Location: San Diego County, about 22 miles northeast of Escondido, 131 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Distance: 1 mile round trip

Gain: 200'

Time: 1/2 hour

Rating: Drive-up

Original: Carleton Shay, April 1997

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• 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 next 2 miles or so.
• Go east on SR 79 to its intersection with SR 371 in Aguanga. Reset your odometer.
• Continue southeast on SR 79 for 13.4 miles to dirt road 9S07 on the right. Reset your odometer and turn right.
• At 11.4 miles, a fork. Go right (though left road rejoins shortly).
• At 11.6 miles, an intersection with a plethora of signs. This is the junction of 9S07 and 9S09. Bear left on 9S07, the Palomar Divide Road.
• At 12.1, fork. Go left.
• At 12.6, fork and gate. The gate is often closed at this point, and the hiking statistics above reflect that closure. In your car (if you can) or afoot, go left and continue up to the summit, 13.1 miles.