Mount Woodson, perhaps better known as “Potato Chip Rock,” is a tough hike no matter which route you take. The least hard route starts from Highway 67 and climbs a steep and winding fire road up the eastern side of the mountain. Even more grueling is the route from Lake Poway up the western side. For those looking for even more mileage and elevation gain, we suggest this route that begins at Blue Sky Ecological Reserve and connects to the Lake Poway route.
We were in training mode for some upcoming summer backpacking trips and decided this nice 10 mile jaunt up Mount Woodson would make a good workout. We loaded up our big packs with gear, numerous full water bottles, a dumbbell or two for extra weight, and headed out. One of the best things about starting at Blue Sky versus Lake Poway was that we didn’t have to pay the $10 parking fee (charged to non-Poway residents on weekends and holidays). It was still Potato Chip Rock however, so we knew it would be fairly busy. We got an early start to try and avoid both the crowds and the heat and made our way to Blue Sky.
We found the trailhead at the southwest corner of the parking lot. 
The path led us to a fire road which descended into the canyon.
To the left was a lush riparian creek bed, and oak trees shaded much of the trail. There was also a considerable amount of poison oak, but the wide road made it easy to avoid.
Around .2 mile we noted a turn off on the left for the Oak Grove and Creekside Trails. The Creekside Trail is an alternate route that parallels the truck trail, but as the name implies travels closer to the creek. We stuck with the road since we had a lot of miles to cover, but if you’re looking for a more leisurely hike the Creekside Trail is a nice option.
We continued along, admiring the greenery. We passed the other end of the Creekside Trail at .5 mile.
At .9 mile we came to another junction and turned right to head towards Lake Poway.
The trail began to climb somewhat, gradually leaving the oak riparian area and heading towards the chaparral laden slopes. A little past 1 mile we came to an open gate that marked the boundary between Blue Sky Ecological Reserve and Lake Poway.
We could see Poway dam towering in the distance.
We passed a day use picnic area on the right. The bathrooms were closed, but there were a bunch of picnic tables under some beautiful oaks.
Around 1.3 miles we came to “Y” junction and turned left towards Mount Woodson.
From here the trail began to climb, winding its way uphill towards the lake.
As we ascended, we could see Ramona dam in the distance to the northeast.
We continued climb until the trail leveled out as we reached Lake Poway.
A little past 2 miles there were a couple of port-a-potties to the left, and a few picnic tables at an overlook on the right, making a nice spot for a quick break if you need it.
We enjoyed beautiful views of the lake as we continued on.
Around 2.35 miles we came to the turn-off for the Mount Woodson Trail and turned left.
The road climbed steeply here, and there was no shade. We were glad to have gotten an early start and chosen a cool day – this would be murder in mid-summer.
We found some beautiful blue ceanothus blooming along the trail.
It was a pretty continuous uphill climb through the chaparral. Eventually the fire road narrowed to a wide dirt path. Around 3.4 miles we came to a “Y” junction – to the right was the Warren Canyon Trail, which eventually led to Highway 67. We took the left fork to stay on the Mount Woodson Trail.
This grade of the trail got steeper, and in many sections there were stone steps.
We were in the midst of boulder-studded slopes that are so characteristic of the Poway area.
We continued climbing ever upwards. Around 4 miles we came to a junction – to the left was a viewpoint just a few hundred feet off the trail. We stayed right, on the main trail. Shortly thereafter the Fry/Koegel Trail split off to the left, and once again we stayed right towards the summit.
We continued ever upwards.
The views were getting pretty impressive.
We periodically caught sight of some of the antennas that topped the mountain.
Around 5.1 miles we reached the famous Potato Chip Rock. We were early enough that there wasn’t a huge throng of people lined up for photos, but for us today was all about the mileage. We continued up the fire road, seeking the summit.
We reached the paved section of road that ran between the fenced-off antennae and associated buildings.
We sought out the highest accessible point, turning up a paved driveway near one of the buildings.
We reached a little turnout at the top of the driveway and decided this was a good enough spot to call the top. There was a decent enough view, and some old logs to sit on, so we took a nice break.
If you want an even tougher hike, from this point you can continue down the fire road to Highway 67 before turning around. We felt we had suffered enough abuse though, so headed back the way we had come.
Directions:
From I-15, take the Rancho Bernardo Road exit and head east on Rancho Bernardo Road. Continue as Rancho Bernardo Road turns into Espola Road. Approximately 3.2 miles from I-15 as Espola Road begins to curve south you will find the entrance to Blue Sky Ecological Reserve on the left. map
| Total Distance: | 10.3 miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderately Strenuous |
| Total Ascent: | 2520 feet |
| Dog Friendly?: | Leashed dogs allowed but not recommended in warm weather |
| Bike Friendly?: | Bikes not allowed in Blue Sky Ecological Reserve |
| Facilities: | Port-a-potty and water in parking lot |
| Fees/Permits: | None |
For more information, visit:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife – Blue Sky Ecological Reserve
Friends of Blue Sky Canyon
City of Poway – Blue Sky Ecological Reserve
City of Poway Trails Map
View route or download GPX from CalTopo
