3.4 hr
Overview
Note: El Cajon Mountain is the mountain's official name, but El Capitan is used colloquially. The two terms are used interchangeably by locals, but there is only one El Cap, and it is in Yosemite. <br><br>Getting there: The trailhead is located on the right side of Wildcat Canyon Road when traveling from Lakeside to Barona Indian Reservation. Expect the main parking lot and the Oakoasis county preserve parking lot located across the street to be full on the weekend. There is limited parking on the roadside, but be careful as this road is busy and dangerous. Get there right at 8 a.m. when the gate opens to avoid the heat and crowds. <br><br>The Trail: With the exception of the .5 miles above the trailhead and the .25 miles below the summit block, this trail is more of a wilderness freeway/doubletrack truck trail. The concept of switchbacks clearly eluded the trail builders as it takes a very direct path up the mountain. It is well traveled so one does not get the back-country adventure feel, however this is ideal for a quad-burning hike. It is very well-signed; route finding will not be an issue.<br><br>Directions: From the parking lot, head up a dirt road with a 100yd section of reddish concrete road. Private property lines this road, but don't be fooled this is not someone's driveway. The official trailhead is .5 miles up the road and has bathrooms and picnic tables, but there is no parking allowed here. Pass the bathrooms, follow signs for El Cajon Mountain and take a left at the fork. The trail turns to singletrack switchbacks and continues to climb for another half mile. <br><br>At the top of the ridge, the trail widens to dirt singletrack and continues at a moderate downhill grade for the next 1.2 miles. Multiple trails crisscross the main trail in this section but stay on the most obvious path and follow signs for El Cajon Mountain Summit. The next 1.7-mile section is wide doubletrack but is extremely steep and loose gravel makes footing tenuous. This is the most strenuous section of the climb. The trail
Trail Stats
8.2 km
711 m
1107 m
559 m
—
Photos
It's still a long way back to the trailhead from El Cajon Mountain.
It's still a long way back to the trailhead from El Cajon Mountain.
Early morning fog enshrouds the El Cajon Mountain Trail.
Early morning fog enshrouds the El Cajon Mountain Trail.
Enjoy this view to the southwest from the top of El Cajon Mountain.
Enjoy this view to the southwest from the top of El Cajon Mountain.
Check out the big rocks to the west near the top of El Cajon Mountain.
Check out the big rocks to the west near the top of El Cajon Mountain.