Beautiful Cuyamaca…until the blacktop

Cuyamaca was day two of our 3-day hiking blitz. After parking (there is a $10 fee but there are restrooms and plenty of parking), we chose the Azalea Glen Loop. The trail started with a nice walk beside a meadow and lake. There were signs about mountain lions and one had been heard in camp the night before, but we never saw one.

We followed the Azalea Glen trail up to a short unpaved fire road. We then started a very rocky (but beautiful) climb on Conejos Trail along Cuyamaca Peak’s north shoulder. At the top, it became a beautiful forest walk with a moderate incline until we reached the blacktop. We then had a steady (relatively steep) 1/2 mile climb on pavement to the summit. We couldn’t find the summit sign and it was really windy so we took a photo and headed down to find a place to have our pack lunch. Unfortunately, while the wind abated, the lower we went the more gnats appeared. Hungry, we finally grabbed lunch right off the road (we never saw a car) before heading back down via the road. We saw two snakes on the road – two small gopher snakes that we almost couldn’t see. They paid us no mind and kept on enjoying their naps. Gnats appeared in pockets, usually in shady areas, but I had my mosquito head net so they didn’t bother me.

If I were to do this hike again, I would do it as an out-and-back rather than a loop. Yes, the climb down the dry creek bed might add on some time due to the loose rocks, but it certainly would be more scenic and easier on the feet.

I would rate this climb as moderate.