Cuyamaca Peak, Middle Peak, Stonewall Peak Loop in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, CA

Hike Cuyamaca Peak, Middle Peak, Stonewall Peak Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, CA

Class 1 15.2 miles 3500 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Apr 12, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Cuyamaca Rancho State Park has always been a favorite area in SoCal due to its nice trail system and proximity to the pie town, Julian CA. I planned this hike to link three of the major peaks within the park via an extended loop: Cuyamaca Peak, Middle Peak, and Stonewall Peak. About half of this hike is on fire roads closed to motorized traffic, but the sections that were on trails were lovely. I started within the park, paying the $10 fee at the Paso Picacho Campground day use parking area. I was planning on doing other hikes within the park after, so it made sense just to pay now for the day. If you are doing this full loop, you could consider parking here (32.97656, -116.58143), a free parking lot that my loop crosses over later near Lake Cuyamaca. However, I'll assume you parked where I did in order to use the ample trailhead amenities and follow the loop as I did it.

First up was Cuyamaca Peak, just a paved fire road the whole way up. I was happy to get this out of the way, but if you're hiking to Cuyamaca Peak as an out-and-back consider using one of the trail options to make this more enjoyable, such as the Monument Trail or the Azalea Glen Trail. I chose the most direct option since I had a lot else planned for the day and I've already been to Cuyamaca Peak via those trails in the past. The positive side is that the hike along the paved road has excellent views toward my two other peaks to come, as well as down toward the gorgeous meadows the park is known for. Cuyamaca Peak's high point requires a short social trail ascent through the trees and up a light Class 2 scramble on a cluster of granitic boulders. The road doesn't lead all the way up. It was pretty cool to see the SoCal landscape stretch to the west away from me, and I was able to point out a bunch of peaks I wasn't familiar with years ago the last time I was up here. I'm learning to enjoy revisiting places rather than constantly doing new stuff.

I backtracked along the paved road for a short time and picked up the Conejos Trail, which took me down along Cuyamaca Peak's northern slope. The trail started off with excellent views on a dirt trail, but became a little steeper and more rocky, and the views were oscured by brush. I reached the saddle with Middle Peak, a wide meadow. I took the Black Oak Trail up, at the time not realizing it was just an old dirt road converted into a trail. Fortunately, this trail sees regular maintenance or the encroaching tall brush would overwhelm the doubletrack quickly. The Black Oak Trail ascended gradually, the meadowy views fading away. I reached the Middle Peak Fire Road and took it east.

Middle Peak's actual summit doesn't have an official trail, but hardy hikers have carved a social trail through the thick brush. Ample praise for these valiant souls. The start of the social trail is difficult to locate, but I set out at a fire water storage tank and headed up the initially sparsely-vegetated slope. Cairns materialized and eventually I was funneled to the necessary social trail. I was concerned I'd be torn to pieces, but I didn't get a single scratch. It's a tight fit and I found myself ducking most of the way, but the brush isn't prickly. Creativity was clearly used when making the trail, demonstrated by a downed tree used as a walkway, large boulders serving as short reprieves from the brush, etc. I had no trouble sticking to the social trail and was at the view-obscured summit without too much effort.

Back on the Middle Peak Fire Road, I made the decision to use this as a descent rather than my other option, the Sugar Pine Trail. The region was scorched by a wildfire recently, so the Sugar Pine Trail wouldn't likely give me too much more to look at and would add a bit more mileage, while the fire road would at least get me some views and lead down more efficiently. A bunch of wide switchbacks later and I was at the eastern base of Middle Peak, where I crossed CA-79 and started along the Marty Minshall Trail. This is a trail that normally wraps near Lake Cuyamaca, but the wild amounts of rain this year meant it was totally flooded. Fortunately it didn't affect my hike, so I'd be able to reach Stonewall Peak via my intended route.

There are various trails you can take to access the Stonewall Peak Trail, but I took the Los Vaqueros Trail for a short time, then the Los Caballos Trail at the next junction. This portion leads through a lovely meadow that paralells CA-79 for a time before reaching the California Hiking and Riding Trail. Finally, I took the junction for the Stonewall Peak Trail. While Stonewall Peak is intensely popular, it is generally reached via the west face from the parking lot. Far fewer hikers reach the peak from this direction, and I enjoyed a bit more solitude before approaching the swarm of hikers on the summit. The views were nice as well, a bit more of the same meadowy and chaparral vibes with Lake Cuyamaca in the distance.

The summit of Stonewall Peak requires a walk up some stairs, followed by a handrail-secured traverse on a granite slab. I hung out only long enough to enjoy the views toward my previous two peaks before taking the more standard west face hike along the Stonewall Peak Trail back to my car. The switchbacks were painfully slow, barely losing elevation as they progressed down the mountain. Stonewall Peak from this side is an impressive sight from below, its steep granitic face looming above Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Cuyamaca Peak
6512 ft
2855 rise
2
Middle Peak
5883 ft
803 rise
3
Stonewall Peak
5730 ft
860 rise

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A junction within the Paso Picacho Campground with the Azalea Glen Trail. I chose to hike the fire road.
A junction within the Paso Picacho Campground with the Azalea Glen Trail. I chose to hike the fire road.
Cuyamaca Peak seen top left along the paved fire road.
Cuyamaca Peak seen top left along the paved fire road.
View back, Stonewall Peak seen on the left.
View back, Stonewall Peak seen on the left.
Progress along the fire road to Cuyamaca Peak.
Progress along the fire road to Cuyamaca Peak.
Entering unburned forest.
Entering unburned forest.
View back, Lake Cuyamaca seen below.
View back, Lake Cuyamaca seen below.
Cuyamaca Peak ahead.
Cuyamaca Peak ahead.
View back as I near the summit.
View back as I near the summit.
Cuyamaca Peak ahead. The fire road doesn't lead to the true summit.
Cuyamaca Peak ahead. The fire road doesn't lead to the true summit.
Class 2 Cuyamaca Peak summit block.
Class 2 Cuyamaca Peak summit block.
View south toward the summit tower and beyond.
View south toward the summit tower and beyond.
Cuyamaca Peak, wide shot west toward Viejas Mountain and El Cajon Mountain.
Cuyamaca Peak, wide shot west toward Viejas Mountain and El Cajon Mountain.
Closer shot west.
Closer shot west.
Cuyamaca Peak summit, view toward Middle Peak (left), Lake Cuyamaca (center), Stonewall Peak (right).
Cuyamaca Peak summit, view toward Middle Peak (left), Lake Cuyamaca (center), Stonewall Peak (right).
I picked up the Conejos Trail, leading down Cuyamaca Peak's north slope.
I picked up the Conejos Trail, leading down Cuyamaca Peak's north slope.
Starting through forest.
Starting through forest.
And more open sections with some little meadows.
And more open sections with some little meadows.
And then the trail descended into more shrubby terrain. Middle Peak seen on the right.
And then the trail descended into more shrubby terrain. Middle Peak seen on the right.
View back up after the Conejos Trail became more steep and a bit rockier.
View back up after the Conejos Trail became more steep and a bit rockier.
Approaching the saddle with Middle Peak.
Approaching the saddle with Middle Peak.
At the saddle, view back toward Cuyamaca Peak's north slope.
At the saddle, view back toward Cuyamaca Peak's north slope.
Into a meadow at the base of Middle Peak.
Into a meadow at the base of Middle Peak.
Starting up the Black Oak Trail toward Middle Peak.
Starting up the Black Oak Trail toward Middle Peak.
View back through the meadow at the saddle toward Cuyamaca Peak.
View back through the meadow at the saddle toward Cuyamaca Peak.
Not great views along the Black Oak Trail.
Not great views along the Black Oak Trail.
View back toward the burn area at Cuyamaca Peak.
View back toward the burn area at Cuyamaca Peak.
After joining the Middle Peak Fire Road, I headed up toward the true Middle Peak summit at this water container.
After joining the Middle Peak Fire Road, I headed up toward the true Middle Peak summit at this water container.
The social trail was really helpful, carved well through the brush.
The social trail was really helpful, carved well through the brush.
View north along the social trail.
View north along the social trail.
Cuyamaca Peak seen from the summit of Middle Peak.
Cuyamaca Peak seen from the summit of Middle Peak.
Back along the Middle Peak Fire Road, descending from Middle Peak. Stonewall Peak seen poking out on the left.
Back along the Middle Peak Fire Road, descending from Middle Peak. Stonewall Peak seen poking out on the left.
Much lower down, Lake Cuyamaca seen over there.
Much lower down, Lake Cuyamaca seen over there.
Stonewall Peak ahead, my third peak for the loop.
Stonewall Peak ahead, my third peak for the loop.
After crossing CA-79, I took the Marty Minshall Trail.
After crossing CA-79, I took the Marty Minshall Trail.
View toward Cuyamaca Peak along the Marty Minshall Trail.
View toward Cuyamaca Peak along the Marty Minshall Trail.
Flooded Lake Cuyamaca on the left.
Flooded Lake Cuyamaca on the left.
I took the Los Vaqueros Trail, then the Los Caballos trail.
I took the Los Vaqueros Trail, then the Los Caballos trail.
Stonewall Peak ahead, a pretty meadow along the way.
Stonewall Peak ahead, a pretty meadow along the way.
After a short spurt along the California Hiking and Riding Trail, now on the Stonewall Peak Trail. Summit ahead.
After a short spurt along the California Hiking and Riding Trail, now on the Stonewall Peak Trail. Summit ahead.
Switchbacks along the Stonewall Peak Trail.
Switchbacks along the Stonewall Peak Trail.
Heading up the trail, Lake Cuyamaca seen left.
Heading up the trail, Lake Cuyamaca seen left.
The trail steepens and introduces more switchbacks higher up.
The trail steepens and introduces more switchbacks higher up.
View back toward Lake Cuyamaca.
View back toward Lake Cuyamaca.
Approaching the summit.
Approaching the summit.
Stairs.
Stairs.
Looking back at the handrail-led traverse.
Looking back at the handrail-led traverse.
Stonewall Peak summit, view toward Lake Cuyamaca.
Stonewall Peak summit, view toward Lake Cuyamaca.
Close-up toward Cuyamaca Peak.
Close-up toward Cuyamaca Peak.
Heading down along the more popular side of the Stonewall Peak Trail.
Heading down along the more popular side of the Stonewall Peak Trail.
Many long and slow switchbacks.
Many long and slow switchbacks.
Image 50 from gallery
View back up toward Stonewall Peak before reaching the trailhead.
View back up toward Stonewall Peak before reaching the trailhead.

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