Kwaay Paay Peak and Fortuna Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park, CA

Hike Kwaay Paay Peak and Fortuna Mountain Mission Trails Regional Park, CA

Class 1 7.1 miles 1900 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Apr 15, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Kwaay Paay Peak and Fortuna Mountain GPX Track

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Mission Trails Regional Park has a nice trail system heavily used by San Diego locals. While Cowles Mountain on the south side of the park is more popular, Kwaay Pay Peak and Fortuna Mountain are close seconds. It's unlikely you'll get parking within the small Old Mission Dam Trailhead lot, but Father Junipero Serra Road to the east is open for roadside parking. Note that just west of the trailhead the road is a one-way road and does not have legal roadside parking.

I started first up Kwaay Paay Peak, an out-and-back that's steeper than you'd expect for a city park. The peak has two trails you could use to reach its northern slope before merging and continuing to the summit. I took the western one since that was closer to the Old Mission Dam Trailhead. The wildflowers were lovely on my visit and the ascent tame until the last half mile, where it increased significantly. Stairs have been constructed to help prevent erosion. From Kwaay Paay Peak's summit I could see Mission Gorge, Fortuna Mountain, as well as South Fortuna Peak's cliffy face.

Back at the trailhead, I set out along the Oak Canyon Trail, which passes a historic dam and crosses over a bridge suspended above the San Diego River. The Oak Canyon Trail continues north along a flowing waterbed, some cute bridges and lush foliage making the trail a lovely walk. Following Oak Creek, the trail bends west and passes by a couple of small waterfalls and swimming holes. I took the Fortuna Saddle Trail when I reached a junction, which is just a dirt service road leading steeply to the saddle separating Fortuna Mountain from South Fortuna Mountain. I didn't have much interest in the unranked South Fortuna Mountain since it was just a road walk and the peak had negligible prominence. Instead, I just headed north along the Fortuna Mountain Trail, a wide trail leading somewhat steeply up to the ridgeline and to the summit. Some maps mark the first peak as the high point, but the ridgeline was pretty enough to justify hiking farther to the (what I think was taller) farther summit to the north. There were nice views, but the highway sounds were hard to ignore.

I decided to return the way I came rather than form a loop that would take me basically next to the highway. It seems that's the way many hikers choose to go, but being just a dirt road walk I didn't feel I was missing out. Plus, this allowed me to enjoy the sounds of Oak Creek instead of traffic. Overall a lovely city park outing, but I'd recommend going on a weekday.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Kwaay Paay Peak
1194 ft
434 rise
2
Fortuna Mountain
1291 ft
411 rise

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Starting up the Kwaay Paay Peak Trail.
Starting up the Kwaay Paay Peak Trail.
View back down toward the trailhead, Fortuna Mountain seen top center.
View back down toward the trailhead, Fortuna Mountain seen top center.
Ascending to Kwaay Paay Peak's ridge.
Ascending to Kwaay Paay Peak's ridge.
Suburban views on the way up Kwaay Paay Peak.
Suburban views on the way up Kwaay Paay Peak.
Kwaay Paay Peak ahead.
Kwaay Paay Peak ahead.
Image 5 from gallery
Approaching the steeper last half mile to the summit of Kwaay Paay Peak.
Approaching the steeper last half mile to the summit of Kwaay Paay Peak.
View back down.
View back down.
Image 8 from gallery
Stairs in place for the steeper section.
Stairs in place for the steeper section.
The trail flattens out as it nears the summit.
The trail flattens out as it nears the summit.
Kwaay Paay Peak, view southwest toward Mission Gorge.
Kwaay Paay Peak, view southwest toward Mission Gorge.
Kwaay Paay Peak, view toward Fortuna Mountain (right) and South Fortuna Mountain (center).
Kwaay Paay Peak, view toward Fortuna Mountain (right) and South Fortuna Mountain (center).
Onward to the Oak Canyon Trail, which starts at the Old Mission Dam Trailhead.
Onward to the Oak Canyon Trail, which starts at the Old Mission Dam Trailhead.
Old Mission Dam.
Old Mission Dam.
A bridge over the San Diego River.
A bridge over the San Diego River.
Along the Oak Creek Trail.
Along the Oak Creek Trail.
view back, Kwaay Paay Peak seen top left.
view back, Kwaay Paay Peak seen top left.
Along Oak Creek.
Along Oak Creek.
Image 19 from gallery
Lovely little bridges and flowing creek sounds.
Lovely little bridges and flowing creek sounds.
Image 21 from gallery
The Oak Creek Trail bends west and passes a few little waterfalls like this one.
The Oak Creek Trail bends west and passes a few little waterfalls like this one.
View back down Oak Creek.
View back down Oak Creek.
I couldn't get a photo without people in it. Everyone in San Diego was hiking here today.
I couldn't get a photo without people in it. Everyone in San Diego was hiking here today.
Little water hole.
Little water hole.
I took the Fortuna Saddle Trail up.
I took the Fortuna Saddle Trail up.
It's just a service road to the saddle.
It's just a service road to the saddle.
View back down the steep Fortuna Saddle service road.
View back down the steep Fortuna Saddle service road.
Heading up the Fortuna Mountain Trail.
Heading up the Fortuna Mountain Trail.
Image 30 from gallery
View back toward the saddle, South Fortuna Mountain seen right.
View back toward the saddle, South Fortuna Mountain seen right.
Ascending to Fortuna Mountain.
Ascending to Fortuna Mountain.
Fortuna Mountain, though the next hump looked higher so I went over there.
Fortuna Mountain, though the next hump looked higher so I went over there.
Close-up toward the highway.
Close-up toward the highway.
Fortuna Mountain summit marker.
Fortuna Mountain summit marker.

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!