Hot Springs Mountain was a tough one, and I have to admit, not quite as rewarding as the previous three mountains in the San Diego Six Pack (Volcan, Corte Madera, and Cuyamaca). It certainly provided a nice challenge and the tower at the top is a beautiful landmark.

Right off the bat, the trek up Sukat Road is a doozy. After muscling up the first 2.5 miles of relatively steep incline in constant sun, the trail evens out quite a bit along Hot Springs Mountain Road and grows shady. My favorite bit was the final stretch from the tower to the summit, which culminates in a bit of ladder/rope climbing if you're up for it!

On the way up, we noticed the “Quiet Road Loop” of 0.91 miles which we hadn't seen on Gaia and ventured that way on the way down. It's a nice little detour with many trees down along the trail that you have to loop around.

Overall, we had a good time! Bring loads of water, sunscreen, calories, and your climbing attitude.