Garnet Peak is one of our favorite hikes in San Diego. It’s a fairly easy hike with fantastic views, and during the right time of year there are plenty of wildflowers to enjoy. We like this hike so much, this is the third time we’ve written it up – documenting three different ways to get there. This particular route, starting from the Penny Pines trailhead along the Sunrise Highway, is probably the most popular route (likely because of the ample free parking – no Adventure Pass is required at Penny Pines). It travels north along the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) before branching off to ascend Garnet Peak.
We got an early start, but the day was fairly warm. Fortunately it wasn’t too long of a hike, so we knew we’d be done before the worst of the heat hit. Arriving at the Penny Pines trailhead, we parked our car on the eastern side of the highway. We set off down the trail at the northern end of the parking area where there’s a sign describing the history of the “Penny Pines” reforestation program. There’s another path from the middle/southern edge of the parking area you can also take – they converge in a short distance.
We passed through fence and into a sparse stand of pines.
After about .1 mile we came to a 4-way junction and turned left onto the northbound PCT.
The trail took us northwest through a blanket of chaparral. There were some wildflowers in bloom, brightening up the trail.
It wasn’t long before we had some great views of Foster Point and Monument Peak to the south.
More beautiful flower appeared along the sunny slopes alongside the trail.
As we hiked we noticed the occasional side trail leading off to some nice viewpoints along the way.
To the east of us was the barren-looking expanse of Anza-Borrego.
As we continued, our destination rose up in the distance ahead of us.
As it was a pretty warm day, there were lots of lizards on the trail, hanging out in the sunshine. We kept our eyes open for Horned Lizards and various snakes which can also be found in this area, but we didn’t spot any.
But there were some other critters to be found.
Around 1.6 miles we reached a 4-way junction – the turn-off for Garnet Peak was to the right, so we turned and began climbing uphill.
It was a pretty steady climb, with a fair amount of loose rocks, through the chaparral.
Right before the peak, there was a small amount of easy rock scrambling to navigate.
At 2.1 miles, we had reached the rocky peak. There was an old ammo can holding a summit register in the form of numerous worn (and full) notebooks).
To the south, we could see Monument Peak.
East was the expansive desert.
And looking north, we could see the PCT winding along, and Cuyamaca Peak, Middle Peak, and North Peak poking up in the distance.
We hung around at the top for quite a while, watching butterflies flit around and enjoying the views. Eventually, we headed back, retracing our route back to Penny Pines.
Directions:
From I-8 east take the Sunrise Highway exit and turn left onto Sunrise Highway (S1). Follow Sunrise Highway for approximately 13.8 miles to the Penny Pines trailhead where you can park on either side of the road. The trail head is on the east side of the highway. map
| Total Distance: | 4.2 miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Total Ascent: | 820 feet |
| Dog Friendly?: | Leashed dogs allowed |
| Bike Friendly?: | Bikes not allowed |
| Facilities: | Water on west side of road near Penny Pines; no restrooms |
| Fees/Permits: | None |
For more information, visit:
Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association
Laguna Mountain Recreation Area Map
View route or download GPX from CalTopo
Awesome hike!! tks for sharing!