Cowles Summit in distance
Big Rock Rd. trailhead start
Cowles Mountain, part of the MIssion Trails Regional Park system in San Diego , is by far the most popular hike in the County and a hike I refer to as the Disneyland of hikes due to its heavily traveled trail especially the main trailhead off of Golfcrest Drive which is the preferred starting point of the masses, however there are other trailhead starts including the one I will speak about here. The Big Rock Rd. trailhead beginning offers a rarely used start to hiking Cowles Mountain as well as offering the most scenic and unscathed view of the Cowles Mtn summit. To access the Big Rock Rd. trailhead you can exit from Hwy 52 at either Mast Blvd or Mission Gorge Rd. Big Rock Rd. intersects MIssion Gorge Rd. and is a traffic light landmarking where you need to turn. Take Big Rock Rd to the end where it dead ends at the trailhead beginning. Houses line this neighborhood area and parking is curbside and very much available as opposed to the Golfcrest starting point that again reminds one of the crowds at Disneyland. The Big Rock Rd. trailhead is one of four starting points to trails that lead to the summit of Cowles Mtn. along with Barker Way, Mesa Drive as well as the mentioned Golfcrest Rd. Entrance. The trail starts out near an information board that will list the different trails and their distances to the summit. This particular trail is 2.5 miles from the summit and offers enough challenge in both distance and climb to make the Hikeability of this trail strenuous. One of the strengths of the Cowles Mtn hike as well as others on the Mission Trails regional Park system is the trails are well marked with well placed signs to guide you towards your destination. The Big Rock Rd, trail is no different as signs along the way clearly route the trail and show you where other trails join in and possible alternte trials that may interest you with the same destination at trails end. The start of this hike offers a trail composition of compacted red dirt and sand wandering through low lying brush of various plant life.
Flora and Fauna
Service road connection
The Top!
It is here that the trail becomes much more challenging and physically demanding. Keep your eye on the prize and the accomplishment and reward that lay ahead to motivate yourself up this steep ascending Rd. Before you know it you will be at the familiar rock strewn summit of Cowles and a 360 view of the County. On this particular day, although gray skies, we were still able to see Qualcomm Stadium, Mt. Soledad in La Jolla, MIra Mar air-station, Gillespie Field in El Cajon, as well as the various peaks in the distant mountains including Lyons, Miquel, Viejas and the faint outline of San Antonio, San Jacinto and San Gabriel. This vantage point at 1531 feet is the highest Peak in the City of San Diego and offers one of the if not the best view of the area . After taking a twenty minute break for gatorade and a snack bar we head down the more “traditional” descent from the Cowles Mtn summit and the familiar rocky cragged trail. Be careful in this section of the descent as ive heard more than one story about twisted ankles and falls. As you continue the descent you will join up with the Barker Way, Big Rock Rd. sign that alerts you to switch trails and head back towards the original trailhead start. Once you change trails you will come to the same service road taken on the ascent and a much less strenuous travel this time around. Not long after being on the service rd you will meet up with a fence line and the entrance to the Big Rock Rd trail that will lead you back to the trailhead beginning. This route back was a shade less mileage wise than the ascent and totalled about 2.3 miles. Speaking of shade, the day we did this hike gray skies at 10am gave us 75 degrees, at the end of our hike at about 12:45 back at the car it was 95 degrees. However, it did not seem that hot as previous times I’ve hiked Cowles, but as always makle sure you bring plenty of water, at least 75 oz., and a few snacks to keep yourself hydrated and recharged on this somewhat arid hike.
Manzanita Tree
Cowles Mountain always offers a good challenege a scenic route and a summit that provides sweeping views of our county and the city of San Diego. The Big Rock Road trailhead is a preffered start to the Cowles Mountain hike and besides the Barker Way start one I highly suggest. Next I’ll have to do the Mesa Rd trailhead start to comnplete the four routes available. I Always like what MIssion Trails Reginoal Park has to offer, and Cowles does not dissapoint and always lives up to its reputation as a saught out trail among avid hikers in san Diego both young and old.