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** Use at Your Own Risk **
31G |
Combs Peak |
6193' |
Location: San Diego County, about 8 miles north of Warner Springs, 127 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
| Auto Club | Riverside County, San Diego County |
| Forest Service | Cleveland National Forest |
| USGS Topos | Bucksnort Mtn 7½, Hot Springs Mtn 7½ |
| Official HPS Maps | TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| Viewable JPG file - Approximately 460K | |
| GPX file or Google Earth KML file to download to GPS units and other map software (How to use GPX and KML files) | |
| Routes as shown on CalTopo using the above files (How to use CalTopo) |
ROUTE 1
- Distance: 5 miles round trip on trail and use trail
- Gain: 1200'
- Time: 3 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, moderate
- Navigation: Easy
Original: Cliff Black
DRIVING ROUTE 1
- Take I-15 south to Temecula.
- Take the second off-ramp for SR 79, signed "79 South / Indio". Turn left (east) on SR 79.
- Pass through Aguanga in 18 miles; continue 5 more miles to Oak Grove Campground and Ranger Station, then another 3 miles to the Chihuahua Valley Road on the left (paved). Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
- At 6.4 miles, the paved road turns sharp right. There is a wide gate and a large metal arch/entrance that leads to a private development. To the right of that is a small dirt road, turn onto that small dirt road.
- At 8.0 miles, gate. This gate is sometimes locked. If it is locked, park here. This adds 7 miles round trip.
- At 11.4 miles, the road reaches a saddle. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) crosses the road here and there is a sign "State Park Property". Park here.
HIKING ROUTE 1
- From the parking area (5050', UTM 378935), hike north 2 miles on the PCT to a saddle (5600') just east-northeast of Combs Peak.
- From here, follow a ducked use trail west up to the summit.
ROUTE 2
- Distance: 8.5 miles round trip cross-country and on trail
- Gain: 1800'
- Time: 5 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, moderate
- Navigation: Moderate
Original: Dave Comerzan, Mars Bonfire and George Christiansen, October 2012
DRIVING ROUTE 2
- Take I-15 south to Temecula.
- Take the second off-ramp for SR 79, signed "79 South / Indio". Turn left (east) on SR 79.
- Continue on SR 79 to SR 371 in Aguanga. Turn left on SR 371.
- Continue on SR 371 to Kirby Rd (approximately 1.5 miles past Anza). Turn right. Set odometer to zero.
- At 1.0 miles, Wellman Rd. Turn left.
- At 2.0 miles, Terwilliger Rd. Turn right.
- At 5.8 miles, Ramsey Rd. Turn right.
- At 5.9 miles, Tule Rd. (becomes Terwilliger). Turn left. Start of dirt road.
- At 8.7 miles, Rimrock Rd. Turn left.
- At 9.7 miles, Rimrock Rd. Turn right (south).
- At 10.6 miles, fork. Go right.
- At 10.8 miles, fork. Go straight.
- At 11.5 miles, park before the creek crossing at a hairpin turn to the left (wide parking area). If you cross the creek, come back. Just before the parking spot is a gate. The gate may be locked or just closed. If locked, park here and walk to the start of the hike route.
- Stay on the main road at any forks.
HIKING ROUTE 2
- From the parking spot, walk down the road, just past where the Tule Creek crosses this road. You will be following the Tule Creek bed, but the start is too brushy. Go just past the creek, head southeast, then go to the left to get into the Tule Creek bed.
- Follow the creek for 1.6 miles to point where the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) crosses the creek bed.
- Turn right and follow the PCT to the saddle (5600') just east-northeast of Combs Peak.
- Follow a ducked use trail west up to the summit.
NOTES
The ridge to the west of the PCT is called Bucksnort Mountain. Combs Peak is its high point.
The Combs Peak area is typical San Diego County chaparral country, with manzanita, scrub oak, buckthorn, red shanks and chamise densely clothing the mountain slopes.
The peak is located within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The state charges a fee for driving on dirt roads within the park.
History of Summit Signature
Climbing Archives
Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.