Memories of Hot Springs Mountain

2004-05-21

At 6,526 feet, the summit of Hot Springs Mountain is the highest point of land in San Diego County. However, many folks living in San Diego are unaware of its existence. This is mostly because the nearly as high Palomar Mountain, Mesa Grande plateau, and Vulcan Mountain, shield it from view.

To reach its summit, one must drive to Warner Springs and find the five-mile road to the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation. There, you will pay an access fee and then continue on for about one mile, where the pavement ends, and a gravel road that ascends the mountain. You will encounter brush-covered hillsides until you reach trees about 4 or 5 miles further, and remain so for another 2 miles where the road ends at the old watchtower. 

The total distance, after leaving the highway near Warner Springs to the lookout, is 12.4 miles. Depending on maintenance, or lack-there-of, sections at the upper elevations can be very rough. It is advisable to have high clearance and 4-wheel drive. There are side-roads you will pass along the way, but some are dangerous, and only suited for those ‘obstacle-oriented’ travelers.

Depending on one’s spirit of adventure, there are additional roads leading around the base of the mountain (see attached map) that lead to some scenic, primitive back-country. In my experience, these roads are better maintained than those at the crest of the mountain.

I regret not capturing more images during my visits on the mountain. And those visits were a long time ago (2004). But this location may provide meetings with species not easily found at lower elevations.