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Classic View of Iron Mountain near the trailhead. Ascent follows Skyline ridge in upper part

Multiple Dates, last  January 4 2024

Iron Mountain is favorite Poway hike.  I used to do it around the clock for US Thanksgiving when I lived in San Diego; it was tradition.  It is not challenging by any stretch of imagination, but it does provide bit of different feel compared to 'beach hikes' or walks around Poway Lake or Lake Hodges.  Optimal time is November - April, as temps can get quite high rest of the year.  Views are simply fantastic and include sweeping panorama of Poway, distant Pacific Coastline and Cuyamaca Rancho Mountains to the east.  There is no  water source anywhere on trail, so take plenty specially in warmer months.  Only objective hazard are rattlesnakes, but they tend to mind their own business unless provoked.  Hike can be extended for loop return via Ramona Overlook and Ellie Lane staging area.   Highly Recommended!

Parking lot is at junction of Poway Road and Highway 67 (Ramona Road).  From trailhead kiosk wide and sometimes dusty trail heads east, flat for ~15 min, then ascends to obvious saddle and junction sometimes called 'Iron Mountain Base Camp'.  Turn right and continue past the helipad up some unnecessarily wide switchbacks then intercept summit ridge visible from Highway and continue to the top - roughly 1:15 of moderate pace from parking.  Picnic bench is usually busy, but solitude can be found by trashing a bit couple of boulders on south side.   On descent back to 'base camp' junction,  optional return is continuing north to Ramona Lookout then looping across Poway Crags down to Ellie Lane staging area.  This extension is more rough with steeper trail and added elevation gain, but will provide additional viewpoints.  Potentially confusing part is unmarked junction on descent from Poway Crags - see GPS Map (no waypoint, sorry) and correct way is left, not right.  Eventually turn south by small lake and intersect main Iron Mtn. trail near the parking.

Update January 2022: I hiked up via Ellie Lane/Poway  Crags/Ramona Lookout, and if you have enough time this longer alternative will provide great views and solitude.  There is seasonal raptor breeding closure sign at Poway Crags  (Dec 1 - July 31), but I believe it relates to side trails exploring nearby ridge.  Main Iron summit now has "Peak Dial" - see gallery.

Gallery