Cuyamaca Peak: 2nd Highest Peak In SD County

Share With Your Friends!

  • Total Miles: 7.24
  • Time: 4 Hrs
  • Difficulty: ModerateHard
  • Best Season: All Year
  • Elevation Gain:1815 ft
  • Max Elevation: 6463 ft
  • Type of Trail: Loop
  • Parking Lot: Available At The Campground
  • Dogs: Not Allowed On Trail
  • Restrooms: Available At The Campground
  • Trail Popularity: High
  • Pics Taken On: Feb 26, 2022

Cuyamaca Peak via the Azalea Glen Trail is a 7.24 round trip mile hike beginning at the Paso Picacho campground in an oak woodland forest. The trail offers the opportunity to experience an abundance of wildlife, such as wild turkeys, bald eagles, vultures, and on very rare occasions, mountain lions. Cuyamaca Peak, which is the second-highest in the Cleveland National Forest at 6463 ft, boasts the best views of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and as far as Anza Borrego and Mexico.

Cuyamaca Peak Trail Map

Cuyamaca Peak Elevation Profile

Download Printable PDF Map

Directions

Click the link to be redirected to the parking lot and trailhead via Google Maps. Both are found at the Paso Picacho Campground.

Parking is $10

Park Info

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Website

Weather Forecast

Phone: (760) 765-3020

Hours: 6 am – 8 pm

Quick Cuyamaca Peak Reference Guide

  • Although it’s rare, mountain lion encounters are more frequent here than other mountain ranges (we had our 1st encounter). NEVER run from a mountain lion. Put your hands in the air to make yourself seem bigger and yell to scare the lion away.
  • Take plenty of water and a hat as there is very little shade on the trail
  • During the wintertime, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park can transform into a winter wonderland, so plan accordingly.
  • Drones are not allowed in the park
  • Dogs are only allowed in the campground and on the Lookout Fire Road.
  • Trekking poles are highly recommended.

Azalea Glen Trail

We decided to hike via the Azalea Glen Trail because it’s more scenic and cuts through a meadow that was once the site of a seasonal Kumeyaay village. The Kumeyaay were the original residents of the Cuyamacas, dating as far back as 12000 BC!

The trail begins by heading west via a single track that leads you through the campground. Seeing the Cuyamacas covered in snow is a real treat as it doesn’t snow here as much as the San Bernardino or Angeles forests.

Wooden bridges guide you over creeks, adding more delight to the snowy landscape.

Unfortunately, the dead trees in the background are the remnants of one of the worst San Diego fires in history, the Cedar Fire, which was started by a lost hunter in 2003. To this day, the Cedar Fire is the reason why the park is not as dense with pine trees as it should be.

Shortly after the bridges, the trail becomes more enclosed and you’ll arrive at the first and only creek crossing.

It was after the creek crossing and right before reaching the Kumeyaay village site that we heard a very large animal growl at us. Although it was only about 10-15 ft to our immediate left, its perfect camouflage prevented us from spotting it.

The growl was so low and strong that we literally felt it, similar to the way you feel the bass emitting from large speakers.

I kept talking loudly as we slowly walked backward, never giving my back to what I suspected was one of the most feared predators in the mountains. When we got home we quickly searched for various animal growls, only to confirm that we had come face to face with a mountain lion.

The lion was most likely stalking deer, as we had seen many deer tracks on the trail. Luckily, he decided to let us off with a warning, so we kept walking until we reached the Kumeyaay village site and the morteros.

Morteros are holes in rocks used by the Kumeyaay to mash their food, most likely acorns. Due to the snow, I wasn’t able to get a shot, but you can click the link HERE to get redirected to an image of the morteros.

After the Kumeyaay village site, you’ll arrive at the most scenic part of the trail, which runs parallel to the creek and is surrounded by majestic pine trees and ferns.

Up until this point, the elevation gain is very minimal, but as soon as the scenic section ends you can expect a steeper trail. From Azalea Glen Trail you hop onto Azalea Spring Fire Rd for a very short descent.

Don’t forget to look back from time to time as the views are amazing. Here we can see Middle Peak to the very left, Stonewall Peak to the very right, and Lake Cuyamaca (which is harder to see) lies in between.

Once you transition onto the Conejos Trail from the Azalea Spring Fire Rd the landscape begins to transform into a true winter wonderland. Some of the branches were completely frozen and easily weighed up to 100 pounds.

Here’s a shot looking down on Stonewall Peak.

When you reach the last meadow and pine trees in the image below you know you’re almost there! The wind was blowing harder and we could hear the sound of icicles falling all around us. This hike is really something else.

There she is! The antennas on the peak can be seen from the intersection of Conejos Trail and the Lookout Fire Rd intersect.

A couple of guys coming down from the peak told us to stay away from the antennas because the wind was knocking down 300-400 pound massive icicles.

There’s a rest area with a bench looking out into the valley at the intersection. This isn’t the peak, but it’s still a breathtaking view. It’s hard to believe this is San Diego!

Unfortunately, we began to have some technical issues with my camera.

And to make matters worse, clouds shaded the valley. Had we made our way to the peak, I still would’ve been unable to get a good shot.

But, I don’t want to leave you empty-handed, so I went online and looked for some shots of the view from the peak! Below is the popular boulder where you can get an amazing picture.

On the boulder, looking to the right where the frozen bench was located.

The view of the entire valley below, where the 80-foot giant, Cedar Creek Falls, calls it’s home.

That concludes the end of this adventure. If you want to get to the campground ASAP, I suggest taking the Lookout Fire Rd (shown below) back down to complete the 7.7-mile journey.

Otherwise, head back down the way you came to extend the hike even further. See you at the next one!

More to Explore!

[favorite_button]
Stonewall Mine: San Diego’s Forgotten Relic

Stonewall Mine: San Diego’s Forgotten Relic

Miles: 0.7 Time: 20 min Difficulty: Easy Best Season: All Year Elevation Gain: 75 ft Max Elevation: 4640 ft Type of Trail: Loop Parking Lot: Fits ≈ 20 cars Dogs: Not Allowed Restrooms: Available At The Trailhead Trail Popularity: Moderate  Pics Taken On: Jul 25, 2023...

[favorite_button]
Mystic Canyon Trail: Stunning Views In The Glendora Mts

Mystic Canyon Trail: Stunning Views In The Glendora Mts

Miles: 1.92 Time: 45 min Difficulty: Moderate Best Season: All Year Elevation Gain: 707 ft Max Elevation: 1907 ft Type of Trail: Out & Back Parking Lot: Turnout, Fits ≈ 20 cars Dogs: Allowed on a leash Restrooms: Not Available Trail Popularity: Low - Moderate Pics...

[favorite_button]
Ortega Falls: 2 Cascades Off Of Hwy 74

Ortega Falls: 2 Cascades Off Of Hwy 74

Miles: 0.2 Time: 25 min Difficulty: Easy Best Season: Spring Elevation Gain: 67 ft Max Elevation: 2198 ft Type of Trail: Out & Back Parking Lot: Turnout, Fits 20+ cars Dogs: Allowed on a leash Restrooms: Not Available Excluding the plethora of graffiti, Ortega...

[favorite_button]
Stoddard Canyon Falls: Rock Slide & Pool

Stoddard Canyon Falls: Rock Slide & Pool

Miles: 0.75 Time: 45 min Difficulty: Moderate Best Season: Spring Elevation Gain: 160 ft Max Elevation: 3781 Type of Trail: Out & Back Parking Lot: Dirt Lot, Fits 30+ Cars Dogs: Allowed on a leash Restrooms: Not Available Trail Popularity: High Pics Taken On: May...

Hello, There!

I’m Phillip, and just like you, I feel very passionate about California and the outdoors. After many years of exploring amazing and hidden places, I thought I’d share them with you. Life goes by fast so get out there and enjoy it.  

Sign Up For Bonuses

Want to stay up to date with all the latest hikes? Join our community by clicking the link button below!

Join Us On Insta!

Legal Info

We only recommend what we use. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. However, no company pays us to share these products with you. If you decide to purchase a product via one of our links, we will recieve a small compensation, which in turn, helps us to keep making videos and posts to share with all of you.