Hidden Hikes
Mount Gower Near the San Diego Country Estates Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
By Jason Ritter

Large boulders along the paths can add challenges to hikers.

Mount Gower Open Space Preserve is one of the more exceptional backcountry destinations in San Diego County.

Named after surveyor George Gower, who surveyed land here in the 1860s, the area is home to large live oaks and sycamore trees.

Dense chaparral line many of the seasonal streams that flow through the preserve. The open space preserve shares its border with the Cleveland National Forest, on which the summit of Mount Gower rests. Access to the multiple viewpoints or to the summit can be reached from the Mount Gower Open Space Preserve trailhead or via a more direct route through the Cleveland National Forest.

The Mount Gower Open Space Preserve has over eight miles of trails open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. Parking and trailhead access to the preserve are located at the end of Gunn Stage Road in the San Diego Country Estates.

Here you will find restrooms and a group camp site (reservations required). From the trailhead, it is an approximate 4.5-mile hike to the far southernmost portion of the preserve. You will encounter steep ascents and descents and will have little to no shade along your way to a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the San Diego Country Estates.

Sunset over Mt. Gower. Photos by Jason Ritter

To the east, you will see Mount Gower. The mountain has three distinct summits, with the southernmost designated as the peak. The northernmost summit is the most visited by witness to the number of logs and signatures in its summit register.

Another, more direct route to the summit of Mount Gower can be found within the Cleveland National Forest. Just east of Gantry Way on Bellemore Drive you will find an access trail that will take you north out of the San Diego Country Estates.

As you wind eastward toward Himmel Canyon and San Vicente Creek, the trail eventually will begin heading north and plateau. From here, take a sharp left and begin hiking westward through gently sloping terrain. Shortly, the trail will begin to head north again and through a series of steep switchbacks you will begin to gain elevation. This route will take you up, over, and through some massive vehicle-sized boulders before you reach the spectacular southern summit of Mount Gower.

Whatever route you choose it will be an adventurous hike and climb over granite bedrock and Stonehenge-sized boulders to reach all three summits of Mount Gower. However, your effort will be rewarded with spectacular views of San Vicente Valley, the San Diego River Basin below, and your signature in the summit register.

As with any backcountry hike, prepare yourself with water, snacks, suitable clothing, proper footgear and a first aid kit. And always tell a friend or family member your plans.

• For additional information and a printable map visit the San Diego County Parks Web site at: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/ parks/parklist.html#openspace

• For current conditions in the Cleveland National Forest visit: www.fs.fed.us/r5/

cleveland/conditions/

Jason Ritter is a Ramona resident and avid hiker and geocacher. He can be reached at jason.ritter@cox.net