This trail is short in length but it was a good workout for my legs as it is uphill without a break for 2.5 miles until you reach the summit.  As you approach the peak you cross a saddle of open grassland with spectacular views west to the Santa Ysabel Preserve and east to the Anza Borrego Desert.  On this day it was very windy,  dry and sunny but still quite chilly at the top if you weren't sheltered.  From the top there are spectacular views down into Julian and the Banner Grade.  I was hoping to take a trail that leads from the peak SW along the ridge above the Banner Grade, but the trail was signed “Closed”.  On the descent I left the main trail to take the much narrower Five Oaks Trail which provides very nice views of Julian and appears to be much less travelled.