Laguna Mountain Recreation Area

Super fun and a close drive from east county. Great views and nice locals.
Check out a sunrise or a sunset, you will be impressed.
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Motorcycle trip highly suggested. If your bike can tolerate the altitude changes, you will love it.

Been to Laguna Mountain a few times, recently in the Spring last year and again this past month for some snow play. Laguna Mountain has some great trails to hike, with some really nice sceneries of the mountains and some outlook areas without having to hike strenuously.

As far as the snow play, we went the day after a lot of snow were dumped at Mt. Laguna and the next day, by 10:30 am, half of the mountain didn't show any signs of snow, until we made it around the corner, closer to our spot to go tubing. Fortunately my kids are young and don't want any very steep hills to slide their tubes down. It was enough for them to have about 2-3 hours of fun, but not something you want to go for snow ball fights, a winter wonderland, or even sledding, since it was a bit tough for the sledders. I also wouldn't recommend attempting to do snow ball fights since it was mainly ice, which got really slushy by noon.

If you're looking for a huge snow area and an area for skiing, sledding, etc., then make the drive up to Big Bear or Mammoth. If you're able to settle with some snow but nothing intense, this place is the place for you to enjoy.

Lots of great things to see on the Sunrise Hwy on the way to Mount Laguna.
Be sure to stop and see Storm CanyonOverlook and Kwaaymii Point.
Next be sure to grab a bite of lunch at The Pine House Cafe.
Beautiful places overlooking the Anza Borrego desert State Park.
Enjoy

Well Date of Visit : January 1, 2021 the first day of the New Year and we decided on coming to Mt Laguna to see some Snow . Which San Diego does not get much snow . So if your looking for snow then head up to Mt Laguna and enjoy !! It's got lots of opened space for you to hangout with your family or friends !! Plus there are lots of trees and stubble on the ground. But today there were enough snow for you to build a Snowman and it was not to cold !! Plus the Sun was shining out with blue sky's !! It was an beautiful day to play in the snow !! It's just the parking that is kind of ruff because if you don't get here early enough !! Both sides of the street gets filled up pretty quickly and you might have to drive circles around to find parking. !! But it's an beautiful place to take your family or friends. !! Lots of nice areas for you to take pictures !! Also don't forget to bring your sled to slide down the mountain !! The views are amazing with the snow and Tall Trees !! It just makes the perfect Picture. !!

Overall Satisfaction: 4 out of 5 Stars !! But lots of fun for your kids and Family and friends !! Snow was nice and plenty of opened space for you to hangout !!
Parking: 2 out of 5 stars just get here early enough and plan on lining up to come here it's a lot of fun for everyone !!
Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 stars !! Snow is fun for everyone !! Enjoy the views and sliding down the mountains !!

Overall Grade: 4 Stars out of 5 just minus one star for Parking and that's all !! But I shall return and enjoy more !!

Have been hiking Laguna mountains since 2010.

A short getaway for silence and peace. Many trails available and get your pass at the grocery store located on the left hand side if you are coming from the 8 freeway.

Always check the temperature as it's different climate from San Diego.

Wear a pack, hiking boots and plenty of snacks and water.

All trails are beautiful, just depends how long you hike for and usually love to hike for half a day.

Enjoy nature and happy trails...

So Thankful that I have this place at my fingertips...

Unfortunately this is the place where I broke my shoulder on the top of Gato's Trail... and when I say the top... I mean the very first turn... that means... hiking 5 miles down the hill with a broken ass arm/shoulder,a mouth full of dirt, dragging my bike with my good arm.....
Ain't no thing but a chicken wing...

Nature is God's best medicine for everyone... for your soul... for your spirit... for your health...
I love how most of everyone you encounter here is peaceful and happy(and that is not many, this place is very secluded and spread out) .

You have your mega hikers.... you have your mega mountain bikers... you have the families hiking... you have the cows... the birds... and yes... rattlesnakes... so careful now...

Pack a lunch, bring your bike... bring your OFF.....follow the trail signs for restrictions of who can go where...
shhhhhhh be quiet... is that the wind whistling through the pines?

A good place to turn off on the road and park.. is usually where you see the conglomeraton of cars along the road... that is where the good trail heads start....

Now I am a little worried about writing this review, hence the fact I don't want this place to become too saturated... but.. this is exercise we are talking about... so... most people are lazy and won't even make the trek...

If you are bringing your dog... bring lots of water for your pup.. and remember.. .if it is warm outside, your doggie paws can get burned from the hot trail.....

Anyways... have fun and get in Nature....

If you see snow on the peaks from San Diego, head to Mt. Laguna! It was crowded but totally worth it to stomp and play in the snow! Get there before noon to miss the crowds.

Awesome hiking trails and the view is amazing. You can also ride your dirt bike as well

I wasn't sure if I wanted to visit Laguna Mountain. I moved to San Diego in June 2018, and had already hiked three times at Mission Trails Regional Park, twice up Volcan Mountain, once to the top of Woodson Mtn., and once at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. From the available maps and photos on the internet, the Laguna Mountain area seemed too remote for me and, more important, it seemed to consist of pastoral meadows without any opportunity for aerobic hiking and, more important (to me), no photo ops.

VISTAS SO DRAMATIC, MAKES YOU WANT TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. Anyway, in October 2018 I visited Laguna Mountain two weekends in a row. I decided that the views from the cliffs overlooking Anza Borrego Desert State Park were magical and compelling enough for repeat visits to the Sunrise Highway and to hike out to several lookout points just to the east of Pacific Crest Trail. Okay, now to get some things out of the way. The driving time from Route 8 to the gift shop at Laguna Mtn. is only about 20 minutes (and so, there is nothing remote about a little 20 minute drive). On this road, at first the scenery is mountain without forests, but with many huge boulders like on Woodson Mtn. And then, the scenery near the road takes the form of a mixture of meadows and forests (without boulders). For my first visit, I took a camera and took pictures from the area of Desert View Picnic Site and nearby Monument Peak Road. Once on Monument Peak Road, you can wander down the steep mountainside and get panoramic photos of the wild out-of-doors with yucca in the foreground and Anza Borrego Desert in the background. Then, I drove over to Garnet Peak, which is about as far as you can get on Sunrise Highway and still have great views of the desert. At Garnet Peak, I also got some nice photos of Anza Borrego Desert, with yucca in the foreground.

SOUVENIR-MANIA. During my first visit, I returned to the gift shop and bought a couple of leather purses and some other souvenirs. A week later, I returned with aerobic exercise on the mind. And so, I parked at Desert View Picnic Area and hiked the PACIFIC CREST TRAIL northwards past Foster Peak and eventually to Garnet Peak. This time, I left the camera behind, and instead brought a half gallon of chocolate milk, which was only $2.50 from Trader Joe's. Then, I hiked all the way back to Desert View Picnic Area. The round-trip hike was about 12 miles round trip. During my second visit, I stopped at the visitor's center, which is located about 50 feet to the north from the gift shop. At the visitor's center, I bought more souvenirs (cloth patches, colorful maps, book on Kumeyaay ethnobotany).

EPILOGUE. For the next weekend (October 13, 2018), I went to JTNP. In the morning, I visited Black Rock Canyon and hiked the Panorama Loop Trail and obtained a nice aerobic workout. In the afternoon, I went to the main part of JTNP, and poked around Jumbo Rocks Campground and Split Rock Trail with my camera.

This campground is a great way to experience the outdoors in Southern California. We stayed only for one night since a storm was coming in. Fun set of hiking trails throughout the area. We hiked from our site to the lake for sunset. Nice views the whole trail. Campground is large with about 100 sites. Definitely a hidden gem!

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT HERE!!! Except that my dog got a tick! -hehe That is expected though. When I came up here in Oct I got a year pass... I just wish I had someone to go with me more often. (I'm still new to SD) I want to go camping!!!!
This place reminded me a lot of back home (WI) and one of the reasons why I love SD! :) There are so many trails and very friendly people! A lot of bikers. I love the water ponds for my dog to jump in on a warm day. A lot of shade on the hiking trail which is perfect for you and your dog. Don't forget to pack a snack and/or lunch! In the morning the restrooms where the info center is can get packed.
$2 for a map... psshh I just took a photo of the map with my phone and off we went! I already spent $30 on the yearly pass. I didnt want to pay for a map... lol

I can't wait to get back! :)