Mount Laguna is one of my favorite places to get away to when I am craving nature. The trails are beautiful and the views are stunning. On clear days you can see out over Anza-Borrego Desert and over the Salton Sea. During fall the trees are gorgeous and in spring the wildflowers sprinkle the trails with colors and joy. We have experienced days when you can’t see 10 feet in front of you and the wind is whipping everything around you. We have also played in the snow on the side of the road. A weekend in Mount Laguna will not disappoint, no matter the season.
JUMP TO…
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
GARNET PEAK via PENNY PINES
PINE HOUSE CAFE RESTAURANT & TAVERN
BURNT RANCHERIA CAMPGROUND
DESERT VIEW TRAIL
WOODED HILL NATURE TRAIL
SUNSET TRAIL
A FEW QUICK STOPS
SNOW PLAY
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
ADVENTURE PASS
The Mount Laguna Recreation Area is part of the Cleveland National Forest, which requires an “Adventure Pass” for parking on the mountain in certain areas. Due to COVID, many of the areas stopped requiring Adventure Passes, so I recommend checking here for the latest info on what trailheads are requiring the pass. You can purchase your $5 daily pass online here or opt for the $30 annual pass. To purchase the annual pass, you have several options. In advance, order online here, visit a vendor (Big 5 in Carlsbad or REI in Encinitas sells them) or day-of stop in at the Visitor’s Information Center when entering the recreation area. If you have an “America the Beautiful” national park pass, that will cover your fee here too! Just hang it on your mirror when parking.
LAGUNA MOUNTAIN VISITOR’S CENTER
The Visitor’s Information Center is next door to the Laguna Mountain Lodge Store. This is a great place to quickly stop in for information. There are public restrooms in the parking lot as well. Due to COVID, the Visitor’s Center has been closed, but when open, they are a great resource for maps and other brochures. This is also where you can pick up the Wooded Hill Nature Trail Guide I mention below. The Visitor’s Center is located right off the Sunrise Highway at Los Huecos Road, between mile marker 23.5 and 23.
JUNIOR FOREST RANGER
If you follow the National Park areas of my blog, you know my love for Junior Ranger programs. Although they are not passed out on the mountain, there is still a National Forest Junior Ranger program your child can participate in! You can email to order your booklet ahead (smokeybear@fs.fed. us) to receive one in the mail or download the booklet here to print at home. The booklet is a great additional item to pack for a weekend in Mount Laguna because it keeps your child engaged with all that he/she is seeing out on the trails. I love using them as entertainment at restaurants too! Once your child completes the activities, you can mail in the card for a pin and card.
WEATHER
As with any adventure, check into the weather before heading up the mountain. Mount Laguna can see hot temperatures during summer days, but they drop quickly as the sun goes down. In addition, wind can be a major factor! When we are planning a big hike or camping weekend, I always check the wind to make sure it will be enjoyable. During winter, Mount Laguna will see snow and the Sunrise Highway will sometimes require chains or be closed. So please check weather and current driving conditions before you go!
DRIVING TO MOUNT LAGUNA
The main road through the mountain is the Sunrise National Scenic Byway. No matter the direction you come in, I love the way the road changes as you climb up the Sunrise Highway. The 24-mile scenic byway winds up and down the mountain through pines and mountain meadows with views of the Anza-Borrego Desert below. We usually try to come in one way and out the other to make a big loop.
From North County San Diego, there are two main ways to head into Mount Laguna. You can use the 8 freeway past Alpine to head up the mountain, or you can take the windier, slower way through Highway 78 & 79 past Julian. The direction we go really depends on our plans for hiking and dining. This map gives you an overview of the places I mention in this post so you can plan your route. I usually consider the following factors when picking our route.
Starting on the 8 freeway towards Alpine is faster and more direct. Our son gets carsick so this is an easier way up for him. He does better with the windier roads near Julian on the way out of town. Also, the cell service works better for the initial chunk of the drive if your child is using any device that needs consistent service to function. On colder days, I love a hot coffee in the car while we charge the freeway route to get up. After our time in Mount Laguna, I love stopping in Julian to enjoy one of our favorite places for a snack or beverage before heading home.
The alternative route is to go through Julian first. I love this if you are visiting during summer and have more daylight hours. It allows you to stay on the mountain until sunset later in the evening. Many of our favorite stops in Julian tend to start shutting down around 5pm, so it allows us to stop at the pumpkin patch before heading up the mountain with plenty of daylight for hiking left. The freeway route home is faster when you are exhausted and just want to be home. Leaving through Alpine gives you a straighter route in the dark too, versus the windy mountains roads of Highway 78 out of Julian.
GARNET PEAK via PENNY PINES
I am jumping right into my favorite hike on the mountain. Garnet Peak is absolutely stunning and will take your breath away. On a clear day, the panoramic views seem to go on forever. When you make it to the top, it is almost emotional staring out at the beauty of the Cleveland National Forest around you and the Anza-Borrego Desert below you. There is an old coffee can with a notepad where people sign a note saying they have made it to the top. You can see messages from people who just overcome trials like beating cancer, hiking to heal from grief associated with extreme loss or are celebrating with family. As you sit at the top, you can’t help but think of all the emotions that have been processed on this peak. It really is a beautiful place.
There are two ways out to the Garnet Peak Trail. You can park on Sunrise Highway and head straight up the peak (about 2.2 miles), but we prefer to park at the Penny Pines Trailhead (27.8-mile marker) and take the longer 4-mile route. This trailhead is closest to the Julian side of the mountain, so it is a great first stop if heading up from Julian (or last stop if you come in from Alpine). There will be cars parked along the road at Penny Pines. This section of trail takes you east for a bit and then north on the famous PCT before hitting the Garnet Peak Trail. The views this way are stunning and Penny Pines is a great area to explore and enjoy even if you don’t want to take the longer hike to Garnet Peak.
PENNY PINES TRAILHEAD
We have stopped here several times without heading all the way up to Garnet Peak. This portion of the trail is less than a mile and gives you a taste of the views you will see once you reach the peak. We have been here on beautiful clear days like you can see above, and also on windy and foggy days where you cannot see anything! Mt. Laguna in the fog is fun to see for different reasons, but clearly, the views will not be as exciting!
We knew this day would be foggy, but we decided to adventure out anyway, The fog gave us a new view of a trail we love. However, we ended up turning back from Garnet Peak early because the wind was so strong it felt like our son could blow off the trail! The fog did begin to burn off as we returned to the trailhead. Make sure to keep wind and weather in mind when planning your Mount Laguna adventure.
During spring, the trail is filled with beautiful wildflowers. In fall, you can see the changing colors of the forest surrounding you. Our son does great on this trail. Whether only heading out for the first mile, or taking the full 4-mile out-and-back trail to the peak, he loves this trail. In the beginning, some of the brush is overgrown and you may feel like you are squeezing yourself through, but stay on the trail. It will soon open up to expanse views of the Anza-Borrego Desert.
GARNET PEAK TRAIL
The full 4-miles to Garnet Peak will give you an elevation gain of about 700 feet. We always pack a small picnic to enjoy along longer hikes, and there are several areas along this trail to sit on the rocks to enjoy a snack. Once you see the “Garnet Peak Trail” sign, you have merged onto the Garnet Peak Trail and the climb begins.
If hiking with kids, it is a good idea to make sure they have proper shoes for this hike. The last portion towards the peak does get very steep and rocky. When our son was younger, we did put him in the carrier for this final portion of the trail. At the top, there are many areas to sit and enjoy the view. When our son was younger, we kept him close! On a clear day, you can see the windmills out towards Palm Springs! Definitely pack some binoculars for the views on top!
PINE HOUSE CAFE & TAVERN
This restaurant recently changed ownership, and I have not been since the change due to all of the COVID madness. However, the location is great and the mountain vibe is the same. This log cabin style restaurant has been around since 1942 and has been feeding PCT hikers for many years. The cafe is right next to Burnt Rancheria on Sunrise Highway, across from the Laguna Mountain General Store. The cafe is open Thursday – Sunday and has breakfast, lunch, dinner & take-out picnic options available. Our son loved the mac and cheese and we love a cold beer on the patio after a long hike! The menus below are current in October 2020. You can check out the current hours and menu offerings on their website. I can’t want to check this place out next time we are on the mountain!
BURNT RANCHERIA CAMPGROUND
We love this campground! It is beautiful and the camp hosts are so helpful. The campground is open from April – October. Pets are allowed on a 6ft max leash at all times. The campground is made of several loops, and sites in the Pinyon, Lilac and Yucca Loop can be reserved in advance on recreation.gov. The rest of the 108 sites become first-come, first-serve. This map can give you an idea of where the sites are in relation to facilities. All sites have a table and fire ring. The camp hosts sell firewood for $6/bundle. You can call the campground with any questions at 619/473-0120 or follow the campground facebook page for updated information.
Our son loved this campground. I had been checking cancellations and scored a one-night opening during COVID when the campground had been full every day. We were thrilled, but then the 60mph winds had us hesitant. After our windy Garnet Peak hike, we came to the campground to picnic on our site and decide what to do next. During our picnic, we looked over at our fire ring and saw this snake cruising through our site! It may be hard to see in the picture, but we quickly realized all of the snake warning signs are up for a reason!
We were in site 45, which was right next to the bathrooms. All of the sites are spread out, which was especially enjoyable during COVID. The campground borders the PCT and The Desert View Trail left right by our site which made for an easy late afternoon hike. Walking through the campground later in the evening showed us the beauty of the sun setting in the Mahogany, Redberry & Cherry loop. During non-COVID summers, you an easily walk up to the Sunrise Highway to grab dinner or a beer at the Pinehouse Cafe before setting up for smores at night.
DESERT VIEW TRAIL & PICNIC AREA
The Desert View Trail gives you panoramic views of the Anza-Borrego Desert 6,000 feet below. The trail leaves right from the Burnt Rancheria campground next to site 44. It is pretty amazing to be looking down at the desert and surrounded by pines. The one-mile loop heads up to the Desert View Picnic Area which has several picnic tables and nooks to take a break and enjoy the scenery. The PCT runs along here too, so you may share the trail with PCT hikers for a bit.
We were visiting in June, and the wildflowers along the hike were my favorite. I just love the bright colors sprinkling the landscape along a hike. We headed back to our campsite through the campground (vs the trial back to site 44) and enjoyed the views of the sun setting on the different loops in Burnt Rancheria.
If you are not camping in Burnt Rancheria, the Desert View Picnic Area has parking and you can loop staring there and back up. The views are fabulous and you can see the Salton Sea on clear days. It was an easy trail for our son too!
WOODED HILL NATURE TRAIL
This trail is an easy 1.6-mile loop that is great for families! The trail is a figure-8 shape, with a smaller .5 mile loop option. It is also a self-guided nature trail, with exhibit numbers painted on rocks to teach you about local plant life. You can pick up the trail guide at the Visitor Center. Due to COVID, we were unable to get the pamphlet, but we still loved the hike. To find the trailhead, follow the small road (between mile markers 22 and 21.5) towards the Wooded Hill Campground. After about .3 miles, you will see cars parked along the left side of the road at the trailhead.
At the trailhead, there are two trails. We headed up the left side to start and we were happy with that decision in the end. Not only do the numbers on the pamphlet begin on the left, but we found the direct climb up the hill better on the left than the switchbacks on the right side. We started to head into the forest through the dry grass. Before long, we were surrounded by beautiful autumn colors between a forest of pine and oak trees.
After about 1/4 mile and a bit of a climb uphill (the hike has an elevation gain of 234 feet), we reached the middle of the two loops. We turned left, heading up for the longer 1.6-mile loop. Our son loved all of the boulders along the trail and the pinecones all over the ground. The clouds above us were moving, which gave us great views as we climbed the trail. From spots on the trail, we were able to see the Anza-Borrego Desert, the old US Air Force station, and the Laguna Mountain Observatory.
The top had great views and lots of boulders for our son to explore. We were wishing we had a picnic packed to enjoy once we were up there. It took us about 40 minutes to get to the top – we had a lot of stops for rock climbing and even a mid-trail diaper change!
We had a snack and kombucha, enjoyed the views and started our way down on the other side of the loop! This way down had many switchbacks that made the downhill steady. It was beautiful weaving through the forest. It took us less than 30 minutes to make it back down to our car. Although this trail is not stroller-friendly, it was a great hike for families with kids of all ages! I loved the fall colors during our October visit, and I can only imagine how beautiful the wildflowers must be in Spring!
This area is also our favorite to explore for snow play. You can read more about snow play on Mount Laguna here.
SUNSET TRAIL to WATER OF THE WOODS
This is a great hike to do with kids. To access these trails, you park at the Sunset Trailhead (mile marker 19.1). There will be a lot of cars parked on the highway here as this is a popular area for hiking and mountain biking. The 8-mile Sunset Trail to Laguna Meadows Loop leaves from here as well. The Big Laguna Trail is a popular mountain biking trail that splits off of the Sunset Trail after a few minutes. To make sure you are on the Sunset Trail, stay left, heading West. The Big Laguna Trail will have bikers and bike tracks in the dirt and head to the North, on the right.
Our son loved this trail because he could walk around and explore different areas of the mountain. The trail starts by heading into a pine forest, and eventually comes out into the large Laguna Meadow. The Water of the Woods is a large pond in the middle of the giant mountain meadow. We took time to snack here, and instead of heading back on the Sunset Trail for a 3-mile loop, we hooked onto the Big Laguna Trail (the biking one) and looped back along the meadow. This meadow is home to many cows and you will pass through cattle guards on the trail. Our son loved the different scenery on this easy hike with very little elevation gain. We first hiked this trail in fall and the colors did not disappoint. I have read that the wildflowers are stunning in spring too!
A FEW QUICK STOPS WORTH NOTING
Mount Laguna is filled with scenic points all along the Sunrise Highway. We love pulling off to take in the views for a moment. During COVID closures, these scenic points gave us picnic areas to enjoy in a socially distant way. I highly recommend taking your time heading through to pull off and take in the view! Kids can have a moment to snack and use their favorite binoculars while parents can enjoy a kombucha (or your beverage of choice) and, of course, a snack too.
KWAAYMII POINT
Kwaaymi Point is on the left side of the Sunrise Highway when coming up from Julian (mile marker 30.3). The point is right at the border between the Anza-Borrego Desert and Cleveland National Forest. A short road, Kwaaymi Point, takes you out to the overlook. At 6,000 feet elevation, this point is popular with hang gliders. The area has also become a memorial to hang gliders that have lost their lives and unfortunately, many spots have been tagged with memorials as well.
There is a short 1/2 mile hike that takes you on a portion of the PCT. The views here are beautiful, but there are no guard rails and the drops are steep along the trail. Those with little kids may want to enjoy the overlook and not explore the trail. A portion of the hike is on the old Sunrise Highway from the 1920’s. Our son enjoyed rock climbing (away from the cliff) and we enjoyed the views and a short picnic. This is also a great spot for stargazing!
DESERT VIEW OVERLOOK
Coming from Julian, shortly after mile marker 24, just before the Desert View Picnic Area, turn left up Monument Peak Road towards the old Mt. Laguna USAF station. The road dead-ends at the gate, but has fantastic views at the top. This is another great spot to stargaze, or even get up early from Burnt Rancheria Campground and watch the sunrise. Coffee or wine in hand, pop up a chair and enjoy the views.
OUR FAVORITE TURNOUT
We have another favorite stop on the left side of the mountain heading towards the Sunset Trail from the summit. It is the middle of three turnouts and is just past mile marker 20. I love this spot as we picnicked here several times during COVID and if offers fresh mountain air and views.
LAGUNA MOUNTAIN LODGE STORE
The Laguna Mountain Lodge Store was built in 1930 and has all you may need for a weekend in Mount Laguna. They carry groceries, beverages and camping gear. The store also carries ice, firewood and charcoal. They carry a variety of local souvenirs and even have snow gear. Campers can grab a fresh coffee in the am and they even have a gift shop for visitors. They have you covered for last minutes necessities during a week in Mount Laguna.
SNOW PLAY
Mount Laguna is known for its beautiful winter snowfall. An adventure up the mountain for family-friendly snow play makes for a great day! Check out my post on snow play in Mount Laguna for all my tips and info. Sometimes chains are required on the Sunrise Highway and in extreme weather, the Sunrise Highway will be closed. Mount Laguna is beautiful during every season which makes it a fun place to explore with family all year.
NEXT TIME LIST
- Try Glamping through Alter Experiences at Laguna Campground or Burnt Rancheria
- Stay the weekend in the Laguna Mountain Lodge
- Hike to Foster Point off the PCT – across from Horse Haven Group Camp – trailhead is between mm 25.5 & 26
- Try the New Pine House Cafe
Have you been to Mount Laguna? What would you add to complete a weekend in Mount Laguna?
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