I’ve been waiting to do this hike for a while, so when I saw people could start going again, I headed over. I was excited to see what the second highest peak in SD county looked like from the top and get a great workout.

We parked at the campground for $10 and then decided to do the Azalea Glen Loop, starting with Azalea Trail. I would recommend going this way up, as it was rocky and overgrown in parts and seemed difficult if you’d come down this way. We went about 5 miles to get up hill. The start of the trail was very leisure- easy and pretty. It felt like you were in the woods. You could also see all the burned down trees from the most devastating fire years ago. We saw a mouse too, very random.

I’d also recommend using a recording with all trails because there is a sharp left turn you need to make that is very overgrown so you wouldn’t think it’s the trail still leading to the peak, but it is. When you turn left onto Conejos Trail, it’s very overgrown but just for a short time. Then it gets rocky most of the way uphill until you get to the saddle where you head to the peak.

The bugs were a little annoying. The rocky trail made you really use your core to stabilize. Finally when we headed to the top, where lookout tours were, it was a fire road that took us there and very wide. The last part is all uphill too so we took a couple breathers.

When we made it to the top, it was amazing views. Everything looks so small from 6512 altitude! I was proud we made it to the second highest peak in the county. I worked up an appetite and had some fresh fruit up there.

On the way down, we took the fire road. It was a breeze but not very scenic ! Only two to three miles all downhill and ended going through the campground after the fire road. Watch for bugs, otherwise nice hike!