One of the great things about San Diego is that you can
visit the beach and the mountains all in the same day. Believe it or not, sometimes those mountains
in San Diego County actually have snow. Descanso
is located in the Cuyamaca Mountains in San Diego County and has one of my
favorite San Diego hiking trails, Stonewall Peak Trail. Stonewall Peak Trail is a beautiful hike any
time of year, but if you can coordinate your hike to occur after it snows, it
is that much more beautiful.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is located in east San Diego
County in the Peninsular Range, which includes Cuyamaca Peak, the second
highest point in San Diego County at 6,512 feet. Stonewall Peak is a little lower, at 5,700
feet, and can be reached via a two-mile hike from Paso Picacho campground
(which offers day parking for hikers).
The trail climbs from 4,800 to 5,700 feet but is only moderately
difficult as there are a number of switchbacks.
The final climb to the peak involves climbing up some stairs with a
handrail (this part can get a little slippery in the snow).
Stonewall Peak overlooks the previous site of the Stonewall
Mine, one of the region’s most profitable gold mines in the late 1800s. Lake Cuyamaca can also be seen in the
distance. Stonewall Peak is a great
place to relax, have a snack, and cool off.
It can get windy at the top, but it feels good after the hike up. Even with snow on the ground we got pretty
hot.
While many hikers to Stonewall Peak hike back the same way
they came, the more scenic route is to keep heading north along Stonewall Peak
Trail. This portion of the trail is not
as heavily trafficked, and when there’s snow this is where it sticks for the
longest. When we hiked the trail the
snow was virtually untouched and we actually saw animal tracks following the
trail.
The Stonewall Peak Trail intersects with the Vern Whitaker
Trail, which leads from the Vern Whitaker Horse Camp, and is where you will
make a left to start heading west. A
short while later you’ll make a left turn again onto the Cold Stream Trail,
which parallels Highway 79. Hiking
through this section you will still see the devastating effects of the 2003
Cedar Fire, with blackened tree trunks lying scattered along the ground. There are also signs of the reforestation
project which is replanting the park.
Altogether the Stonewall Peak Trail is a loop that is just
over five miles and is a hike that can be enjoyed by hikers of varying
abilities. The Cuyamaca Mountains are less
than an hour drive from San Diego, giving visitors an easy escape from the city
to visit forests and mountains and nature.
The Stonewall Peak Trail is in my opinion one of San Diego’s best hiking
trails, especially during the rare times when snow is on the ground.
