The San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Hiking Challenge

In 2023, I took on the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge. I signed up in late July, giving myself only five months to complete it. In this recount of my journey through the challenge, I’ll cover the highs and lows, sharing my favorite moments and the trials that put me to the test. I’ll also tackle common questions future participants might have, offering insights and guidance for those looking to take on this adventure. Join me as I share the personal details of the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge.

What is the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge

The SD Six-Pack Challenge unfolds as an exhilarating annual hiking odyssey, stretching from January 1st to December 31st. I embarked on this adventure in late July 2023, wrapping up my final hike on December 17th.

Registering on the Social Hiker website not only enlists you in the challenge but also opens the door to their vibrant online community. This includes a forum and messaging system, providing a space to log your hikes and share insightful reviews of your completed trails.

Within about a week of signing up, I received a welcome pack. This bundle featured stickers, a personalized Hiker Tag tailored to the specific series, and a handy Leave No Trace reference card.

Feel the freedom to conquer the hikes at your own pace throughout the calendar year. Once you’ve triumphed over each trail, proudly document your achievements on the Social Hiker website, where you can also register for the challenge and anticipate a gratifying finisher package at the journey’s end!

To conquer the challenge, set your sights on completing six out of the seven breathtaking hikes listed below. These peaks not only present a challenge but also unveil the scenic beauty of San Diego:

Peak	Mileage + Elevation	AllTrails links
Volcan Mountain	5.1 miles; Elevation 5,353′ (1,632m)	Volcan Mountain Trail
Corte Madera	6.7 miles; Elevation 4,633′ (1,412m)	Corte Madera Mountain Trail
Cuyamaca Peak	7.3 miles; Elevation 6,512′ (1,985m)	Cuyamaca Peak via Azalea Glen Loop
Hot Springs Mountain	10.2 miles; Elevation 6,533′ (1,991m)	Hot Springs Mountain Trail
High Point	13.8 miles; Elevation 6,138′ (1,871m)	Oak Grove Trail to High Point
El Cajon Mountain	11 miles; Elevation 3,675′ (1,120m)	El Cajon Mountain Trail
Mount Woodson (alternate)	7.4 miles; Elevation 2,881′ (878m)	Potato Chip Rock via Mt. Woodson Trail

Gear Recommendations

My Favorite Hike of the San Diego Six Pack Hiking Challenge

Of the six original hikes of the challenge, my favorite was Cuyamaca Peak.

It was a fairly easy to moderate hike (via Azalea trail), and I was greeted with the best golden hour views at the top, which was mesmerizing. I will definitely hike this trail again in the future. I read other challengers completed in the snow back in March, so I will monitor snowfalls to ensure I get to do it in the snow too this winter. That sounds like a fun challenge!

Most Challenging Hike of the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge

For me, which I assume is also the same for most, El Cajon Mountain was the most challenging, but not for the reason I thought it would be.

Before I even tackled the physical challenge aspect of it, motivating myself to do that one was hard work to begin with. After reading so many reviews and comments on it, I was dreading getting that hike even started. Uphill both ways does not sound appealing as uphill is my weakness, I typically make up my time by going super fast downhill. So the thought of going uphill for 11 miles off and on was not motivating to me at all.

I knew I would feel accomplished in several ways by tackling it last.

1. for completing all six original hikes for the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks challenge,
2. for completing the hardest hike in San Diego,
3. for pushing myself through 11 miles of uphill just for the “fun” of it and to see if I can do it.

However, to my surprise, the uphills weren’t the most challenging part of El Cajon Mountain for me. Don’t get me wrong, it was not a beach stroll. But by the time you reach the top, you only gained 2700ft of elevation, so the climb doesn’t feel bad. The downhills were much worse. I never had any muscle pains after any of the other hikes, including High Point and Hot Spring Mountain.

Memorable Moments during the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge

One of the most memorable moments of the challenge was when I reached Corte Madera summit, my legs were bleeding all over the place because the trail was overgrown and I wore shorts! And then I went the wrong way on the way back down, so I wasted like 15 minutes.

One of the most gratifying moments was probably finally seeing the parking lot and road again toward the end of El Cajon Mountain Trail because I knew I wasn’t going to find another uphill just around the corner, and that I was officially done with the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge!

Scenic Views on the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge

All the hikes offer amazing views, so you can’t pick the wrong one!

I did many of these hikes during sunset, and wow, it was incredible!

• Cuyamaca Peak was my top pick for a beautiful golden hour at the tippy-top.
• Volcan Mountain gave me a stunning sunset, and the tippy-top was surrounded by golden fields that danced in the breeze.
• High Point treated me to a pink sunset and awesome views of San Jacinto.
• Hiking back down from above the clouds at Hot Springs Mountain was tough, but the view made it all worth it.

For Corte Madeira, Mount Woodson, and El Cajon, I did those in the daytime, so no sunset views, but you still get these awesome scenic views of San Diego County from those hiking trails too!

Wildlife Encounters during my San Diego Hiking Challenge

The “best” wildlife I encountered during these hikes was at Volcan Mountain. I timed the hike to reach the summit for sunset. After sunset, two deer ran across the hills. It was a beautiful sight. Further back down on that same trail, I also found a scorpion. Other than that, the next time I encountered wildlife was chipmunks in High Point.

Trail Surprises from the SD Six Pack of Peaks Challenge

The fire lookout tower at the summit of High Point is still in service. When I reached the summit, I jumped out of my skin when the station attendant shouted “You made it!”. I was not expecting that welcome!

Personal Achievements

I successfully achieved a significant personal milestone during the hiking challenge by completing all seven hikes of the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks challenge before the 12/31/23 deadline. This included conquering the six original peaks and one alternate peak. Rather than feeling deterred by the challenge, I found that completing it fueled my enthusiasm for hiking even more.

The sense of accomplishment and fulfillment I experienced after finishing all six hikes was truly remarkable. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride, knowing that I had tackled some of the most challenging hikes in San Diego. Not only did this achievement boost my confidence, but it also contributed to an overall improvement in my physical fitness.

One noteworthy aspect of my approach to the challenge was the strategic sequencing of the hikes from easiest to hardest. This method allowed me to gradually build up my stamina and strength throughout the challenge. Surprisingly, I found El Cajon to be easier than anticipated, which I attribute to the fact that I had just completed High Point and Hot Springs Mountain. This sequence not only made each hike more manageable but also provided a continuous sense of progression and accomplishment as I conquered increasingly difficult peaks.

Changes in Perspective Thanks to this Hiking Challenge

This challenge has renewed my love of hiking, especially hiking in San Diego. I was bored of hiking around here, and these hikes motivated me to challenge myself. I had not heard of half the hikes in the challenge. So it was great to take on new hikes and notice how much fitter I had become compared to the first time I tackled some of the other hikes on the list.

Hiking is my escape from screens and desks, a precious break to connect with nature and quiet my mind. Those solo hikes, in particular, transform into moving meditations for me. I wouldn’t trade that off-grid time for anything in the world.

Post-Challenge Reflection and Recommendations for Others

The San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge spans from January 1st to December 31st each year, offering a generous 365 days for participants to conquer the hikes if they sign up on January 1st. The flexibility lies in your hands as you decide how to distribute the hikes throughout the year.

The order in which you tackle the hikes is entirely personal, with some opting to commence with El Cajon Mountain due to its reputation as the most challenging, making subsequent hikes feel comparatively easier. Alternatively, my preference was to start from the shortest mileage to the longest, reserving El Cajon Mountain for the grand finale.

Executing the hikes in this sequence, progressing from easiest to hardest, significantly contributed to the development of my stamina and strength throughout the challenge. Surprisingly, El Cajon Mountain felt more manageable than expected, possibly attributed to having completed High Point and Hot Springs Mountain beforehand. For those considering this adventure, I highly recommend this sequential approach to tangibly feel your physical progress. I’m intrigued by the idea of completing the challenge from hardest to easiest—what would that experience unfold? It adds an intriguing dimension to the essence of the challenge itself.

Completion Reward

I had an amazing experience completing the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge! The real joy came from spending time outdoors, surrounded by nature, breathing in fresh air, and enjoying wildlife, far away from pollution and electronics.

Today, I proudly received the certificate of achievement and the finisher’s pin, bringing back memories of the hard work I invested to reach this point. It’s a fantastic reward for the incredible journey through the peaks!

SO what are you waiting for? Sign up now for your own San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge!

Final thoughts on the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge

Embarking on the San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge was a transformative journey, winding through stunning landscapes from Cuyamaca Peak’s golden hour vistas to the unexpected challenges of El Cajon Mountain’s downhill stretches. Completing all seven hikes, including the alternate peak, before the December 31st deadline marked a personal triumph, reshaping my love for hiking and fostering a deeper connection with nature.

The strategic sequencing, starting from the easiest to the hardest, not only made each hike more manageable but also showcased the progression of my stamina and strength. This challenge goes beyond conquering peaks; it’s a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the joy of embracing new trails, rekindling my passion for exploration in San Diego’s diverse landscapes.

Having completed the challenge filled me with pride and a hunger for more. I already signed up for the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks challenge for 2024, and can’t wait to get started!

If you’ve been inspired by my journey or have your own tales of conquering the trails, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Share your favorite hiking spots, tips, or maybe your own Six-Pack Challenge aspirations. And, of course, don’t forget to spread the adventure by sharing this post with your fellow nature enthusiasts—let’s inspire more explorations together!

Post originally published on January 1, 2024, and last updated on April 19, 2024.