Author: admin

Before I attempted this hike, I was told it is very challenging and a lot of elevation gain and loss when going out as well as coming back. I read a lot of articles about this trail and get prepared. I set the date and the weather forecast were favorable for this hike. Even on the date I hiked, the weather was much better. It was cloudy and little bit of light rain when I start, but it stopped as we go up. There was trail mark on every mile and additionally on 3.5 mile. It was very easy to follow and the elevation profile on the mark was impressive, because I did not see this kind of trail sign before.

The parking lot opens at 8:00 am, and we arrived there at 6:30 am. So we parked our car on the side of the street, and start our journey. After passing a couple of private ranches, we were at the trailhead with restroom.

About 1 mile, there is T junction where you take left turn. Soon there is a mile marker, then there is a junction (Pata Ranch Trail) where we take left and continue El Capitian Trail.

When you pass the 3 mile marker and bench, there is stop sign and it said “You just finished easy half of the trail”. I guess there will be a lot of of uphill waiting for us.

I was very good shape, and I wasn’t feeling that hard at this point. Before you reach 5 mile marker, there is old jeep truck which is good spot to take a picture. Also, we feel it gets close to the peak.

At 5 miles, there is four way junction. Go straight will lead to the cliff, and we take a left turn continue to El Cajon Mountain peak. From here, the trail gets narrow and there were a lot of vegetation and you will want to wear long pants not getting scratch on your leg.

Finally, we summit El Cajon peak, and enjoy the spectacular view. After brief rest, we came back to the four way junction, we go the other side which is about 0.3 miles to the right at junction. There is not much except old building structure. We came back to the junction again, and came back the the parking lot.

The downhills when we go out became a uphill when we came back. Total elevation gain is 4000 ft, but I don’t feel it is as hard as Mt baldy and other peaks in San Gabriel range, because elevation is much lower. It is great work out and very rewarding hike, and not that crowded, nor loneliness. You will meet many people when you travel this trail.

Distance: 7 miles

Duration: 3:28:00

Pace: 27.41 min/mile

Elevation Gain: 1531 ft

Trailhead: Jackson Dr and Mission Gorge Rd Staging area

Initially, I plan to hike South Fortuna Mountain, and I ended up with both South and North Fortuna Mountains because of their proximity. The trailhead is at Jackson Dr and Mission Gorge Rd, and there is staging area where you can park your car. From there, take wide path toward River crossings.

About 0.3 miles from start, there is a junction and take a left here. Right turn here will lead to Visitor Center, which I went initially but I realize it is wrong way and I come back this junction again. 

On San Diego River Crossing trail, you will encounter river crossing and you will get wet if the water stream is high. There is around way on your left with sign, and take that route without soaking your shoe.

Then follow San Diego River Crossing Trail until you met the junction with Suycott Valley Trail. Turn right on that junction and follow Suycott Valley Trail about 0.3 miles.

On next junction, turn right and turn right onto South Fortuna Trail. From here South Fortuna summit is about 1.2 miles, and trail sign said it is difficult with decent amount of elevation gain.

There is wooden bridge on the way, and another trail sign where I took right turn.

Here is a picture seen from below toward South Fortuna Mountain, and the right picture is a rock on the way.

This is popular stair way called “Stairway to Heaven”, which is about 560 feet vertical gain.

There are a couple of signs on the way, and finally I went to the summit.

From the saddle, there is four way junction. Straight ahead to North Fortuna Summit. Turn left is where we will get down when we came back here again after North Fortuna Summit.

Here is North Fortuna Summit, which is little higher than South Fortuna.

Go back to the 4 way junction, and turn right toward Fortuna Saddle Trail. This is very steep downhill, and you better use hiking pole to get down this trail.

Follow this trail about 0.7 miles until you see Suycott Valley Trail sign.

Turn left toward Suycott Valley Trail.

Go straight toward the junction that met when we came.

From here, we follow the way we came toward parking lot.

Distance: 9.5 miles

Duration: 4:09:30

Pace: 25 min/mile

Elevation Gain: 1600 ft

About 0.4 miles from the trailhead, there is a junction that split Ellie Lane Trail and Wile horse Trail. Take left turn and continue to Ellie Lane Trail. About 1.1 miles, we are at a large granite and faced with Table Rock. You will realize it is Table Rock without any sign. After that there are a couple of junctions with no signs, and it will end up with same place. We take left at the first of them, then turn right, turn right. At about 2 miles, there was a T junction, and we should take a left path to continue Ellie Lane Trail. If you take a right turn here, you will be going to the parking lot. The trail peaks and went downward a bit, then we see small junction. There are two small peaks in a series, not sure that is Ramona Overlook. We went there and come back to the trail get continue on the trail. At 3.35 miles, we came to the junction that leads to the iron mountain peak. The right turn here will be going to iron mountain trail trailhead, which is the way later we get down. It is about 1.45 miles to the peak, it is continuous up hill, but it isn’t that difficult to go. Also, there are so many people on the trail, there is no chance you get lost.

Once we peaked iron mountain and get down the same way to the Junction, and take a left to go iron mountain trail. Before we get to iron mountain trailhead, there was a T junction where we take a right turn that leads to Wild Horse Trail. At the first junction, take a left to go north, then turn right at the next junction with no sign. It was very nice trail and a lot of variations.

 

 

 

Second visit: I did another hike with some companies in the following week. It was raining when we start, but I am sure it will stop as we go up. It is much comfortable for me because I know where to go. One of friends told me that there are a lot of rock formation here, and I just realized it is at this time.

Driving hours: 260 miles, 4 hours 15 minutes.

I start with I-5, and highway 14, then take highway 395. On way up, we stopped at Red Rock Canyon State Park on highway 14. It is not well-known place, but it is on our way, and decided to stop there. It was much better place than our expectation. It is small, but there are trails and pretty rock formation. The entrance is just on highway 14, and watch for the signs to get here. After we eat breakfast and take a little rest, we go on to our destination. If you search for Highway 395, it has many view points to enjoy. Once we arrive at Bishop, took 168 to go further higher elevation. The road condition was pretty good, and there are lots of elevation gains. About a mile or two to the Lake Sabrina is little dirt road, but it was OK to manage. You should be aware of the vehicle that comes to you, because the road is too narrow and still two way road. It was beautiful lake at this high elevation.

 

 

Distance: 16.8 miles

Elevation gain: about 4800 feet

Hours: 9 hours ( including long break at the peak)

Trailhead: San Bernardino Peak Trail

Difficulty : Difficult

Hours: 7 hours

Trailhead: Ice House Canyon trailhead

Difficulty : Difficult