Iron Spring Mountain

Iron Spring Mountain in the distance, photo by Kathy Wing

IronSpring Mountain, photo by Kathy Wing

Iron Spring Mountain in the distance, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Iron Spring Mountain

31F

Elevation

5755

feet

Status

active

Region

San Diego County North Of Hwy 78

Range

San Diego Area Ranges

Nearby peaks

Beauty Mountain

Location

33.453365,-116.697242

Description

Iron Spring Mountain and its neighbor Beauty Peak lie at the southernmost end of Riverside County, as it transitions into San Diego County and continues southward to Anza Borrego. They have unique panoramas, with the Desert Divide to the north, Palomar High Point to the southwest, and Hot Springs Mountain, the highest point of San Diego County, to the southeast. The two peaks are typically hiked together.

Route 1 is a pretty hike that winds around chaparral on old road, trail and use trail up a gully then on to the final ridge on use trail. Add a side trip to Beauty from the dam and your day is complete. “

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

1700′ total, 1500′ out plus 200′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

6 miles round trip cross-country

Estimated time

4 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-15 south to Temecula.
Take the south SR 79 exit. This is the second of two SR 79 exits. It says 79 South. Please make sure you have enough gas. There are plenty of gas stations along SR 79 for the first 2 miles or so.
Go east on SR 79 17.4 miles to Aguanga. Turn left on SR 371.
Go northeast 6.3 miles to Bradford Road. Turn right on paved road (not the dirt road immediately before). Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 1.1 miles, Bradford Road turns right and is named Tule Valley Road.
At 1.5 miles, go left (east) on Hernley Road (dirt). At 3.5 miles the road name changes to Elder Creek Road.
At 5.0 miles there is a “T” junction, turn right (south) on Bonny Lane.
At 5.7 miles, junction. Go left (east) on Tule Peak Road.
At 6.5 miles there is a pull off on the right, just past a cable box on the right side of the road, and opposite 2 roads going north. Park here.

Hiking route

(UTM 269033 and 27) There is an old road on the right that heads southeast.
From the parking area (4450′), hike along this old road (about 1/3 mile) to its end at UTM 273029 and 27.
Hike west over a hillock, avoiding brush, to the base of the major gully (0.6 mile) that runs north-south (UTM 270026 and 27).
Go up the left side of the gully (at a possible duck) until you get past a dry waterfall.
Then continue south along the gully to where it forks at an open area just before a fence (1.3 miles).
Take the right fork, cross the fence, and follow the gully southwest over a shallow saddle (brushy).
Go south down another gully to a low earthen dam with a road on it (1.8 miles). This is the turnoff for Beauty Peak.
Turn left (east) on the road less than 300 yards past the dam to where a cleared path leads off to the left.
Follow this to its end and continue on a use trail which follows the ridge east to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Peak combinations: The peak is usually climbed with Beauty Peak. Iron Spring is about 1.7 miles almost due south of Iron Spring Mountain. It can be reached by hiking sout on the track that leads south from the dam on the way to Iron Spring Mountain.

Special Conditions: With the passage of time brush grows and regrows. The hiker should be prepared to find the route overgrown with brush and the clipped route obscured. Conditions in the field are dynamic and changes over time are to be expected. Seasonal tick blooms have been observed in the major gully. Light-colored clothing and frequent inspections are recommended.