Holy Cowles!

Sunset Hike to the Summit of Cowles Mountain in San Diego

Woman viewing the scenery on a hike to the summit of Mount Cowles in San Diego

Some say San Diego is the star city of sunsets, so with a reputation like that you’ve gotta head straight for the top to see for yourself. And by that we mean the summit at Cowles Mountain (named after a 19th-century rancher) in Mission Trails Regional Park. This 3-mile “up-and-down” hike requires nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain to soak in the sunset.

Multiple routes lead to the peak—the city’s tallest at 1,593 feet. We recommend starting off from the traditional trailhead at Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. The trail wastes no time ascending and doesn’t let up. You can see the peak and switchbacks looming throughout the exposed hike, and the views are excellent the whole way, starting with Lake Murray to the southwest. 

Outcroppings and boulders make good spots for taking a break to enjoy the vistas. Cairns are stacked in the balance by fellow hikers. There’s one trail junction along the way, at the 1-mile mark: Barker Trail. Ignore it and continue upward another half mile to the peak. Viewing time! Hike first to the north end of the summit, finding the geological survey marker and a plaque. Hiker superstition encourages visitors to touch the rock holding the plaque, otherwise, legend says you will have to start over and climb again. There’s also an interpretive sign detailing some of the 360-degree views currently surrounding you.

Sign at the top of Mount Cowles summit in San Diego

The panorama stretches to the skyscrapers of downtown San Diego, along with endless Pacific Ocean vistas to the west (on clear days look for Catalina Island). Other prominent landmarks include Cuyamaca Peak, the second highest in San Diego County at 6,512 feet, and Viejas Mountain to the east in the Cleveland National Forest.

Friends walking down a hiking trail at Mount Cowles in San Diego

Take time to scan the foreground for the other Mission Trails Regional Park peaks—Pyle’s Peak, Kwaay Paay, South and North Fortuna—which provide a few alternative hikes in what is the largest regional park in Southern California. It’s all downhill from here. Be sure to give yourself plenty of twilight for the descent.

Two friends descending a hiking trail at sunset in Mission Trails Regional Park San Diego

To get to the Cowles Mountain trailhead and parking lot in Mission Trails Regional Park, take the I-15, I-5 or I-805 to the I-8 East. Take exit 10 for College Ave. and turn left, heading north. After 1.3 miles, turn right onto Navajo Rd. and take this for 2 miles to the junction with Golfcrest Dr. Turn left to find the lot and extensive street parking. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Let's Go to Paso!

    Paso Robles is a good idea in all seasons, but one season brings a special bounty: harvest season! Road-trip ready and teeming with fall colors and fun events, Paso Robles is the ultimate destination for unique autumn experiences.

    View
  3. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View