Trail Map of Cowles Mountain to Pyles Peak

Difficult: 8.0 miles, 1-3 hours

Other Information: Family Friendly
Dog Friendly

Overview: Mission Trails Regional Park is a short distance from downtown San Diego and provides easy access for those who live near San Diego. With over 40 miles of trails, it is one of the largest urban parks in the United States.

In this ride guide, I describe the trails in the Cowles Mountain Region. I rate this ride as intermediate to advanced due to the elevation gain as well as some technical parts of the trail.

This trail is described as an out and back.

Directions to Trailhead: This ride starts at the Big Rock Trailhead on the east side of the Mission Trails Regional Park, off o Mesa Road. From downtown San Diego, it is about 20 miles northeast.

Take Highway 163 North toward Escondido. Take Exit 9A for Highway 52 East for about 8.1 miles. Take Exit 14 for Mission Gorge Road and continue for about 0.3 miles. Take a sharp right at Mission Gorge Road and continue for 0.4 miles. Turn left at Mesa Road, continue for 0.5 miles and park on the side of the road. You will see the Trailhead just south of a schoolyard fence.