Mt. Woodson summit hike - West approach.
Woodson Mountain - West Approach
Distance: 6.8 miles round trip
Hiking Time: 4.5 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2300′/2300′
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Trail Use: Dogs allowed
Directions: Exit Interstate 15 at Rancho Bernardo Road and go east. Rancho Bernardo Road becomes Espola Road as you enter the Poway city limits. Espola starts to curve south after about 3 miles. Drive a total of 4 miles from I-15 to reach Lake Poway Road. Turn left (east) there, and drive .5 miles into the Lake Poway Recreation Area.
Begin at the grassy picnic area on the southwest shore of Lake Poway, and follow either of the two wide trails southeast (they soon merge). After skirting the south shore and dipping to cross Warren Canyon, you come to a trail junction at .8 miles. Turn right on the signed Mount Woodson Trail and climb east on a steep grade through sage and scrub and chaparral.
At 1.1 miles (from the start), a little pond filled with water during the winter and spring seasons, lies on the left. at the next signed junction, 1.8 miles, turn left, upslope, on the new Mount Woodson Trail. At 2.4 miles the trail reaches Woodson’s sharply defined summit ridge.
Ahead is the descending Fry-Koegel Trail. You swing to the right (east), through, and follow the continuation of the Mount Woodson Trail along the summit ridge, heading towards the antenna towers on Woodson Mountain’s summit a little over a mile away. The final .3 mile stretch of trail climbs up and to the west end of the service road atop Woodson’s summit.
Don’t miss the remarkable, razor sharp boulder flake on the left, just as you reach the service road. Continue another .2 miles to reach Woodson’s highest point.
