Class 3 7.4 miles 1800 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Apr 14, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Bell Bluff GPX Track

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Bell Bluff is an excellent little peak with a short scramble within Cleveland National Forest, a quick drive from San Diego. There is no official trailhead for Bell Bluff, so I parked on a suburban side street. It felt like this was an illegal hike due to the "no parking" signs and unmarked locked gate at the trailhead, but it's perfectly accessible to the public. The hike begins along the California Riding & Hiking Trail, this portion labeled Spanish Bit Drive. The trail was once an old dirt road, but has now been converted into a trail.

After hiking through a short public corridor hugged by residences, I reached the crossing of the Sweetwater River. Due to the wild amount of water received this year, the river was flowing up to my thighs. Past the river crossing, a grassy section leads to a well-carved trail that wraps around a hill. It's an easy walk for a few miles with very slowly changing views. At some point the California Riding & Hiking Trail leaves the ridge, but the hike to Bell Bluff continues east. Bell Bluff seemed to creep closer, the hike leading directly toward its base.

The Bell Bluff Trail switchbacked a couple of times and emerged on the western shoulder of the peak, where the trail then bends to the north and away from the peak. I left the more obvious main trail here and headed to the right where cairns marked the start of the summit route. Starting here the hike became more overgrown, but was overall easy to follow and I didn't get a single scratch. Gaining elevation steeply, the social trail stuck to the western ridge of Bell Bluff, the well-trodden route scrambling up a bunch of Class 2 and with one short Class 3 move. The views progressively improved as well, many of the classic San Diego peaks visible all around.

The last quarter mile or so to the summit of Bell Bluff was a bit trickier to follow since divergent social trails lead away from the primary summit route, but I overall didn't have difficulty making it up. Without the social trail, the brush would be a nuisance, so I was thrilled previous hikers have carved the way. The summit area is wide and riddled with boulders and brush. While most people seem to consider the benchmark to be the highest point, there are a couple of large boulder clusters that are clearly taller. A summit register at the lower point seems to be what most consider a summit of Bell Bluff, and very few previous reports mention the more serious bouldery summit. I called the route Class 3 because of this, since the standard seems to be to hike there and call it good.

While most don't actually go to the true high point, I wanted to give it a try. I picked my way north through some brush and reached the base of the summit cluster. The left side seemed tricky, so I poked around on the right, where a wide crack seemed to provide a low Class 5 scramble option. This was made much easier by the existence of a rope. I generally don't blindy trust ropes hanging off a ledge, so I used it sparingly, choosing to use the decent holds to ascend. The climb lasted about 15 feet. I returned the way I came from Bell Bluff, making a few errors on the way down due to the tricky divergent social trails I mentioned earlier.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bell Bluff
3409 ft
409 rise

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The unmarked trailhead for Bell Bluff.
The unmarked trailhead for Bell Bluff.
Sweetwater River crossing.
Sweetwater River crossing.
Past the crossing, the trail ascends through grasses.
Past the crossing, the trail ascends through grasses.
A view back, Bell bluff visible in the center.
A view back, Bell bluff visible in the center.
The trail wraps around a hill with views into rich suburbia.
The trail wraps around a hill with views into rich suburbia.
The trail is wide and straightforward.
The trail is wide and straightforward.
Bell Bluff seen ahead.
Bell Bluff seen ahead.
View back into the chaparral-coated hills.
View back into the chaparral-coated hills.
Bell Bluff getting closer.
Bell Bluff getting closer.
A view back as I near the base of Bell Bluff.
A view back as I near the base of Bell Bluff.
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
A junction. Left is a more obvious trail, but to the right leads to the summit of  Bell Bluff.
A junction. Left is a more obvious trail, but to the right leads to the summit of Bell Bluff.
The summit route trail has encroaching brush, but it's not bad.
The summit route trail has encroaching brush, but it's not bad.
Steep sections with Class 2 mixed in.
Steep sections with Class 2 mixed in.
View back the way I came.
View back the way I came.
Class 3 move up the slab right of center. It's a short and unexposed move.
Class 3 move up the slab right of center. It's a short and unexposed move.
View back toward the social trail carved through the brush.
View back toward the social trail carved through the brush.
Ascending to the summit area.
Ascending to the summit area.
Another shot back before the summit.
Another shot back before the summit.
Bell Bluff summit just ahead.
Bell Bluff summit just ahead.
Bell Bluff summit view, looking east.
Bell Bluff summit view, looking east.
Bell Bluff summit view, looking north. You can see the taller boulder cluster in the center. Viejas Mountain seen on the left.
Bell Bluff summit view, looking north. You can see the taller boulder cluster in the center. Viejas Mountain seen on the left.
On the right (east) side of the summit boulder. You can see a rope at the low Class 5 section.
On the right (east) side of the summit boulder. You can see a rope at the low Class 5 section.
Above the Class 5 crux, view down at the climb.
Above the Class 5 crux, view down at the climb.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!