Class 2 9.8 miles 2500 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Apr 11, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Gower GPX Track

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Mount Gower was a surprisingly gorgeous outing, the unassuming peak providing ridiculous views in all directions, a small spurt of cool rock formations, and a wonderful meadowy landscape. I was also spoiled by this year's wildflower show, which really made this hike feel like a dream. Still feeling good after already doing a bunch of miles today, I set out for Mount Gower in the unexpectedly rough afternoon heat. There may be some confusion as to which peak is the true Mount Gower since some resources incorrectly depict the high point being what I'll call "False Gower", located to the true summit's northwest. False Gower is visible for the majority of the hike, obscuring Mount Gower's true summit.

The entrance for the Mount Gower Open Space Preserve is at the end of a gravel road, and this hike begins by using a wide trail that ascends a short time to a major fork. I kept right, taking the Swartz Canyon Trail. This trail curves around and heads through the shrubby scenery along the north side of Swartz Canyon. Seen to the south, the canyon slowly dips away as the trail stays pretty high up. The Swartz Canyon Trail ultimately leads to a viewpoint, but I left it to take the Mount Gower Ridge Trail, which leaves the ridge and drops pretty steeply into Swartz Canyon. The trail crossed a flowing creek hugged by trees, then ascended back up the opposite side of Swartz Canyon on steep, tight switchbacks. It reemerged into typical SoCal chaparral and passed a water tower before continuing northeast along a ridge. The trail undulated along this toe/ridge for a while, choosing to go up and over each bump rather than wrap around. Swartz Canyon was actually quite pretty and the little ridge crest had some cool views, but the first few miles of trail system felt really inefficient, forming a big S-shape with lots of additional vertical gain and loss rather than just switchbacking more directly. Of course, this could just be a complaint stemming from my overheated body.

The Mount Gower Ridge Trail bent east and ascended toward False Gower, a granite-covered face just ahead. The trail enters a small meadow and continues up toward the face, then makes a gradual ascending traverse south along False Gower's slope. The gorgeous views and wildflowers started here, as did the eroded rock features the hike seems to be most known for. The notable boulders resembed large teeth and were definitely cool, but maybe I've just seen too much desert granite and have become jaded. Wildflowers, on the other hand, are a rare occurence for me, so I squealed with delight repeatedly as they improved the farther along the trail I went. This year's superbloom was spoiling me.

After a gradual ascent along the eastern slopes of False Gower, the trail crested its southwestern shoulder and I got a view of the true summit of Mount Gower to the east. According to the Preserve brochure map, the Mount Gower Ridge Trail technically ends at this viewpoint, but an obvious trail marked with a prominent sign pointed me onward. The trail dropped down into a meadowy landscape with wide slabs of rock dispersed throughout. The area felt like an alpine tundra in some regards, and I was a little blown away by how unique it felt. After taking about a million photos of the superbloom, I realized the trail had faded significantly and was now only a social trail. I consulted my map and I was definitely still on the route. For some reason I'd assumed this was a more well-traveled endeavor than it is. That said, cairns marked spots that were slightly unclear and I had little confusion when hiking through the meadows.

As I neared the base of Mount Gower, the trail seemed to disappear at a rock slab. Steep hiking brought me up this slab and the trail reappeared higher up, leading me to meadowy ground above with excellent views. After some more steep hiking, I was pushed into a flowing drainage with Class 2/2+ boulders that required some light scrambling. Past here the trail led through chaparral and to the summit block (Class 2). I could see many of the San Diego peaks from this perch, as well as the El Capitan Reservoir below.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Gower
3103 ft
423 rise

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Trailhead at the Mount Gower Open Space Preserve.
Trailhead at the Mount Gower Open Space Preserve.
Along the Swartz Canyon Trail. False Gower seen to the east. I'll be on that little chapparal ridge in the center soon.
Along the Swartz Canyon Trail. False Gower seen to the east. I'll be on that little chapparal ridge in the center soon.
The Swartz Canyon Trail leads toward the little hump on the right, a viewpoint that I won't be visiting on this hike.
The Swartz Canyon Trail leads toward the little hump on the right, a viewpoint that I won't be visiting on this hike.
Junction, I kept left to head along the Mount Gower Ridge Trail. First it descends into Swartz Canyon on the left.
Junction, I kept left to head along the Mount Gower Ridge Trail. First it descends into Swartz Canyon on the left.
The Mount Gower Ridge Trail ascends the east slope, seen center.
The Mount Gower Ridge Trail ascends the east slope, seen center.
Watercourse of Swartz Canyon, a lovely riparian area.
Watercourse of Swartz Canyon, a lovely riparian area.
View back across Swartz Canyon, the way I came.
View back across Swartz Canyon, the way I came.
Along the lumpy little ridge/toe on the Mount Gower Ridge Trail. False Gower seen right of center.
Along the lumpy little ridge/toe on the Mount Gower Ridge Trail. False Gower seen right of center.
Close-up along the ridgeline.
Close-up along the ridgeline.
View back into suburbia.
View back into suburbia.
Farther along the ridge, the trail undulating a bit along the humps.
Farther along the ridge, the trail undulating a bit along the humps.
The Mount Gower Ridge Trail heads east.
The Mount Gower Ridge Trail heads east.
Fortunately a well-maintained trail carves through the shrubs.
Fortunately a well-maintained trail carves through the shrubs.
View back toward the ridge/toe I was on earlier.
View back toward the ridge/toe I was on earlier.
A small meadow on the east side of False Gower. The trail heads up toward it and then curves to the right.
A small meadow on the east side of False Gower. The trail heads up toward it and then curves to the right.
Some beautiful wildflowers along the way. The trail also becomes less wide.
Some beautiful wildflowers along the way. The trail also becomes less wide.
Gradual ascending traverse up the east slope of False Gower.
Gradual ascending traverse up the east slope of False Gower.
Some cool rock formations along the way.
Some cool rock formations along the way.
View back.
View back.
Very pretty meadows and views.
Very pretty meadows and views.
I reached a shoulder on False Gower's southwest side. Mount Gower finally begins to poke out on the far right.
I reached a shoulder on False Gower's southwest side. Mount Gower finally begins to poke out on the far right.
The trail continues, descending into a meadow below. Holy wildflowers!
The trail continues, descending into a meadow below. Holy wildflowers!
Image 22 from gallery
False Gower left, Mount Gower right.
False Gower left, Mount Gower right.
Image 24 from gallery
Image 25 from gallery
I was really enjoying the colorful trail through the meadows.
I was really enjoying the colorful trail through the meadows.
A shot back toward False Gower.
A shot back toward False Gower.
Mount Gower ahead.
Mount Gower ahead.
The trail heads toward its base.
The trail heads toward its base.
At the base of Mount Gower, where the trail becomes a bit harder to follow.
At the base of Mount Gower, where the trail becomes a bit harder to follow.
The trail disappears for a short time as it ascends these slabs at the base of Mount Gower.
The trail disappears for a short time as it ascends these slabs at the base of Mount Gower.
View back into the meadows. The shoulder from False Gower I dropped from is top right out of frame.
View back into the meadows. The shoulder from False Gower I dropped from is top right out of frame.
Ascending pretty meadows with great views.
Ascending pretty meadows with great views.
And then the trail pushed me into this flowing drainage.
And then the trail pushed me into this flowing drainage.
Class 2/2+ on boulders for a short time.
Class 2/2+ on boulders for a short time.
View back down the drainage.
View back down the drainage.
Ascending through chaparral to the summit.
Ascending through chaparral to the summit.
View toward False Gower a bit before the summit.
View toward False Gower a bit before the summit.
Mount Gower summit, view toward Viejas Mountain, El Cajon Mountain, and the El Capita Reservoir.
Mount Gower summit, view toward Viejas Mountain, El Cajon Mountain, and the El Capita Reservoir.
The summit block of Mount Gower, Cuyamaca Peak in the background.
The summit block of Mount Gower, Cuyamaca Peak in the background.

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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!