Iron Mountain: A San Diego Classic…and Good Female Solo Hike
†Iron Mountain is a “classic” San Diego hike, meaning its accessible and it feels like everyone knows about it and has done it. You more or less have to do it at least once if you live here.
I did it once in my first year year in San Diego, with friends, and again, a few weeks ago, solo. It was a great solo hike on a Friday morning. Easy to get to, enough people around to feel safe as a solo female (saw about 15 others total) but not so many people that I felt like I was hiking with someone.
The main hike to the peak via Iron Mountain Trail is a little over 5 miles round-trip and a bit over 1,000 feet elevation gain. The elevation gain and sun exposure provides a comfortable challenge but it’s not so hard that you feel completely wiped the rest of the day.
Wanna Go? Here’s what you need to know:
Parking: 14495-15065 Highway 67, Poway, CA 92064. Poway Road dead-ends into the parking lot. Should come up as “Iron Mountain Trail” or “Iron Mountain Commuter Lot” in your maps application.
Parking Cost: Free
Distance: 5.5 miles*
Elevation: 1,075 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Scenery: Iron Mountain’s has what I would call typical San Diego hike scenery, but which more sciencey-folk have informed me is technically called Chaparral. It’s hilly, dry, dusty, and a bit rocky on the trail with low shrub-like plants. I describe things better in photos than words, so here are a few:
Trailhead at Iron Mountain
Start of trail, complete with the usual San Diego are rattle snake warning.
These trees are false advertising. The rest of the Iron Mountain trail is exposed. Wear sunscreen!
Relatively smooth section of trail on the way up to the Iron Mountain look-out.
Got lucky and saw a helicopter. Felt closer than it looks.
Just enough energy left to play around at the end of the Iron Mountain hike.
My Leggings:
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More Info:
- All Trails, Iron Mountain Trail
- Hiking San Diego County, Iron Mountain
- The Last Adventurer, Iron Mountain
*Distance and elevation based on my Garmin. I’ve seen varying distances and elevations but all in the same general range.
