Cowles Mountain

Angelika McKinney

Trail is very rocky, hardly any shade and quite steep in places. It took us 70 minutes going up. That includes several stops for me to catch my breath. On the beginning of the trail there are 2 big signs to please not take your dog if it’s hot and if you do to watch out for signs of heat exhaustion and so on. We passed several people taking their dogs up. It’s just too hot. So bring plenty of water and wear hiking shoes. It’s so easy to slip on sandy rocks. A lot of people were on the trail but it wasn’t too bad. Especially once we we’re going down around 1:30.

Love Goddess

If you’re a beginner, this hike can be a little difficult going up but it is doable! Just take your time & bring water. Seems to be great for all ages. Beautiful view up top && lots of space to relax before going back down. Took about 2 hrs round trip going at a slower pace. Bathrooms are located in parking lot at bottom of hill.

Natalie Dee

Moderate hike with uneven terrain. Took about an hour and half to climb with a few stops for photos and water along the way. Bring water with you on a hot day. The views from the top of La Mesa were beautiful.

Alexa Barnes

Fun trail that’s well kept. Moderate difficulty as there are some steep parts. Lots of dogs on the trail. It can get quite busy on the weekend so keep that in mind if you are trying to get out of the crowds. There is a small parking lot, but it fills up pretty quickly. There’s also parking along the street. Overall a great view throughout and at the top and a good hike that’s really close to San Diego.