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Iron Mountain Peak Trail #10

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 4.3 (42)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …Southern California
  4. …Poway
  5. Iron Mountain
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“This is a popular trail that powers up to Iron Mountain Peak. ”

Russell Hobart
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Map Key

5.8

Miles

9.4

KM

Out and Back

2,673' 815 m

High

1,614' 492 m

Low

1,067' 325 m

Up

1,067' 325 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

29%

Max Grade (16°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Please stay on the trail and avoid using "shortcuts" as this ends up ruining the vegetation and contributes to erosion.

Overview

This trail is one of the easiest-to-access trails in San Diego County and the number of visitors on the trail reflects that. Don't expect solitude. But if you want easy access with good parking and a nice summit, this is an excellent trail.

Need to Know

Go early in hot weather and bring plenty of water.

Description

The trail starts out of the back of the parking lot and soon draws a direct line heading uphill through a tree-lined field. After 2/3 of a mile you connect up with the intersection of the Wild Horse Trail and the Iron Peak Mountain Alternate Trail. From here, the chaparral continues to thicken until it creates thick walls around the trail. At around a mile you reconnect with the Iron Peak Mountain Alternate Trail.

After another 0.5 miles you pass the Ellie Lane Trail on your left and turn to the right. From here the trail changes character, as large rocks become boulders and the views become more expansive. A short while later, you pass access to a helipad on your left.

At around 2 miles, the trail begins to switchback along a more open ridge before you are finally rewarded with a big view from the summit.

Contacts

Land Manager: City of Poway - Community Services - Parks & Recreation

Shared By:

Russell Hobart with improvements by Justin Penn
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 42 votes

#1

in Iron Mountain

#325

Overall
  4.3 from 42 votes
5 Star
50%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Iron Mountain

#47

in California

#325

Overall
20 Views Last Month
5,073 Since Apr 26, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
0%
3%
67%
0%
31%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Looking back towards the parking lot and 67.
Nov 19, 2017 near Poway, CA
And the hike begins!
Aug 20, 2017 near Poway, CA
Jack fell asleep by the top of the hill.
Nov 19, 2017 near Poway, CA

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Feb 17, 2024
Manoj Abey
Dec 3, 2022
Eddie Valdez
2.3mi
Feb 14, 2021
Private User
Jan 20, 2021
Brandon Cloud
5.8mi — 2h 15m
Sep 27, 2020
Shane Howard
Aug 2, 2020
Ishaque Ashar
Aug 1, 2020
Drew Herpel
5.8mi — 3h 00m
Jun 23, 2020
Ken Shalom

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