A sign warns that this is the most strenuous trail in the county. It is not joking. The path is rarely flat and in some places is so steep that it is best tackled on all fours. There is little shelter, and no water, so it is probably safest not to attempt it in summer. However, the rewarding panorama from the summit (below) is well worth the effort.

El Cajon Mountain (3675 feet), also known as El Capitan, is located near the Lakeside district of San Diego. The El Capitan Open Space was badly damaged by fire in 2003, after these photographs were taken.