Cowles Mountain is the highest point in San Diego, and a beloved spot for local hikers. With a 1,592 foot climb to the top and a view that makes it worthwhile, Cowles Mountain is a steep and moderately challenging hike that everyone should experience at least once.
Parking and public transportation at Cowles Mountain
Parking at the lot at the base of the mountain is free, but may fill up on afternoons or weekends. Street parking is widely available in the surrounding area.
Best and worst time to go to Cowles Mountain
Since weather is almost always ideal in San Diego, the only concerns regarding Cowles Mountain are that it can attract hundreds of hikers on Saturday and Sundays.
Admission to Cowles Mountain
Cowles Mountain is free for public use with no fees for admission. Camping is available for $14 per site with one vehicle.
Must see and do at Cowles Mountain
The Hike to the Summit
The most popular reason that Cowles Mountain gets so many visitors is because of the half-mile hike to the top. The entire path is at an incline, so many locals take advantage of Cowles as part of their daily workout.
Views From the Top
Finally reaching the top of Cowles Mountain is a rewarding experience. Views from the top of San Diego's highest peak are thoroughly impressive, and include Silver Strand, Coronado, and parts of Mexico. To help you understand exactly what you're looking at, a map at the summit identifies each location. The view is among the most impressive in San Diego.
Panoramic Photography
In addition to great photographic opportunities in every direction, the peek of Cowles Mountain also provides a rare opportunity for remarkable panoramic photography. You might not need to buy an expensive lens to take phenomenal 180 degree pictures; most smart phones have a panoramic feature that enables you take surprisingly high-quality wide lens photographs.
Other places to visit near Cowles Mountain
Cowles Mountain Coffee
Directly across from the trails of Cowles Mountain, Cowles Mountain Coffee offers various coffee options at a low price. They also have outdoor seating and free Wi-Fi.
Pyles Peak
If Cowles Mountain is too easy a hike for you, then you can hike an extra two mile trail that branches from the summit of Cowles, to Pyles Peak. Pyles Peak offers similar views, but the trail will be notably less crowded, as most hikers stop at the first 1.5 mile hike to the top of Cowles.
The Trails Eatery
The Trails is a beloved local restaurant that not only features a "Hiker's Delight" menu, but also offers unique breakfast options like Croissant French Toast and Chocolate Bacon. They serve breakfast every day from 7-3, but are also open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 5-9.
Insider tip for visitors to Cowles Mountain
Although Cowles Mountain is spelled as if it rhymes with "Towels", locals know that it is actually pronounced "Coals". The reason for this is that ranching pioneer, George A. Cowles, developed much of Eastern San Diego, and Cowles Mountain is named after him.
Author's bio: After a seven year career in the US Navy, Nicholas Napier completed his MBA and settled in California. He's published over 40 articles as the San Diego Fitness Trends Examiner, and regularly contributes as a freelance writer to various companies.
The 5,800 acres park has natural and developed areas and more than 40 miles of trails and camping at Kumeyaay Lake. Other points of interest include a Visitors and Interpretive Center and amphitheater. It is also the site of the Old Mission Dam, which was built to supply water for Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Upon approaching Mission Beach along W. Mission Bay Drive, the first site you'll see is the iconic Giant Dipper Roller Coaster of Belmont Park. Further exploration reveals that the carnival attractions are but one of many reasons to visit Belmont Park. Whether your interests are dining, shopping, partying, or getting a workout, Belmont Park has an impressive array of options, all under the backdrop of the extremely popular Mission Beach in San Diego.
Parking and public transportation at Belmont Park
Several large parking lots are located within a couple blocks of Belmont Park, including one large lot on each side of the park itself. However, this place attracts large amounts of visitors, so it is common for all lots to be full at busy times, such as weekend afternoons. In such cases, street parking is available on the streets surrounding Mission Beach.
Best and worst time to go to Belmont Park
Since San Diego's weather is perfect for the beach throughout the year, the main focuses regarding when to visit Belmont Park are crowds and parking. For finding decent parking, earlier is better, especially on Fridays and weekends. The lots fill up fast on weekends, and by around 11 a.m. can be expected to be completely full on an average weekend.
Admission to Belmont Park
Admission to Belmont Park is free, although you will need money for the various attractions which range from dining on the beach to laser tag. Additionally, there are numerous carnival games, rides, and attractions that will require money.
Must see and do at Belmont Park
- Dine at seven different eateries that offer either a quick bite or beachfront dining.
- Revive your inner child by exploring carnival rides like the Vertical Plunge and Bumper Cars.
- The Belmont Park store has been voted best surf shop in San Diego 8 years in a row.
Other places to visit near Belmont Park
Luigi's at the Beach
A very strong contender for best pizza in Mission Beach, Luigi's at the Beach is just a short walk from the Wavehouse side of Belmont Park. Very casual atmosphere with excellent pizza.
Wavehouse
The Wavehouse is a 30,000 square foot venue with cabanas, an outdoor bar, and an athletic club situated directly on Mission beach.
Ocean Front Walk
Belmont Park can serve as an excellent starting or ending point for a long walk along Mission Beach. The Ocean Front Walk stretches for miles, with numerous dining and hiking options along the way.
Insider tip for visitors to Belmont Park
The Flow Barrel and Flow Rider Wave Machines at the Wavehouse are the only ones in the United States. If you're ready to test your surfing skills on some epic, man-made waves, you can find details and plan a trip at the official website.
Author's bio: After a seven year career in the US Navy, Nicholas Napier completed his MBA and settled in California. He's published over 40 articles as the San Diego Fitness Trends Examiner, and regularly contributes as a freelance writer to various companies.
