Twin Peaks - Peak #39 - Hiking in the Heart of Poway
Twin Peaks
Elevation: 1,306′
Miles: ~2.4
Trailhead: Sagecrest Drive Trailhead
Agency: City of Poway
Date Hiked: 05/19/2010
Peakbagger.com Page
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05/19/2010
I only had a couple of hours and I drive by this peak all the time. I've been wondering what it's like at the top, so I squeezed this hike in.
I parked in a neighborhood and was greeted with a sign asking dog owners to clean up after their pets. Right under the sign was a fairly fresh pile. Ironic.
This is a pretty straightforward hike, but the trail to the summit could be pretty easy to miss.
It has all the signs of a suburban hike with dog and horse droppings as well as a lion's share of graffiti. Actually, this was the most graffiti I've seen on a trail before. The tagger covered almost every large rock in one particular area, which was pretty disappointing.
Starting the hike you pass a sign reading Chimney Rock Open Space Reserve. I did a search for the reserve online and found nothing about it and I don't see it on any maps. I know the adjacent upscale neighborhood is called Chimney Rock and can only assume it was named after the subdivision.
I hiked along a pretty wide dirt road that roughly followed the power lines. Once you start ascending the mountain, it turns into a wash-like trail that climbs steeply. That is when I started to see the graffiti.
I scrambled to the top and enjoyed the views of Poway and beyond. It was a pretty clear day and I could see many peaks that I have summited before. It wasn't long before I had to start descending. This was one of those hikes where I couldn't dilly-dally. I had things to do after lunch.
This is one of those great hikes that you can squeeze in if you are looking for a pretty decent view with some moderate elevation gain without too much distance.