My Top 2 San Diego Hike: Mt. Woodson from Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

I Believe I Can Fly :) - near Mt. Woodson Summit

Hiking to the summit of Mt. Woodson from Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is my favorite peak bagging hike in San Diego. One of my first few posts in this blog is Hiking Mt. Woodson (May 3, 2009). That post discusses the several hiking options to reach the summit. Hiking Mt. Woodson is the ALL TIME MOST VISITED POST in this blog. The most researched keyword in this blog in various search engines is Potato Chip Rock.

Me @ Potato Chip Rock

Sometimes, I am surprised that the searches are not limited to San Diego residents only, but scattered all over US. This trail, has somehow become one of the more popular hikes in San Diego. What I like most about this hike is that it is very accessible. It is within an  earshot from civilization, yet once inside the trail, the civilization disappears while the wilderness sets in.

Matilija Poppy @ Blue Sky Ecological Reserve Trail head

Hiking from Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is not the most popular route however to the summit of Mt. Woodson. Most people hike to the peak via Lake Poway ( 7 miles round trip, 2300 ft elevation gain/loss) or Highway 67 (3.6 miles round trip, 1200 ft elevation gain/loss). For more details of the several hiking options to summit Mt. Woodson, please visit my previous post here. 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve Trail

Why do I love starting from Blue Sky Ecological Reserve? Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is one of the finest examples of a riparian woodland. It has more than a mile of lushly shaded canyon bottom. The shade comes mostly from coast live oaks. After a wet winter, wildflowers appear abundantly about April. There were more than 100 kinds of wildflowers identified in a single year at Blue Sky.

Wildflowers @ Blue Sky ( CA everlasting, bush mallow, matilija poppy, wild rose )

Aside from wildflowers, what attracts me in Blue Sky is the likeliness of spotting hawk, vulture, and other birds.

Hawk @ Blue Sky

Also, Blue Sky Ecological Reserve parking is free year round, whereas, the parking at Lake Poway is $5 from April- October ( except for Poway residents where day use of Lake Poway Park is free year round).

Let me bring you to the hike:

Mileage ( Blue Sky- Mt. Woodson) - approximately 10 miles round trip

Change in Elevation- approximately 2500 ft elevation gain/loss

Parking: Free Parking @ Blue Sky Ecological Reserve Parking Area

The hike starts flat at Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, being at the bottom of the canyon. After about 1 mile at Blue Sky,  a side trail on the right goes toward Lake Poway. Take that trail, where you will pass Blue Sky Ecological Reserve Campground. 

Will Hike Rain or Shine ( @ the campground )

After the campground, the trail climbs gradually. At the junction of Lake Poway Trail, you have a choice to take the trail at the left or at the right. We usually take the left trail on the way up to Mt. Woodson ( slope here is gentler than the trail on the right), 

 Osprey @ Lake Poway

and then, take the clockwise direction on the way down from Mt Woodson, if we wanted to spend more time at Lake Poway after hiking to the peak.

Lake Poway

After a wet winter, the hillside of mountains around Lake Poway usually burst into different colors. It is a sight to behold.

Wildflower Filled Hillside At Lake Poway ( after a wet winter )

Field of Blue Canterbury Bells 

The wildflowers usually start to bloom March and fade away May. 

Lake Poway from Mt. Woodson Trail

After rounding Lake Poway, you will see another trail junction, if coming from the East side of lake, take the left trail. If coming from the west side of lake, take the right trail. Or the trail that continue to climb up. From here, the hike continually ascends and round several mountains, before reaching the summit of Mt. Woodson.

Wildflower Lined Trail

At about the middle of the hike, you will start seeing giant boulders. Mt. Woodson is actually littered by giant boulder outcrops, thus this place is not only popular for hiking, but also for rock climbing. Mt. Woodson is also known as "The Mountain of the Moonlit Rocks."

Boulders On the Way to Mt. Woodson Summit

Boulders at Mt. Woodson

More Boulders

Perhaps, the most famous boulder in Mt. Woodson is the Potato Chip Rock, which is near the summit.

 Potato Chip Rock with some dusting of snow

Us @ Potato Chip

From Potato Chip, the summit is about 0.2 mile further up. What I do not like at the summit are the antenna towers, which reminds me that I have not escaped civilization after all. :(

More Boulders at the summit

At the summit, we usually look for our boulders to picnic on ( have some light snacks). We usually take the boulders that face Iron Mountain, my top 5 San Diego hike. 

Facing Iron Mountain ( the most visible and tallest peak )

GO HIKE! let us enjoy the benefits of hiking

 Let me share a quote from Socrates,

 “ Wisdom starts with wonder."- Socrates

It's a joy to wander and wonder in our wonderful world!

♥♥