Volcan Mountain is a moderate hike near Julian, CA. This is an out-and-back hike of around 5 miles, with approximately 1,200ft of elevation gains. I hiked this trail on July 29th, 2023, as the first hike towards my 2023 San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. Easy parking is available at the trailhead on Farmer Road. Dogs on leash are welcome to join your hike. There is also a winery nearby if you need a pick-me-up after your climb.

Sunset is my favorite time of the day for hikes. Golden and blue hours are my favorite. And the sunset at the summit of Volcan Mountain was magnificent that night. I would recommend this hike during the golden hour.

The hike starts easily and gets progressively steeper for perhaps a mile or so towards the middle of the uphill. Don't forget to look back as you climb up, to enjoy the views. The last section of the hike offers expansive views as far as the ocean on a clear day. From there you can see San Diego, Coronado Island, Middle Peak, Cuyamaca Peak, and even Catalina Island if you're lucky. The other side offers the wonders of the desert landscape including the Pacific Crest Trail, Mount San Jacinto, and Salton Sea.

I hiked this trail on July 29th, 2023, as the first hike towards my 2023 San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. I started my hike at around 6.45 pm, to get to the summit at sunset.

The hike was 5.1 miles long with 1,214ft of elevation gain. It took me 2hrs 4mins total, including photo breaks. The trail starts off easy and gets rather steep quickly.

I thought the trail was well-maintained (not overgrown) and easy to follow, but I did not see any other humans on the trail. It was the perfect me-time outing.