Hike San Mateo Peak (Cleveland National Forest)

In This Guide	Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions to Hike San Mateo Peak (Cleveland National Forest) Where to Park for San Mateo Peak Insider Tips and Recommendations
Total Distance (?)	4.6 miles (7.4 km)
Other Options	15 Miles With Morgan Trail
Hike Time	2 Hours (Total)
Difficulty (?)	Moderate
Total Ascent (?)	1,100 feet (335m)
Highest Elevation	3,594 feet (1095m)
Fees & Permits	Free
Dogs Allowed	Leashed
Alerts & Closures (?)	Cleveland National Forest
Park Phone	951-736-1811
Weather & Forecast	Latest Conditions
Stay Safe	Copy this webpage link to the clipobard and share with a friend before you hike. Let them know when to expect you back.
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San Mateo Peak, a beautiful and fun hike with a fantastic summit and sweeping views, is not officially there. The trail is not on the Forest Service maps, and you won’t find “San Mateo Peak” anywhere on an official topographic map. But the trail and peak are there all right, and in this guide, I’ll show you how to hike to the top and enjoy this fun peak in Cleveland National Forest.

Where is San Mateo Peak?

We’re going to start at the Morgan Trail parking area off of South Main Divide Road for this hike. Note that South Main Divide Road is paved and not a dirt road like North Main Divide Road. Use this trailhead address:
Morgan Trailhead, South Main Divide, Decker Canyon Rd, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions 2 — There’s a parking area on the side of the road.

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions 3 — The parking area is marked as the Morgan Trailhead.

You do not need a permit to park here, and there are no facilities.

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions 4 — When you park, (carefully) cross South Main Divide Road and take a look at Lake Elsinore, about 1800 feet below.

Gear For the Hike

This is a backcountry hike, but its short distance means that you can get away with fitness clothes here. I wear light hiking gear. In the summer it can get brutally hot, so bring at least 1L of water. There are a few sections of steep slopes where trekking poles will help.

Garmin InReach Mini 2
I’m a firm believer in carrying a satellite communications device which works where cell phones don’t. I use a Garmin InReach which lets me send text messages back and forth to my family to let them know that I’m okay or if my plans change when I’m out in the backcountry. It also has an SOS subscription built-in so that you can reach first-responders in an emergency. The devices also offer weather reports, GPS, and navigation functionality (what’s the difference between a GPS and satellite communicator?). For a few hundred bucks they could save your life, so for me it’s a no brainer to have something like a Garmin InReach. If you use a smartphone to navigate and want a more affordable option that integrates with your phone easily, check out the ZOLEO.
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Latest Prices: Amazon | REI

Altra Lone Peak 6
For most people, the Altra Lone Peak is a solid choice that will leave your feet feeling great at the end of any hike. The feel is cushy and light, and if it had a car equivalent, this would be a Cadillac or Mercedes Sedan. The grip is great and they’re reasonably durable for this type of trail runner, which I think is better in most conditions than a hiking boot, and here’s why. The downside of this shoe is that it won’t last as long as something like the Moab 2 (see alternate footwear choices at the bottom of my gear page). I’ve been using mine for many miles and my feet always feel great. I have a video on the details of the Altra Lone Peak 6 here.
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Women’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Men’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon

Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
I’ve gone back and forth on trekking poles, but I think for most people they are a good investment. They help you dig in on the uphills, provide stability on loose downhills, act as a brace when crossing streams, and can probably poke away aggressive wildlife in a pinch. The Trail Ergo Cork poles are a good balance of light weight, durability, affordability, and ease of use. If you want something ultralight and a little more pricey, I’ve had great luck with the Black Diamond Z Poles too.
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Trail Ergo Poles: REI | Amazon
Z-Poles: REI | Amazon

Gregory Zulu 30 & Jade 28
After testing quite a few backpacks, the Gregory Zulu 30 (and Jade 28 for women) is, for most hikers, the best all-season day-pack. First off, it’s very comfortable, and the mesh “trampoline” back keeps your back dry. Its 30L capacity is enough for all the essentials and plenty of layers for winter hiking. External pockets make it easy to grab gear. It’s hard to find something wrong with the pack; if anything, it could be a bit lighter, but overall, it’s not heavy. And its price-point makes it not only affordable but generally a great value.
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Women’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Men’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon

Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated May 2022.

My May 2022 Top Gear Picks

No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps keep the website ad and promotion free. There is no cost to you.

San Mateo Peak Trail Maps

Overall the trail is easy to follow, but can get a little overgrown. The beginning is rolling and then you have about 900 feet of climbing. There are steep sections, but overall it’s nothing like a big mountain hike.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

If you try to download the GPX file and your browser adds a “.txt” or “.xml” extension to it, simply rename it as a “.gpx” file.

How Are You Going to Navigate This Hike?
Here’s what I use. If you are a hardcore hiker and/or hike in extreme conditions, I recommend getting a dedicated GPS like a GPSMAP 66sr or 66i, or a wrist-based GPS with maps like the Garmin Fenix 7 or Epix. If you only hike in fair weather and a touchscreen is fine, or just want a solid tool, I highly recommend downloading the smartphone app, Gaia GPS. It’s a piece of cake to use and very powerful, just make sure your phone is in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get a big discount here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.

To access this guide when out of cell phone range on the trail, simply save the webpage on your phone ( iPhone – Android ).

Elevation Profile

San Mateo Peak Elevation — The beginning is pretty flat, and then you head uphill. There are some short downhill dips on the climb.

3D Map

Alternate 15-Mile Hike

If you want a longer hike, you can easily combine this stretch of trail with the full length of the Morgan Trail for a distance of about 15 miles. Start at the Candy Store, hike up the Morgan Trail, and then pick these directions up at the wilderness sign-in box (see the directions below). You’re going to want to also read my guide to the Morgan Trail and follow the directions there (don’t use this trailhead).

Hike Brief

San Mateo Peak Historical Map — When surveyors mapped the area they thought the location nudist camp was more important than marking the summit known now San Mateo Peak.

Why all the mystery around this trail and peak? Will I see any nudists spilling out of the camp on this trail? So many questions…

Before 1984, San Mateo Peak was just another bump in the Elsinore Mountains, albeit one higher than Elsinore Peak (now covered in antennas and a short walk up a dirt road).
In the 1960s a guy named Ken Croker entered the scene. He found the old trails in the Santa Anas built by the CCC in the 1930s, and with the help of the Sierra Club, restored them.
He’s also the force behind creating the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, known as “the wildest part of the Santa Anas.” The Forest Service opposed the creation of the area, because it meant more work in managing the land. If you’re not familiar with what’s special about a Wilderness Area, I recommend watching this quick video.

I had to use my vacation time from work to testify. The Forest Service officially fought it tooth and nail. They did not want to see another wilderness area established by Congress because it causes them special headaches, from a management standpoint. But a lot of the lower-level Forest Service people said, ‘Go get ‘em. That’s a fantastic area. That ought to be a wilderness.’Ken Croker to the LA Times

There is no official “San Mateo Peak,” although it is the highest point in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. And although you will see an elevation posted here on some versions of the USGS topographic map, there is no survey benchmark at the summit.
Today the Sierra Club maintains this trail along with all the others in the area. You can help them by volunteering.

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions

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Video Directions

Turn by Turn Directions

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions 5 — The trail starts behind the trail board.

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions 6 — You’ll have a nice downhill stretch on the Morgan Trail to start.

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions 7 — Keep your eyes open for a cut-back trail, just before the trail register. You’re going to want to take this.

San Mateo Peak Hike Directions 8 — If you were to go straight past the last junction, you would see a trail register and the Morgan Trail continuing.

Although this trail skirts in and out of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, I do recommend signing the trail register here, which helps the Forest Service understand trail traffic and (hopefully?) get more funding for trails.