Guatay Mountain in Cleveland National Forest, CA

Hike Guatay Mountain Cleveland National Forest, CA

Class 1 5.8 miles 1700 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Apr 12, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Guatay Mountain is a minor summit located near Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, but despite being a relatively small peak it has great views of the surrounding hills due to its steeply sloped ridgeline. The trailhead is poorly labeled and does not have an official parking lot. I left my car at the large Pine Creek Trailhead lot and walked back along the road to reach the start of the Guatay Mountain Trail. It started off a little overgrown, concerning initially, but shortly after became much better.

The first half mile or so of the hike parallels Old Highway 80, only a small creekbed separating the trail from the busy mountain road. Despite the lovely water sounds coming from below, it was hard to ignore the passing cars. Fortunately this portion is short-lived, and the trail bends south and heads much more steeply toward the east ridge of Guatay Mountain. The trail is heavily eroded in this section, and I found myself doing some cute parkour-attempt moves to avoid a deep crevice formed by water erosion.

The east ridge of Guatay Mountain almost immediately introduced some great views, the large bridge on I-8 that passes over Pine Valley a neat sight from afar. The Guatay Mountain Trail dropped a hundred feet or so, and then ascended up and over another hump along the ridge crest. I found the trail in great shape, and the ridgeline views were surprisingly lovely and not obscured by the low chaparral foliage. Soon I found myself at the base of Guatay Mountain and hiking up an unexpectedly steep, loose trail for a few hundred feet that has somehow avoided intense erosion. Past here the trail tamed out and wandered up toward the high point, a bit of rockiness along the way to the summit. The last quarter mile has a couple of spots where locating the trail is a teeny bit more difficult at times, but they're short-lived sections. I could see Cuyamaca Peak to the north, Corte Madera to the south, and other nearby peaks like Long Valley Peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Guatay Mountain
4885 ft
885 rise

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After walking along the road from the Pine Creek Trailhead, I located the start of the Guatay Mountain Trail, seen right. Guatay Mountain is up on the left.
After walking along the road from the Pine Creek Trailhead, I located the start of the Guatay Mountain Trail, seen right. Guatay Mountain is up on the left.
Along the Guatay Mountain Trail.
Along the Guatay Mountain Trail.
View back, you can see the road just over on the left, paralleling the trail for a bit.
View back, you can see the road just over on the left, paralleling the trail for a bit.
The trailthen bends south and heads up toward Guatay Mountain's east ridge.
The trailthen bends south and heads up toward Guatay Mountain's east ridge.
Very eroded up this portion of the trail.
Very eroded up this portion of the trail.
View back as I near the east ridge, Cuyamaca Peak seen in the distance.
View back as I near the east ridge, Cuyamaca Peak seen in the distance.
Along the east ridge, Guatay Mountain seen ahead.
Along the east ridge, Guatay Mountain seen ahead.
One of the couple of undulations along the ridge crest.
One of the couple of undulations along the ridge crest.
View back as I progress up Guatay Mountain.
View back as I progress up Guatay Mountain.
A cool view of the bright on Interstate 8 over Pine Creek. Long Valley Peak seen top left.
A cool view of the bright on Interstate 8 over Pine Creek. Long Valley Peak seen top left.
A large hump along the ridgeline, adding more vertical. Guatay Mountain seen ahead.
A large hump along the ridgeline, adding more vertical. Guatay Mountain seen ahead.
View back at the ridge undulations.
View back at the ridge undulations.
At the base of the steeper portion of trail leading to the summit.
At the base of the steeper portion of trail leading to the summit.
Another shot back along the ridgeline as I head up toward the summit.
Another shot back along the ridgeline as I head up toward the summit.
False summit seen ahead, true summit just behind it.
False summit seen ahead, true summit just behind it.
Nearing the top, some light rockiness along the trail.
Nearing the top, some light rockiness along the trail.
Cuyamaca Peak hidden by clouds. The trail is easy to follow generally, but does get a bit obscured by brush at one point before reaching the high point.
Cuyamaca Peak hidden by clouds. The trail is easy to follow generally, but does get a bit obscured by brush at one point before reaching the high point.
Guatay Mountain summit, view west.
Guatay Mountain summit, view west.
Guatay Mountain summit, view southeast.
Guatay Mountain summit, view southeast.
Close-up south.
Close-up south.

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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!