4 min
Overview
Perched on the southeastern flank of Cuyamaca Peak, the gently-sloping hillsides comprising West Mesa offer a pleasing mixture of grasslands tapering off to impressive views of rugged peaks, recovering chaparral and woodland vegetation, and abundant wildlife. This natural feature is not a mesa in the traditional sense, although the relatively flat hillside of West Mesa is bounded on all sides by relatively steep slopes. Transitional seasons on this moderate route bring a number of pleasing colors; springtime brings emerald fields, kaleidoscopic wildflowers, and the emerging pink leaves of black oaks. Autumn causes a subtle transition in the vegetation to a warm palette of golds, rusts, reds, creams, whites, and yellows. Occasional snowfalls blanket the hillsides in a shroud of white, although snow rarely lasts long at this elevation. The warm months of summer are generally the least appealing, although the occasional summer thunderstorm may add a dash of excitement. From the parking area, cross Highway 79 and follow West Mesa Road past a gate to ascend through recovering pine and oak woodlands. At .6 mile, turn right onto Fern Flat Fire Road to head northwest through more recovering forest and woodland. At 1.5 miles, turn left onto the West Mesa Trail. Once you step onto this single-track, you will have entered the largest state wilderness in the park. Mountain bikes are not allowed beyond this point. The West Mesa Trail takes one more left turn as it merges with the California Riding and Hiking Trail. This section of the trail travels through an untidy landscape of dead or downed trees. The pine trees here are making a slow recovery, but the oaks are having more success. Seemingly dead black and canyon live oaks show re-sprouting vegetation emerging from the surviving root systems. After a few decades the dead portions of the tree will rot away, while the emerging new growth will continue to grow into a “new” tree. At 2.4 miles, the trail levels off around the 5,200’ contour before passing in and out of some s
Trail Stats
11.1 km
396 m
1591 m
1297 m
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Photos
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