Google Map

USA :: San Diego :: Mt Cowles - Pyles Peak

GPS Track

Panoramic View SE from Mt. Cowles across smog covered San Diego County.  Cowles service road far center left

January 16, 2024

Mt. Cowles is highest peak in San Diego and part of Mission Trails Regional Park.  It is also the most popular of Mission Trails Regional Park 5 Peak Challenge.   There are several routes to the top, of which "Navajo Road" Route from the SW is by far the most popular.  Mt. Pyles to the NW is much less visited despite good trail that takes no more than an hour from Cowles summit.  This page describes elegant and rarely done loop from the "backside" climbing Cowles via Big Rock Trail and Service Road, then descending Pyles via obscure but perfectly feasible north side.  Check the Map at top of Page;  stats in the Abstract are given for this variation.  For brief description of standard Cowles trail see bottom of this page.

Parking is at Big Rock Park at top of Mesa Road. Take I-52 Mast Blvd exit 13, then follow signs to Mission Gorge Road and turn left, then after couple of blocks right into Mesa Road and drive to the obvious public park.  There is plenty of street parking - another reason to prefer this side approach to congested Navajo Road.  Big Rock Trail is well defined and all junctions are signed.  After exiting to Cowles Service Road 35-40min from the start turn right and follow the road to the summit that is closer than it perhaps looks.  Just before the summit I turned left and merged with standard Navajo Road trail but you can also follow road to the top.  It takes 1:15-1:30 of moderate pace from Mesa Parking to the summit.

To continue to Pyles Peak walk back to service road and find signed trail junction just below Cowles summit (see Gallery).  Trail switchbacks to intervening saddle losing over 100m vertical that must be regained on the other side.  Advertised viewpoint about halfway in to Pyles is not really worth but close enough you can check for yourself.  Trail is mostly gentle with only bit steeper section just below Pyles summit above Corral Viewpoint.  It will take roughly an hour from Cowles summit.

To close the loop, find rough trail starting at north side of Pyles Summit Monument.  On my Jan '24 trip it was reasonably well defined and appeared recently brushed.  There were no "closed" signs - despite faulty information found at various mapping sites such as GAIA.  Trail generally stays close to the crest and there are couple of easy scrambling bits as it navigates some rock outcroppings and steeper parts. Hiking Pole(s) are of great help here.   Eventually it descends to residential Water Tower - about an hour from Pyles summit.   To walk back to the parking, easiest is to follow Shantung Drive east to Big Rock Road and trail back to Mesa Road Park - about 20min from Water Tower.

By hiking this loop, I also completed Mission Trails Regional Park 5 Peak Challenge. Photo from MTRP site:

Mission Trails Five Peak Challenge

Challenge was originally established in 2015, but discontinued at end of 2022 at what time I still needed Pyles.  Despite not being able to get the pin anymore, I still wanted to complete the challenge; This was primary motivation for this '24 trip.  Five Mission Peaks Monument Plaque Collage:

Five Peak Challenge Collage

North/South Fortuna and Kwaay Paay reports.   Cowles and Pyles on this page 

Gallery