El Cajon mountain definitely lived up to it’s punishing reputation, so it’s good to be mentally prepared for that. The views are stunning almost immediately though, and the tough hike made getting to the peak (and back to the car) that much sweeter.

The trailhead has some really nice restrooms and picnic tables, which is rare. Plant life wasn’t too noticeably different from other San Diego hills, though there are quite a few types of manzanita, and I added a few new entries to iNat.

Only 3 other people were on the trail, but the birds were numerous. If only my eyes were good enough for bird watching! All-around, the hike was challenging with so many mini-peaks and valleys to climb, but also so incredibly worth it.