Distance: 7.14 mi Steps: 16128 Elevation Gain: 1150′ Hike Time: 3:09:22min Temp: 70’s Hikeability: Moderate Strenuous
Water & Snack: 1.5 liters out of 2 taken, Probar, Orange.
Directions: East Mesa Fire Road Trailhead: Take I-8 East toward Alpine and continue east to exit 40, signed as Hwy 79/Japatul Rd. Exit here. Go north on Hwy 79 about 4 miles to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park East Mesa, which is on the right. There is side of the road parking on an asphalt turnout. no facilities or drinking water. (Please see photo below for TrailHead Sign)
Another route if coming from North County: Take I-5 south to SR 78 in San Diego County. Go east on SR 78 through Escondido to the junction with SR 79 just past the town of Julian. Turn right (south) on SR 79.Go south on SR 79 for 9 miles to the Cuyamaca Dam.Continue 2.7 miles to the entrance to Paso Picacho Park on the right. Continue 5.6 miles further (mile marker 4) to a gated dirt road on the left side. Park on the left just before this road.
Hiking the North Eastern back country of San Diego County offers such unique, scenic and beautiful trails to hike. Im always enthusiastic to explore what this area has to offer and the personailty of each trail.
This was my first time hiking Oakzanita Trail, which is part of the Cuyamaca Mountain Range. However, I am familiar with some of the other trails in the surrounding Julian and Cuyamaca State Park area such as: Stonewall Peak, MIddle Mountain, Cuyamaca Peak and to the West and North: Eagle Peak, Three Sisters and Cedar Creek Falls, Vulcan Mountain and Santa Ysabel. All great trails to consider if you havent done them.
The trailhead to Oakzanita Peak starts by taking the East Mesa Fire Road Trail which is clearly marked at the trailhead start (see above photo). From here we stayed on the road the entire 2.9 miles up the trail until it links into the Oakzanita Trail which is a 1.5 mile hike over to Oakzanita Peak.
My three favorite hiking colors in nature, brown, green and blue were on full display this Thursday morning. The rich beige and browns of the hard packed earth and sand Fire Road Trail trail, the vivid bright blue sky and natures various shades of green on full display as the vegetation of the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park area was brought to life by recent rains.
There is an alternative trail which branches off of the Fire Road called Upper Descanso Creek Trail which links in about .6 mi from the trail head start point and in fact is the trail we took down from the Peak. Upper Descanso Creek Trail will link you into the Oakzanita Trail. Taking this way up is a much steeper ascent but does knock of nearly .75 mile off the hike. Thus if you took this section up and back your hike would be about 1.5 miles less in distance than doing the Fire Road out and back.
As we made a right turn at the Oakzanita Trail sign, we knew we had about 1.5 mile to go over to Oakzanita Peak. This was my favorite part of the hike. As you gaze left you see wide open meadows, the East Mesa, that seemingly stretches for miles. To the right, the view of Oakzanita Peak becomes clear and its boulder encrusted summit juts out in majestic form.
Soon you will come to another marker that states .6 to Oakzanita Peak. From here the trail gets rockier but well worth the last push and ascent to the peak. Beautiful 360 views from the peak including views of Stonewall Peak, Cuyamaca Peak and Middle Mountain as well as in the distance Eagle Peak.
To descend go back .6 mile to the Oakzanita Trail marker and decide if you want to go back the same way up along the Fire Road Trail the 2.9 miles or turn left at the marker and join the Upper East Mesa Creek Trail which will take you 1.6 miles to the Fire Road and back to the trailhead start. This route is somewhat less in distance and a narrower rockier trail. However, I liked going back this way to add more diversity of vegetation and scenery.
Love my first time hiking Oakzanita. My son, better known as the Trailmaster due to his ability to find these rich and fulfilling hikes had hiked this before and wanted to introduce me to this adventurous hike. Great challenge of trail, love the diversity of vegetation and scenery as well as incredible views. Not to mention being out in nature and the calming theraputic effect nature provides.
Hike on!