

Corte Madera Mountain Hike
- 7 miles - Moderate Effort
- Or: 11 miles with Los Pinos Fire Tower
- 3-4 Hours (Total)
- Expect to See Some Other Hikers
- 1,600 Total Feet of Climbing
- Max Elevation of 4,657 feet
- Leashed Dogs Allowed
Nestled in San Diego's backcountry is Corte Madera, a 500-foot sheer cliff face known as “San Diego's Half Dome.” In this guide, I'll show you how to hike to the top: no cables or scary parts included. I'll also include a side trip to Los Pinos Mountain, home to a fire tower since 1925. The hike has some uphill sections but is doable for almost everyone.
- Video and Turn By Turn Directions
- How to Get to the Trailhead
- What to Watch Out For & Insider Tips
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.
Where is Corte Madera Mountain?
There's no official parking lot for Corte Madera Mountain, but there is a sand parking lot on the side of the road. The drive there includes some small roads will potholes, but it is doable by all cars. Expect to go slower in the last couple of miles to the trailhead.
The location of the trailhead is in Campo, CA, at 32.736174, -116.555995, and there is a Google Maps address that has popped up too. You'll see signs for the nearby Coral Canyon OHV Area.


Gear For the Hike

If you're unfamiliar with the San Diego backcountry, summers can be scorching, and winters can be below freezing. The best season for this hike is in the winter when the temperatures are cooler, and the plants are green.
Corte Madera is a backcountry hike, and you should pack the essentials. Generally, 2L of water works well, as do trail runners and trekking poles. Cellular service is sketchy, so bring your satellite communicator.
My Latest Gear Picks
Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )
As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.
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Corte Madera Trail Maps
In this guide, I'll show you how to hike to Corte Madera and then add a side trip to the fire tower at Los Pinos Mountain. Including the Los Pinos extension adds about 4 miles to the total distance.
Explore Map on CalTopoView a Printable PDF Hike MapDownload the Hike GPX File
Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX
Elevation Profile

3D Map

Corte Madera Hike Directions
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The cliff face of Corte Madera can be closed during nesting season. This mainly affects climbers, but it's worth checking the closure alerts before you leave just in case.






Corte Madera means "woodyard." The early Spanish settlers used this area to fell lumber to build the Mission San Diego. As you start hiking up Los Pinos road, you'll start to see the Coutler Pines that they used.





As you approach the summit you'll see several spots used by others for backcountry camping. If you'd like to camp, you'll need to get a backcountry permit.




From the summit, head back down to the big intersection by the Espinosa Trail and Los Pinos Road.

Los Pinos Mountain Hike Extension






From Los Pinos Mountain, just go back the way you came to the Espinosa Trail and then back down that to the start.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.