cowles Mountain Summit. This was probably the easiest hike of the three that we've finished. There is opportunity for slippage but much less than all the other hikes. It's also a much shorter hike so you don't get too exhausted. This would be a great workout for the weekends to run up and down this path.

• Cowles Mountain Summit:
  • Altitude: 1,592 feet
  • Distance: 1.6 miles
  • Rating: 4

You can kind of see the trail to the top and how it zig zags. On the left, you can see a dot that's actually a helicopter. We believe they were either trying to rescue someone or doing a drill

 





























  

Overall, I can't wait to go back and do this hike! Maybe my couch potato status is decreasing but I felt great hiking this trail. It definitely wasn't as long as some of the other hikes we did so I'm thinking that is why it felt so much better. If it's under 2 miles, I'm good. Anything above 2 miles and I'm pretty much dragging myself up the mountain. Pretty sure we'll be back to hike this guy soon!