Garnet's Grand Vista

Hike to Garnet Peak Outside of Julian in San Diego County

06.14.2023

On your next trip to beautiful Julian, get out of town! But only for a day trip to the Laguna Mountains. Located just a few miles east, this area has some of San Diego’s best hiking trails, including two short hikes with perhaps the best vistas in the entire county: the 2.4-mile trek to Garnet Peak and the 1.6-mile out-and-back on the PCT from Kwaaymii Point. (Check the forecast before going because excessive heat and hot days make it too dangerous to hike, even if the hikes are short.)

Park in the tiny dirt lot off the side of the highway and find the trail heading northeast through a narrow opening in the barrier. The hulking 5,900-foot summit of Garnet Peak rises in the distance, but the rocky trail starts out flat as it meanders through often overgrown shrubbery. (In spring and early summer it’s a fantastical sight—incredible dense patches of purple lupines frame the trail.) After 0.6 mile, the rocky ascent begins at a four-way trail junction. Head straight and keep going up. You’ll net a little more than 500 feet over the next 0.6 mile, with views of the rolling hills to the south and the surrounding Lagunas.

The trail becomes a bit technical at the top, so watch your footing as you climb up to the summit. Find a boulder to perch upon but hold onto your hat: It gets really windy up here! The vistas are amazing, with the surrounding forest, the ocean (on clear days) and—most dramatically—the expansive Anza-Borrego desert to the east. It’s a breathtaking sight, and that’s not just because of the altitude. 

Head down the same way you came, being careful on the initial tricky descent. On your drive back to Julian, don’t miss the Kwaaymii Point Trail, a portion on the PCT that sits a bit north of Garnet Peak’s trailhead. This easy 1.6-mile out-and-back offers constant epic panoramas of the desert and is a less windy spot for a picnic. Now that’s viewtiful!

BONUS: If you want to explore more the Laguna Mountain Visitor Information Center is a great place to start. It’s also a great place for a post-hike meal—the Outpost by Valley Farm is just across the street and serves up delicious bbq and beer (is there a better post-mountain-hiking meal?). Get the ribs and some fixin’s or, if you’re with a group, try the sampler platter to taste all their meats.

IMPORTANT: Check temperatures before hiking these or any trails. Excessive heat makes hiking very dangerous and both people and their dogs should not be hiking on hot days. To get to the Garnet Peak trailhead, take the CA-79 16 miles southeast from Julian (Kwaaymii Point is 2.5 miles north of Garnet Peak). The Outpost and visitor center is an additional 4.6 miles southeast on the CA-79. You will need an Adventure Pass. Dog-friendly!

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik, @mattitudehikes

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View