Sittin' on Sitton Peak with Friends!

This So Cal hike is a perfect half-way meeting spot between LA & SD.

Kicking off our 2020 Six Pack of Peaks challenge, my friends and I decided to meet half-way in between our home cities of Los Angeles and San Diego. We began our hike on a partly-cloudy afternoon in January, starting at the Bear Canyon Trailhead in Lake Elsinore.

Parking: You can purchase an Adventure Pass at the Ortega Oaks Candy Shop just a few yards from the trailhead. Don't forget to bring cash if you need to purchase a day pass ($5) or annual pass ($35).

Trail: From the trailhead, we headed south on the Bear Canyon Trail. About 3.1 miles in is a 4-corners trail junction, where you turn a sharp, almost hairpin turn to continue on the Sitton Peak Trail. At mile 4.3, there is a small trail marker on the right that says “Sitton Peak” that is easily missed! From there, it's a pretty steep/slippery climb that can be a bit sandy and rocky. (Good idea to take your time and watch your footing!) Coming back, we decided to take the Bear Canyon Ridge trail to make our journey a ‘loop' of sorts. Overall this trail was beautiful and varied, and a great day-hike!