Hike of the week: A short and steep climb in the mountains behind El Cajon
Like clockwork, the early days of June have brought a layer of cloudy gloom.
“June gloom” sounds so dismal, but it’s not all bad, and it can be especially nice for hikers, especially those wanting to avoid the heat of the sun.
On my hike this week, as I ascended a hillside in El Cajon, I was surrounded by a thick fog that blocked my view of the mountains and world beyond. There was something gentle about the isolation, like I was being wrapped in a cloudy hug.
The more I climbed, the clouds parted for the sun, but not completely. By the time I reached the mountaintop after 300 feet of elevation gain, I could just make out the peak of San Miguel Mountain to the southeast - skirted by a sea of fog covering everything else in its vicinity. It looked like a distant island.
The view of San Diego probably would have been better without the clouds. But as I stood there and admired San Miguel Mountain from afar, I was pretty impressed. The clouds let the peak stand out so that I really noticed it. It made me think - as someone who can get overwhelmed by life’s stressors - that sometimes it’s best to focus on just one thing, rather than try to take in everything all at once.
This 1-mile moderate out-and-back hike is located in the unincorporated community of Crest, part of the Suncrest Ecological Reserve and adjacent to South Lane County Park. There are several different trails to explore here, but I chose to follow a relatively direct route to the top of a mountain.
Park on South Lane; there is street parking available in front of the reserve, though the area is residential as well. Begin by walking southeast into the reserve, where you will reach a narrow single track trail.
The trail quickly begins to climb, gradually at first and then with more intensity. There are a handful of switchbacks that help make the climb feel easier. Some sections are more rugged, including one where hikers must walk along a semi-slick boulder.
At 0.4-miles, I reached an intersection and chose to go left, or south, to reach the highest point of the hike. There are large flat rocks at the top that would make for a nice picnic or sunset spot. The fog began to clear in the east before I headed off the mountain, and I could see El Cajon Mountain to the northeast, with other peaks like Viejas and Cuyamaca making themselves more visible.
On my return, I explored the other viewpoint - going right at the intersection this time - before venturing back to complete the hike.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:16 AM.