El Cajon Peak - El Capitan Open Space Preserve

The trail up El Cajon peak is a 5 1/2 mile steep climb with very few places for shade. I hiked it once in July when it was 108 degrees and it was pretty brutal. I wanted to hike it again in cooler weather and also check out the radio station shack to the west of the peak. I was also hoping to get some good pictures but it was too cloudy out and most of the landscape was covered in thick clouds. The total distance to hike to the peak and back is about 11 1/2 miles and total elevation gain/loss is near 4,500' so it is a strenuous hike for most people. If you decide to go take plenty of water, even if it is cold out, you will be sweating as you hike up the very steep sections. I personally carry 6 liters and drink most of it. The trailhead and parking area directions can be found here.

Looking up the trail towards El Cajon Peak in the far distance

Cool fungus

More cool fungus (Oak Tree root rot?)

The sumacs had a lot of bright reds (Pepper Tree)

Some bright pink on the sumac (Sugar Bush)

Mtn Lion scat, fresh from early am, pre-dawn is my guess

When you get to the old jeep, you are close to the top

The register

The old radio tower shack near the top, it is burned out inside and not used any more

Panorama of El Cajon Peak, El Capitan and El Monte Park (click image to view full size)

Google Earth track of the route recorded with My Tracks on Android (click image to view full size)

Download the Google Earth KML here
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