Cowles (SDC #94, 1593′) • map • directions

Pyles (SDC #93, 1379′)

Cowles Mountain and Pyles Peak are two of the five main summits within Mission Trails Regional Park, Cowles being the highest in the park. Cowles is easily the most popular summit in San Diego which is probably why I haven’t hiked it in several years. Even on a weekday it can see 50 or even 100 hikers or more on its popular 1.5 mile trail off of Golfcrest Drive, most of whom are there during the evening rush hour. Pyles Peak is most commonly accessed by an additional 1.5 mile trail from the summit of Cowles and sees a fraction of the traffic.

Anna and I cruised up Cowles Mountain after work on a Thursday, making the easy summit shortly after dark. From Cowles we left the crowd and quickly dropped 350+ feet down the north side, following the signs pointing the way to Pyles Peak, then utilizing a steep use trail the final 100 feet to the summit. 

Photos taken via cell phone.