San Diego: Monument Trail Loop | Hiking in California

San Diego: Monument Trail Loop

Visit stream-fed meadows and regenerating woodlands on this 5.3-mile loop to a 1922 plane wreck in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

Author:	Backpacker Magazine
Date:	27 Mar 2007 1:19:23 PM
Activity:	Hiking ActivitySearchHiking
State:	California (CA)
Distance:	5.3 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 1384 ft Total Loss: 1295 ft Net Change: 90 ft
Difficulty:	6 / 10
Tags:	San Diego, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, loop, Descanso, California
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

TO TRAILHEAD: Take I-8 E for 27 mi., then head N on CA 79. In 5 mi., turn L @ Green Valley Falls Campground. Park in Campfire Circle lot.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

MTL01

Dist: 5.15 mi	Points: 689	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Monument Trail Loop

Points of Interest

MTL001

Location: 32.906891°, -116.583199°
Head NE and gradually ascend through black oaks and pines still rejuvenating after 2003 Cedar Fire. Views open E over singed hillsides

MTL002

Location: 32.908760°, -116.581100°
L @ Y on Monument Trail; begin steady ascent. Spot outcroppings of Stonewall Peak to NE and Oakzanita Peak to SE

MTL003

Location: 32.913467°, -116.581070°
Arrive @ knob with views into the lush green contours of Arroyo Seco. Continue climb up along Airplane Ridge.

MTL004

Location: 32.919220°, -116.587502°
R @ Y onto West Mesa Trail; pass Airplane Wreck Monument, a weatherbeaten plane engine on a concrete pedestal, dedicated to 1922 victims (an Army pilot and colonel)

MTL005

Location: 32.924149°, -116.588882°
Cross Japacha Creek and descend along West Mesa; Japacha Peak's knobby crest rises to N

MTL006

Location: 32.928028°, -116.578697°
R @ T onto West Mesa Fire Rd.

MTL007

Location: 32.925846°, -116.578392°
Join Japacha Fire Rd. and continue into shrub-lined creekbed

MTL008

Location: 32.922680°, -116.580841°
Cross Japacha Creek and traverse hillside above the creek

MTL009

Location: 32.920792°, -116.576874°
Wrap around ridge and drop into lowlands of the Sweetwater River

MTL010

Location: 32.913853°, -116.573914°
R @ Y onto West Side Trail; continue SW .6 mi., skirting edge of Green Valley. Close loop @ WPT 2 and return to car