+ 13
Cowles Mountain Via Cowles Service Road
Hiking Trail
Hard
2.84 mi
918 ft
1:05:12
This route up Cowles Mountain, via the Cowles Service Road is another popular way to hike to the highest peak in San Diego. The service road is unpaved and steep in sections. This trail is guaranteed to give you a good workout. This hike follows an out and back route. It’s one of the most popular hikes with Strava members in San Diego and the views from the top are worth the hard effort to get up there!
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate to Summit Fire Road | 1.44 mi | 856 ft | 11.3% |
| Cowles Service Road Round Trip | 2.83 mi | 853 ft | 0.0% |
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 0.58 mi | 564 ft | 18.3% |
| Cowles Mountain Trail Climb | 0.31 mi | 167 ft | 9.9% |
| Cowles Mountain Trail Climb | 0.37 mi | 361 ft | 18.3% |
| Cowles Summit Down Fire Road to Gate | 1.42 mi | -853 ft | -11.3% |