Kwaay Paay (SDC #92, 1194′) • map • directions

Kwaay Paay is one of five main summits within Mission Trails Regional Park, and offers the steepest trail of the bunch. Its one of my favorite local peaks for training or just a quick jaunt to get the calves burning. Kwaay Paay’s west face is also home to San Diego’s largest inner-city rock climbing crag, Mission Gorge.

Anna and I hiked Kwaay Paay after work on a Tuesday night, making sure to park outside of the gate that would be locked upon our return on Father Junipero Serra Rd. Steep and direct, we made the summit by headlamp in under thirty minutes. The top of Kwaay Paay is large and flat, with the actual highpoint less than obvious. The best views might actually be from a rock outcrop overlooking the west side of the mountain about thirty feet off the trail. On my previous hikes I hadn’t been concerned with the actual highpoint, this time I left the trail on its east side and to my surprise walked into a clearing and found a summit register. Anna and I signed in and reversed the route.

No pics due to this being a night hike…