We were surround by a thick carpet of chaparral. With the steep grade however, I anticipated that the downhill trek might be a little more challenging. The trail was rocky but the dirt was relatively hard-packed, so we didn’t have too much trouble with our footing while going uphill. The views had been great from the parking area, and they only improved with every step up the mountain. The grade was fairly steep, and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves pausing to catch our breath and take in our surroundings. But with the lack of shade on this trail, hiking in the cool morning was still preferable. Since we were heading almost due east in the early morning, the sun was pretty much right in our faces. The trail began climbing immediately up the mountainside. A small break in the fence with a worn hiker icon sticker indicated our starting point. ![]() We found the trailhead across the road from the parking area. ![]() The climb is steep, but the unobstructed views along the trail and 360 degree vantage from the summit makes the effort more than worthwhile. This is not a hike for hot summer days, but makes for a fantastic early morning workout or winter excursion. The trail up the western flank of the mountain is a steep and no-nonsense affair through thick chaparral brush with zero shade. The rugged, triangular peak of Viejas Mountain rises just north of Interstate 8 in Alpine.
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