Iron Mountain
Poway (San Diego County) · near Poway · San Diego
Hiking · Trail Running
At a glance
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Distance
- 5.8 miles
- Elevation gain
- 1,000 ft
- Time needed
- day
- Best season
- October–May (hot in summer)
- Distance
- 6 miles
- Elevation gain
- 1,100 ft
- Best season
- Oct–May · early mornings in summer heat
Permits and booking
- Permit required
- No
- How the permit works
- No permit or fee; free trailhead lot on Highway 67. A classic San Diego County summit through chaparral to panoramic backcountry views.
- How hard the permit is to get
- 1 of 5
- How the permit works
- No permit. City of Poway / County open space — free. Popular lot at Hwy 67 & Poway Rd fills on weekend mornings.
What is here
- Features
- Panoramic county summit · Oak-and-chaparral backcountry · Spring wildflowers · Poway landmark
- Features
- 2,696-ft summit with 360° county views · Classic inland San Diego fitness climb · Ocean-to-mountains panorama on clear days · Well-graded, runnable switchbacks
Worth knowing
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Hiking detail
- Intl tip
- There's essentially no shade the entire way, so go in the cool season and start early. The trailhead lot on Highway 67 fills on weekend mornings. Combine with nearby Mount Woodson (and its famous Potato Chip Rock) for a bigger San Diego summit day if you're feeling ambitious.
Trail Running detail
- Surface
- technical
- Intl tip
- The main trailhead is at Hwy 67 & Poway Rd — arrive early on weekends for parking and to beat the heat. Connects to the Ellie Lane loop for a longer figure-eight. Combine with Mission Trails / Cowles Mountain (this guide) for a two-summit San Diego day. No shade — sun protection essential.
The guide
Iron Mountain is one of San Diego County's most popular and rewarding summit hikes — a nearly 6-mile round trip through rolling…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Iron Mountain — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 32.966, -117.017