9 min
Overview
Hidden in the remote folds of the eastern flank of the Palomar Mountains lies one of the most satisfying and adventurous hikes in Cleveland National Forest. The trek to the lofty perch of Eagle Crag passes through many of the mountain ecosystems of San Diego County, including high desert, montane chaparral, oak woodland, riparian woodland, mixed-conifer forest, and conifer and chaparral woodlands. The reward for this challenging 17+ mile adventure – beyond the adventure itself – is the fantastic view at the summit of the crag, which takes in the Agua Tibia Wilderness, northern San Diego County, Temecula, the San Jacinto and San Bernadino Mountains, and Anza Valley. The small… . . . and the large The hike itself is only a part of the adventure. Getting to the trailhead can be a challenge in itself. After driving the long, lonely Highway 79 along the backside of the Palomar Range, you will need to follow several miles of rough dirt road to the Cutca Trailhead. The Forest Service occasionally closes this gate during inclement weather, so it is advisable to check ahead to determine if it is open. You can reach the Palomar District of Cleveland National Forest at (760) 788-0250. It’s also worth noting that Cutca Valley is one of the better backpacking destinations in San Diego County. Numerous seasonal streams crisscross this rolling backcountry, and there is one particularly excellent campsite (see description below) alongside a seasonal creek past the junction with the Cutca Trail . The Palomar District requires that you obtain a wilderness permit. Print out this permit application, fax it to the Palomar District, and they will mail the permit back to you. Allow a couple of weeks for the process. It should also be noted before the description below that this is a very challenging and difficult hike. Aside from the extreme length (at least for dayhikes), the trail gains a lot of elevation with a significant chunk coming in the last .6 mile. Large parts of the trail are overgrown and difficult to follow, with one p
Trail Stats
29.5 km
1158 m
1545 m
994 m
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Photos
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