
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.

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.

The Mount Gower Ridge Trail ascends the east slope, seen center.

Watercourse of Swartz Canyon, a lovely riparian area.

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.

Close-up along the ridgeline.

View back into suburbia.

Farther along the ridge, the trail undulating a bit along the humps.

The Mount Gower Ridge Trail heads east.

Fortunately a well-maintained trail carves through the shrubs.

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.

Some beautiful wildflowers along the way. The trail also becomes less wide.

Gradual ascending traverse up the east slope of False Gower.

Some cool rock formations along the way.

View back.

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.

The trail continues, descending into a meadow below. Holy wildflowers!


False Gower left, Mount Gower right.



I was really enjoying the colorful trail through the meadows.

A shot back toward False Gower.

Mount Gower ahead.

The trail heads toward its base.

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.

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.

And then the trail pushed me into this flowing drainage.

Class 2/2+ on boulders for a short time.

View back down the drainage.

Ascending through chaparral to 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.

The summit block of Mount Gower, Cuyamaca Peak in the background.
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