Join the Challenge
The San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge is a self-paced hiking and trail running challenge up six iconic San Diego County mountains, including “the hardest hike in San Diego” and the high point of San Diego County.
You choose whether you want to complete them in six days, six weeks, or take the entire year. Set the schedule that works best for you.
You can climb them in order as you build your strength and endurance, or mix it up. The choice is yours. Your registration will help support Big City Mountaineers, so you'll be doing good for others with each peak you climb.
Overview Map of the San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
The Peaks of the San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
VOLCAN MOUNTAIN – Elevation 5,353′ (1632 m)
This 5,353′ peak has views of a transitioning landscape, with views that extend to the Pacific Ocean and even Catalina Island on a clear day, and to Anza-Borrego and the Salton Sea to the east. It was considered as a potential site for the observatory that was eventually built on Mount Palomar, and you can still see the remains of the outpost built during the siting study. It's also home to a USPS Air Mail signal tower that dates back to the 1920's when such towers guided pilots across the country at night.
Trail Guide
- Hiking Volcan Mountain – SoCalHiker
MOUNT WOODSON – Elevation 2,881′ (878m)
Better known for the side-trip to “Potato Chip Rock”, Mount Woodson is popular for a reason.
Trail Guides
CUYAMACA PEAK – Elevation 6,512′ (1,985m)
San Diego's second highest peak, with views that on a clear day can stretch from Mexico to the Coronado Islands.
Note that the Cuyamaca Fire Road to the summit is currently closed until later this year. Scott Turner has a couple of alternate routes that remain open and get you close to the summit (link below). If you hike one of the open routes to the point where it meets the closure area, that will count as a summit. If you really want to get to the summit, obey all closures and wait until the summit has reopened.
Trail Guides
- Cuyamaca Highlands – Scott Turner Hikes
- Hiking Cuyamaca Peak – Modern Hiker
- Cuyamaca Peak +3 – A Traverse and a Loop through Western Cuyamaca – 100peaks.com
HOT SPRINGS MOUNTAIN – Elevation 6,535′ (1992m)
At 6,535′ Hot Springs Mountain is the tallest in San Diego County, making it a must-hike peak for high-pointers. It's located on the Los Coyotes Reservation, which requires a $10 entrance fee.
Trail Guides
- Hiking Hot Springs Mountain – Modern Hiker
- Hot Springs Mountain – The Last Adventurer
- Hot Springs Mountain – San Diego's Highest Peak – 100peaks.com
EL CAJON MOUNTAIN – Elevation 3,648′ (1112m)
At 3,648′ El Cajon Mountain is not the tallest by far, but this 11 mile trek climbs 4,000 vertical feet, making it one of the toughest in San Diego.
Trail Guides
- El Cajon Mountain (El Capitan) – Uphill Both Ways – 100peaks.com
- El Cajon Mountain – Modern Hiker
- El Cajon Mountain – The Last Adventurer
HIGH POINT – Elevation 6,138′ (1871m)
The highest point on Mount Palomar is 6,138′ High Point, with a strenuous 13 mile hike to match.
Trail Guides
- High Point from Oak Grove – Modern Hiker
Latest 2021 San Diego Hike Logs
When the challenge begins on January 1, 2021, hike logs will show up here.
Viewless Volcan
Got one last hike in before the rainy week. The fog was thick and we had no views. The temp was in the mid 30's
Into the mists!
Super fun. Not too busy. Limited views because we entered a cloud shrouding the summit!
Mt. Woodson
Great hike. Clouds came in so there was not much of a view at the top. We started off from Lake Poway at around 6:40
Volcan Mountain
Started about 8AM with a good friend & my dog. As we hiked up we peeled off and took the 5 Oaks trail instead of
Not Hot (at all) Springs
First time I really suffered through a hike. Stomach issues made me weak and really struggle. But a half of a bagel that Ricky my
Cloudy on Cuyamaca…
Solo hike to Cuyamaca Peak. This is my first peak of 2021. Started along the trail under sunny skies with white, puffy clouds overhead. As