Blue Sky ➡️  Mount Woodson via Lake Poway loop

May 3rd, 2021

First time hiking Mount Woodson.  Started at the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve since it was the closest and most convenient TH  (free parking, Sunrise-Sunset hours from Nov-May)..

If you keep going on the main trail instead of taking the Lake Poway junction, you will get to the Ramona dam (via the Green Valley Truck Road).  I haven't done this one in a while and will be back another time – it's a great calf burner that will reward you with expansive views of Lake Poway.

With a 7am start time, the fog still blanketed the whole area making for a peaceful and moody hike.  We hadn't even gotten passed the trail gate at the end of the parking lot, that we came face-to-face with a bobcat less than 20 feet away.  (No pictures but it did happen!)  We just froze in place, gave it some space, observing each other for a short while before it quickly lost interest and moved on. What a memorable encounter!  It would be the highlight of the entire hike… and we hadn't even started yet.

The trails are in good condition, well marked and easy to follow to the top.  The fog dissipated just in time for a mini break at the Potato Chip Rock – it was fun to watch a few hikers take an obligatory goofy selfie at this popular spot (which wasn't busy on a Monday morning). For a more secluded snack break, we headed passed the radio/cell towers and found a perfect rock outcropping with gorgeous views of the mountains towards Cuyamaca Peak.  It was hard to leave.  We also tried to find the USGS marker but couldn't locate it.

I had originally mapped out a slightly shorter out-and-back route but my friend suggested coming back down via the other side of the lake.  This was a great suggestion – it will take you down closer to the lake and through the park, boat dock and official Mt Woodson TH before it rejoins the trail back down to Blue Sky.

What a memorable hike – I still can't get over our up-close-and-personal bobcat encounter.