One of San Diego’s most popular hiking trails will close for nearly two months this spring.
Cowles Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park will undergo trail restoration starting this month. Signs were posted recently at the base of the mountain to alert hikers of the closure.
Parks and Recreation District Manager Steve Haupt said the trail will be closed for nearly two months. He said the dates are tentative, but right now a sign states it will be closed from March 25 to May 17.
“It’s just going to take time to close off trails where people aren’t supposed to be,” Haupt said.
The mountain is about 1,600 ft. above sea level and offers a breathtaking view of San Diego. Thousands of people are estimated to use it each week, and the hike serves as an especially popular weekend activity for locals.
“It’s one of the most heavily used trails in the city,” Haupt said.
Avid hiker Laura Peterson said that she’s really disappointed her favorite trail will be out of commission for a few weeks.
“Part of me is kind of happy about it though, because parts of the trail definitely need help,” she said.
Peterson said she might go to other parks in the county to hike, but none of them are as close or strenuous as Cowles.
“It’s such a perfect trail,” she said. “I love it.”
Trail restoration project costs and contracting details were not immediately released by the Parks and Recreation department.
View Cowles Mountain in a larger map
