Alright, so where to start?

When I first started researching this trail all signs were pointing to taking the Lookout Fire Road, it was the shortest and easiest way to the top of Cuyamaca. Oh, but I forgot to mention the most BORING! It's a paved fire road all the way to the top.

Needless to say I DID NOT TAKE THAT ROUTE!

I opted for a loop route which added some distance, roughly 2 more miles or so. Cuyamaca Peak via Azalea Glen Trail. The trail started out quite easy and you're dumped into classic California hiking almost immediately, a mix of brush and pines and oaks with plenty of shade. The entire hike shows remnants of the last fire, most of the tall trees are skeletons and a lot of the ground is scorched but somehow it's still quite beautiful. Right around a mile or so up that route it starts to get rocky. Mostly small stuff at first, no big deal, but once you get some elevation those “rocks” start to turn into boulders. Definitely slowed the pace down quite a bit! Gets a buggy right around there as well, but they might have just been hanging around cause of all the CO2 I was putting out!

After some more elevation you'll notice all the fallen trees but any that have crossed the trail have been well taken care of. Shortly after that though the trail starts to get a little tight, seems a little less maintained than the trail below it. Not impassable and overall not too bad.

What got me were the really rocky switch-backs, they were gnarly sometimes.

Some late season wildflowers were bloomed along the trail and the milk thistle was crazy pretty! The views from the top were insane, relatively clear except for the marine layer. Looked like a sea of clouds below me. Stumbled across the peak marker. Seriously, I know people steal those (never understood that) but why hide it? Found a giant boulder for a snack then headed back down the easy, boring way.

My knees didn't thing it was too easy though, and yours probably won't either. Although it's paved, it's a steep grade all the way back down so throw some ice on those bad boys when you get home!

Minor deets:

Parking Entry Fee – 10$

Weather – Hot (97*)

Elevation Gain – 1800+ ft