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This review is for the Volcan Mountain Trail which was a 4.9 mile round trip hike that took about 2.5 hours to complete. Mostly a steady incline to the top with great views! Muddy in some areas from the recent rain. Parking is available on the side of the street. Short video of the hike for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHj_5gHL0L0
Awesome hike! I don't know why I've never been on this hike until recently?! It's such a good workout. About 5 miles round trip, elevation gain of about 1200, dog friendly. Plenty of parking on the streets. The trail opens at 8am. Dog friendly! Some shady area in the first mile. Gets super hot around spring and summer time. Bring plenty of water and some snacks. The first mile is the hardest with the highest elevation gains, then it tapers off and slow ascend. The peak doesn't have a lot of seating because when you get to the top it's a big loop, there wasn't a high point like most hikes, but still a good workout. There's a memorial bench but there were a lot of people around that area. We like this better than Cuyamaca. The last time Cuyamaca had too much trash at the top (we saw a trash pile of diapers and other trash). And Stonewall Peak had too many bees swarming at the top monument. Volcan had some bugs flying around but it was harmless.
Did the Volcan Mountain Trail, which is a 4.9 mile out and back trail with a 1,264 elevation gain (give or take). My boyfriend and I did this hike in mid-February on a cloudy day so the weather was great for hiking...although being from the Arizona desert, we were a little cold for part of the hike even with our three layers of clothing on. Even though it was in the upper 40s/low 50s, there was still some snow The hike is pretty, although it had snowed a few days prior so parts of the trail were rather muddy and the mud was rather goopy. Once you get to the top it's worth it though as the view is great. Definitely a moderate to difficult hike as it's a pretty good incline the whole way. You gain over 1,200 feet in just 2.45 miles so it was a decent workout. According to my Apple Watch, I burned over 1,200 calories doing this hike.
Third time doing this hike. This time I came with one of my BFs. Enjoyed the experience as much as the first time I hiked this trail. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. We got to the trailhead at 9:00am. There was plenty of parking spaces. We also lucked out with the porta potties. They had just been sprayed down. Chatted with some nice people along the way. Everyone was so willing to lend a hand to take pics for us. Wild flowers were in bloom. So colorful! Plenty of shade. Took our time to enjoy the scenery. It was my BF's first time, wanted her to take in everything at her own pace. Note: 1107 Farmer Rd. Julian, CA 92036 Make a left turn at the second Farmer Rd., not the first. Otherwise, you will end up at the winery. Don't need to carry a lot of water for the trail. One bottle was plenty. I only drank half. Happy hiking everyone!
This was my second time hiking Volcan Mountain Preserve in Julian. It was a hot day, scorching in fact, but my group wanted pie, and the pie would be our reward for a hike. Volcan mountain was just a 5 minute drive from Main-Street. Walking up the pathway to the gateway entrance to our hike, we were welcomed by the trademark heavy panel-doors of Volcan Mountain, decorated with metal accents, a play on the whimsy and mystery of the charming town of Julian. As we walked up the mountain-side, we stopped to look over the fields and green expanse that lay behind us. Our trek was spaced with rocky climbs and a flattened trail, tricky enough for us to work up an appetite, without too much strain or difficulty. An enjoyable hike!! When we'd had our fill of the views and the trek, we turned back and returned to Julian in the time-honoured tradition of après-hike apple pie for a sweet end to a special day.
If you find yourself in the quaint mountain town of Julian, CA looking to stretch your legs, I highly recommend the scenic 5 mile out-and-back hike up Vulcan Mountain. Despite being a moderate trail with over 5353 feet of elevation gain, the well-marked route makes the hike accessible and enjoyable. We found ample parking right off the road at the trailhead. There were even clean porta-potties here for one last pitstop before starting on our way. The trail was extremely dog-friendly for our pup, though we did see signs warning of mountain lions in the area. While we thankfully didn't spot any big cats, we did catch a glimpse of some large paw prints in the dirt! As we switchbacked under a lush forest canopy, we were treated to spectacular views of the Volcan Mountain Wilderness through breaks in the trees. The vista from the top of Vulcan Mountain was an incredible payoff for our efforts. We took triumphant photos in front of the commemorative summit sign to celebrate our achievement. After admiring the sights, we retraced our steps back to the car. The descent went quickly with the help of the thought of lunch waiting for us. With beautiful wooded scenery, capped off by a panoramic summit viewpoint overlooking Julian and beyond, this was a quintessential SoCal day hike that I'd take visitors on to showcase the natural beauty surrounding this charming mountain escape. Whether you stop for a slice of apple pie before or after, no trip to Julian is complete without conquering Vulcan Mountain!
Great hike! 5 miles round trip up and back... took 2-2.5 hours. I would rate it as moderate. I went 1/2/2021 and there was quite a bit of snow and ice, so bring good boots! Dogs are allowed on leash. There's one trashcan at the beginning (maybe 5 minutes walk from where you park your car on the street), and then no other trashcans. There were some porta-potties around that same spot too. Overall, would definitely come again. Got my heart going!
Peaceful hike out into the great outdoors! A couple of key points about this hike: 1) NO BATHROOMS 2) Mountain lions and rattlers can be found here 3) partial shade (wear sunscreen!) Today (6/28/18) I hiked Volcan Mountain. I began around 8:30am. I'd highly suggest using the "Easy 2 Hike" app. I used it because it was my first time doing his hike and the cell service was good and the app has a map and shows you were you are in relation to the hike. SO helpful! The hike is an intense climb so be prepared for the steep climb and some switch backs throughout the hike. The nice thing is, you can find some shade along the eastern side of the trail periodically because you're moving up the mountains through trees and then some open spaces. I did the shorter version of the hike. I went up until the lookout point where the Trail can loop back down the mountain on the road side (wider trail on this side). The hike was about 3 miles if you stop at the lookout point and then turn back and don't continue to the top of the mountain. I'll definitely be back to check out the WHOLE hike here. It's pretty relaxing and beautiful.
Parking is along the street and a short walk up a dirt road takes you to a really impressive entrance. Two port o potties were on site. This is a great trail, moderate. The first mile and a half it is steep and there are a few rocky areas as you ascend. There are two ways to get to the summit so I went to the right as the trail splits and did the loop. It is a wonderful trail through large oak trees, some shade, and a few switch backs and some beautiful views and wild life, mostly birds and lizards. As you get to the top you will see a large wooden bench with a plate and carvings, you made it to the summit. Views of majestic mountains, fields of tall grass, beautiful flowers, surround the area. On the opposite side you will see the Salton Sea in the distance and rolling landscape that takes your breath away it so beautiful. There is a man made rock chimney and information about the history of why it's there, check it out pretty fascinating. There is also information showing the different mountains in the surrounding area and a viewing station to get a closer look. Very enjoyable hike with amazing views.
Skip the crowded Apple Farms and hike up Volcan Mountain instead. Deep in Julian Apple Country off Farmer Road is a nice trail up to the Volcan Mountain summit. It's roughly 5.4 miles up and down ( though my tracker had it closer to 6 miles). It's a moderate hike, and if you're not accustomed to hiking up a mountain you might be in some trouble. Hard to say if it's kid friendly because there were kids hiking the trail, but it's not an easy hike. Tip - On the way up be sure to take the Five Oaks Trail alternative hike to the top..It's a real trail with some cool views of the valley. The "Path" trail is pretty boring... - Annoying little flies
There are NO bathrooms.. ok so now that this detail is out of the way.. this hike was so lovely! There was plenty of shade, and it was not overcrowded like the other hike we attempted to go to that day (cedar creek) which was 20 miles away and we found out requires a permit. My favorite part of this hike was towards the end when we reached a small stretch of forestry grove which led up to a meadow area near the top. This was right before the designated overlook area. Caution: there are rattlesnakes (we encountered two that were shaking it's rattlers) and very giant so be cautious when you're on the trail! Also there seems to be construction cars going through the preserve so when you are moving over for them to pass by, just remember there might be snakes close by. Enjoy your hike!
It was a great workout! From the gateway you go along the service road until you reach the trailhead to the five oaks trail. You can either contribute on the service road at this point or branch off onto the five oaks trail. My friend and I chose five oaks because it sounded like it would have more shade (we started hiking just after 9, and it was warm). As it turns out, the five oaks trail did have patches of shade, but not all of it was shaded. If hiking during warm weather definitely bring lots of water and a hat. The first part of this hike is all uphill, and then it levels out a bit. There were SO MANY bugs! My friend accidentally had one fly into her mouth when she was talking. We passed a guy with a big net on, so he had obviously been there before and knew what to come with. We also saw a second lady with a face mask on. The trail itself was very well maintained, and there were great views as you moved farther up the trail. I loved that they put benches here and there, and there were also signs with good info on them at various points on the trail. Still plenty of flowers out there as well! Overall, it was a great hike, though if I did it again I would definitely go in the spring, or late fall, when it cools down.
Hiked Saturday 8/1/2015 Mileage: 5.5 miles My best friend has been wanting to take me to Volcan to hike, and this past weekend we finally went! There are pros and cons to this place. Mostly pros. We left from Carlsbad around 7:30 am and it took us an hour and a half to get out there. Parking: free, you just park along Farmers Rd Trail head: well marked. There's two Volcan Mountain signs, one right next to the road and another further up the trail. The trail is well maintained. We took the main trail up and looped back on the 5 Oaks Trail. There were a ton of bugs in our face! We saw some people walk by with a bug net over their hats, I was so jealous I wish I had one! The man was like "$5.00 at Big 5!". Pretty trail considering you're still in San Diego County. Julian itself is a pretty lil city. The hike is pretty much all up hill. There's no real flat spot, you just keep going up till you get to the top where there's a bench. There's 2 benches, one next to a tower under a big tree, its shaded, and the other if you follow a lil trail across from the bench next to the tower, you will find a log bench with a good view of Julian. I've done a lot of hikes, and this one was not my favorite. There was no grand finale and it was kinda far to drive to. But we did a lot after our hike like grab a tasting at Julian Hard Cider and a slice of apple pie from Julian Pie Company. So it was a fun day trip.
It's a good hike to pair with a trip to Julian. My husband and I picked up sandwiches in town for a picnic on the trail. Parked next to the road and knew we were in the right place because of all the other cars. We made our hike a loop as we went up the mountain, taking the 5 Oaks Trail, and then came down using the Vulcan Mountain preserve trail. The 5 Oaks Trail has more of a view. There are a few seats to stop, sit (catch your breath) and enjoy the view. Sadly, we haven't had rain so it wasn't as green as I'm sure it would be on a normal January. Nevertheless, a great hike to work off all the apple pie you eat in Julian. read more
During a day trip to Julian, I was glad to see that there is a nature preserve with hiking trails in the area. I am happy to report that this is indeed a nice hike with beautiful views. I am so thankful for the nature available to us here, with the trees and pastures that construct a gorgeous landscape worth taking photos of with loved ones. read more
This review is for the Volcan Mountain Trail which was a 4.9 mile round trip hike that took about 2.5 hours to complete. Mostly a steady incline to the top with great views! Muddy in some areas from the recent rain. Parking is available on the side of the street. Short video of the hike for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHj_5gHL0L0 read more
Awesome hike! I don't know why I've never been on this hike until recently?! It's such a good workout. About 5 miles round trip, elevation gain of about 1200, dog friendly. Plenty of parking on the streets. The trail opens at 8am. Dog friendly! Some shady area in the first mile. Gets super hot around spring and summer time. Bring plenty of water and some snacks. The first mile is the hardest with the highest elevation gains, then it tapers off and slow ascend. The peak doesn't have a lot of seating because when you get to the top it's a big loop, there wasn't a high point like most hikes, but still a good workout. There's a memorial bench but there were a lot of people around that area. We like this better than Cuyamaca. The last time Cuyamaca had too much trash at the top (we saw a trash pile of diapers and other trash). And Stonewall Peak had too many bees swarming at the top monument. Volcan had some bugs flying around but it was harmless. read more
Did the Volcan Mountain Trail, which is a 4.9 mile out and back trail with a 1,264 elevation gain (give or take). My boyfriend and I did this hike in mid-February on a cloudy day so the weather was great for hiking...although being from the Arizona desert, we were a little cold for part of the hike even with our three layers of clothing on. Even though it was in the upper 40s/low 50s, there was still some snow The hike is pretty, although it had snowed a few days prior so parts of the trail were rather muddy and the mud was rather goopy. Once you get to the top it's worth it though as the view is great. Definitely a moderate to difficult hike as it's a pretty good incline the whole way. You gain over 1,200 feet in just 2.45 miles so it was a decent workout. According to my Apple Watch, I burned over 1,200 calories doing this hike. read more
Third time doing this hike. This time I came with one of my BFs. Enjoyed the experience as much as the first time I hiked this trail. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. We got to the trailhead at 9:00am. There was plenty of parking spaces. We also lucked out with the porta potties. They had just been sprayed down. Chatted with some nice people along the way. Everyone was so willing to lend a hand to take pics for us. Wild flowers were in bloom. So colorful! Plenty of shade. Took our time to enjoy the scenery. It was my BF's first time, wanted her to take in everything at her own pace. Note: 1107 Farmer Rd. Julian, CA 92036 Make a left turn at the second Farmer Rd., not the first. Otherwise, you will end up at the winery. Don't need to carry a lot of water for the trail. One bottle was plenty. I only drank half. Happy hiking everyone! read more
This was my second time hiking Volcan Mountain Preserve in Julian. It was a hot day, scorching in fact, but my group wanted pie, and the pie would be our reward for a hike. Volcan mountain was just a 5 minute drive from Main-Street. Walking up the pathway to the gateway entrance to our hike, we were welcomed by the trademark heavy panel-doors of Volcan Mountain, decorated with metal accents, a play on the whimsy and mystery of the charming town of Julian. As we walked up the mountain-side, we stopped to look over the fields and green expanse that lay behind us. Our trek was spaced with rocky climbs and a flattened trail, tricky enough for us to work up an appetite, without too much strain or difficulty. An enjoyable hike!! When we'd had our fill of the views and the trek, we turned back and returned to Julian in the time-honoured tradition of après-hike apple pie for a sweet end to a special day. read more
If you find yourself in the quaint mountain town of Julian, CA looking to stretch your legs, I highly recommend the scenic 5 mile out-and-back hike up Vulcan Mountain. Despite being a moderate trail with over 5353 feet of elevation gain, the well-marked route makes the hike accessible and enjoyable. We found ample parking right off the road at the trailhead. There were even clean porta-potties here for one last pitstop before starting on our way. The trail was extremely dog-friendly for our pup, though we did see signs warning of mountain lions in the area. While we thankfully didn't spot any big cats, we did catch a glimpse of some large paw prints in the dirt! As we switchbacked under a lush forest canopy, we were treated to spectacular views of the Volcan Mountain Wilderness through breaks in the trees. The vista from the top of Vulcan Mountain was an incredible payoff for our efforts. We took triumphant photos in front of the commemorative summit sign to celebrate our achievement. After admiring the sights, we retraced our steps back to the car. The descent went quickly with the help of the thought of lunch waiting for us. With beautiful wooded scenery, capped off by a panoramic summit viewpoint overlooking Julian and beyond, this was a quintessential SoCal day hike that I'd take visitors on to showcase the natural beauty surrounding this charming mountain escape. Whether you stop for a slice of apple pie before or after, no trip to Julian is complete without conquering Vulcan Mountain! read more
Great hike! 5 miles round trip up and back... took 2-2.5 hours. I would rate it as moderate. I went 1/2/2021 and there was quite a bit of snow and ice, so bring good boots! Dogs are allowed on leash. There's one trashcan at the beginning (maybe 5 minutes walk from where you park your car on the street), and then no other trashcans. There were some porta-potties around that same spot too. Overall, would definitely come again. Got my heart going! read more
Peaceful hike out into the great outdoors! A couple of key points about this hike: 1) NO BATHROOMS 2) Mountain lions and rattlers can be found here 3) partial shade (wear sunscreen!) Today (6/28/18) I hiked Volcan Mountain. I began around 8:30am. I'd highly suggest using the "Easy 2 Hike" app. I used it because it was my first time doing his hike and the cell service was good and the app has a map and shows you were you are in relation to the hike. SO helpful! The hike is an intense climb so be prepared for the steep climb and some switch backs throughout the hike. The nice thing is, you can find some shade along the eastern side of the trail periodically because you're moving up the mountains through trees and then some open spaces. I did the shorter version of the hike. I went up until the lookout point where the Trail can loop back down the mountain on the road side (wider trail on this side). The hike was about 3 miles if you stop at the lookout point and then turn back and don't continue to the top of the mountain. I'll definitely be back to check out the WHOLE hike here. It's pretty relaxing and beautiful. read more
Parking is along the street and a short walk up a dirt road takes you to a really impressive entrance. Two port o potties were on site. This is a great trail, moderate. The first mile and a half it is steep and there are a few rocky areas as you ascend. There are two ways to get to the summit so I went to the right as the trail splits and did the loop. It is a wonderful trail through large oak trees, some shade, and a few switch backs and some beautiful views and wild life, mostly birds and lizards. As you get to the top you will see a large wooden bench with a plate and carvings, you made it to the summit. Views of majestic mountains, fields of tall grass, beautiful flowers, surround the area. On the opposite side you will see the Salton Sea in the distance and rolling landscape that takes your breath away it so beautiful. There is a man made rock chimney and information about the history of why it's there, check it out pretty fascinating. There is also information showing the different mountains in the surrounding area and a viewing station to get a closer look. Very enjoyable hike with amazing views. read more
Skip the crowded Apple Farms and hike up Volcan Mountain instead. Deep in Julian Apple Country off Farmer Road is a nice trail up to the Volcan Mountain summit. It's roughly 5.4 miles up and down ( though my tracker had it closer to 6 miles). It's a moderate hike, and if you're not accustomed to hiking up a mountain you might be in some trouble. Hard to say if it's kid friendly because there were kids hiking the trail, but it's not an easy hike. Tip - On the way up be sure to take the Five Oaks Trail alternative hike to the top..It's a real trail with some cool views of the valley. The "Path" trail is pretty boring... - Annoying little flies read more
There are NO bathrooms.. ok so now that this detail is out of the way.. this hike was so lovely! There was plenty of shade, and it was not overcrowded like the other hike we attempted to go to that day (cedar creek) which was 20 miles away and we found out requires a permit. My favorite part of this hike was towards the end when we reached a small stretch of forestry grove which led up to a meadow area near the top. This was right before the designated overlook area. Caution: there are rattlesnakes (we encountered two that were shaking it's rattlers) and very giant so be cautious when you're on the trail! Also there seems to be construction cars going through the preserve so when you are moving over for them to pass by, just remember there might be snakes close by. Enjoy your hike! read more
It was a great workout! From the gateway you go along the service road until you reach the trailhead to the five oaks trail. You can either contribute on the service road at this point or branch off onto the five oaks trail. My friend and I chose five oaks because it sounded like it would have more shade (we started hiking just after 9, and it was warm). As it turns out, the five oaks trail did have patches of shade, but not all of it was shaded. If hiking during warm weather definitely bring lots of water and a hat. The first part of this hike is all uphill, and then it levels out a bit. There were SO MANY bugs! My friend accidentally had one fly into her mouth when she was talking. We passed a guy with a big net on, so he had obviously been there before and knew what to come with. We also saw a second lady with a face mask on. The trail itself was very well maintained, and there were great views as you moved farther up the trail. I loved that they put benches here and there, and there were also signs with good info on them at various points on the trail. Still plenty of flowers out there as well! Overall, it was a great hike, though if I did it again I would definitely go in the spring, or late fall, when it cools down. read more
Hiked Saturday 8/1/2015 Mileage: 5.5 miles My best friend has been wanting to take me to Volcan to hike, and this past weekend we finally went! There are pros and cons to this place. Mostly pros. We left from Carlsbad around 7:30 am and it took us an hour and a half to get out there. Parking: free, you just park along Farmers Rd Trail head: well marked. There's two Volcan Mountain signs, one right next to the road and another further up the trail. The trail is well maintained. We took the main trail up and looped back on the 5 Oaks Trail. There were a ton of bugs in our face! We saw some people walk by with a bug net over their hats, I was so jealous I wish I had one! The man was like "$5.00 at Big 5!". Pretty trail considering you're still in San Diego County. Julian itself is a pretty lil city. The hike is pretty much all up hill. There's no real flat spot, you just keep going up till you get to the top where there's a bench. There's 2 benches, one next to a tower under a big tree, its shaded, and the other if you follow a lil trail across from the bench next to the tower, you will find a log bench with a good view of Julian. I've done a lot of hikes, and this one was not my favorite. There was no grand finale and it was kinda far to drive to. But we did a lot after our hike like grab a tasting at Julian Hard Cider and a slice of apple pie from Julian Pie Company. So it was a fun day trip. read more
This is a real nice serene preserve, not well traveled or overcrowded busy. I saw a wild turkey twice, but no other animals (thank goodness, no snakes, bee hives, nor any predators) other than a few birds. The hike seemed like about 3 miles each way which is about 2 hours of leisure strolling and the grades of the hill are mild, not steep at all by my standards, and the main trail is well defined, so not easy to get lost if you stay on the path. If I were local, I'd see this as a good go-to place to take a nice walk for exercise. If you look at the ground it seems there's a lot of gold flakes in the dirt like the 1800's Gold Rush, but I think it's probably residual pyrite, iron sulfide a.k.a. fool's gold. It's easy to park and get in and out of. read more
5 years ago
I love this hike but my friend was having issues with her heart because the elevation it worth tho read more
5 years ago
This is not an easy hike but sure is fun to be in the fresh air above Julian. Park on the street below and make sure to bring plenty of water because its an uphill climb all the way :) Nice to have bathrooms at the beginning of the trail too. Dogs are welcome on a leash here. read more
Well I was feeling it was time to get back on the Trails and this is one Hiking trail you got to put on you list of hiking trails to do !! It starts off kind of flat but as you go up you can see lots of beautiful views along the way !! As you get closer to the top you can see there are markers that tell you how much more you have to reach the top . There are lots of areas where you can stop and take good pictures !! Volcan is an amazing hike and the beautiful scenery along the way is amazing !! It's an 5 mile hike total but a little up hill walk but not bad at all !! With the winter here it help with the snow . Seeing the snow along the path is beautiful and it helps with the views also !!! It's an hike I say is for everyone who loves to see an amazing view and it's just beautiful !! As you reach the top there are signs that tell you which peak is which Mountain !! You can see all the Peaks from the top !! So the rewards are super good !! I highly recommend you do this hike !! And enjoy !! There are little areas along the way that are kind of muddy but it's caused by the Snow . But that's ok !! I can see why it's going to be one of my favorites and I can see myself coming back and trying again !! read more
9 years ago
9 years ago
Beautiful views and great hike for peace and for fitness. There are some awesome off trails as well and really cool trees. The location is prime, it's not to crowded either. There are a lot of hawks so if your fur baby is small he careful!! After your hike stop off in town and get some pie :)) read more
Gorgeous trail, with beautiful views. Dog friendly. Good signage. Quick hike, mostly uphill on the way in and downhill out. The trail is really well maintained and is easy to access. We went on a weekday, so parking was easy. You have to park in the street, so I could see that causing an issue on the weekend. The trails are lined with oaks and breathtaking manzanitas. Would definitely come again. read more
9 years ago
Hiked this trail today (4/2/17) up to the summit and was pleased with the overall trek and trail conditions. It took a little over 2 hours total. In comparison to other popular trails in San Diego such as Iron Mountain and Mt. Woodson Trail (potato chip), I would say this one was significantly less crowded and has a lot more shaded areas. The trail itself is very straightforward and easy to access from Farmer Road. It is lined with beautiful manzanita trees on both sides. It is an incline hike pretty much all the way up with the first mile and a half or so being the steepest and most difficult. We did see quite a few people with dogs (which are allowed)-- I would strongly urge you to follow the sign notices and keep yours on a leash if you plan on bringing one! Reason being, we saw two very large rattlesnakes over the course of the hike right on the trail. These can be easily provoked by an overly excited furry friend. The summit had some great views of Julian and Poway. We've had a lot of rain recently so the surrounding areas were very green and there were a lot of flowers in bloom which made for some excellent photo taking. I would recommend trying to get an early start if you plan on hiking this trail as it did get pretty warm in the afternoon even in this cooler season. read more
ALTERNATIVE TO MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK. I wanted an alternative to Mission Trails due to the hot weather predicted for Aug. 11, 2018. I'd hiked at Mission Trails for 3 consecutive weekends, climbing a different peak on each weekend. And so, I did my homework and discovered Volcan Mountain. Another reason for making a change is that (now don't be upset by this) the hiking areas in Mission Trails are really (now, don't get mad at me) really, really ugly. Please note that I am spoiled and have 3 years of experience in hiking the mountain trails in Oahu, Kauaii, and the Big Island, and 20 years of experience hiking the coastal parks in northern California. CUYAMACA is another alternative. During my one visit to Cuyamaca in late August 2018, the entire park was a lush green. Although the shrubbery at Cuyamaca seems to be similar to that at Mission Trails, the amount of moisture and rain is greater. The fact that Cuyamaca historically gets much more water than Mission Trails is demonstrated by the many trees at Cuyamaca (unfortunately, many of these are charred from the tragic 2003 fire). "Cuyamaca" is pronounced like this: KOO-YAH-MAH-KAH. Similar to Chewbacca, but different. FINDING THE TRAILHEAD AT VOLCAN MTN. You will not find much in the way of road signs that provide instructions to motorists. And so, it is easy to get lost. Anyway, you start out in downtown metropolitan Julian. At the north end of Julian, and away from the rows of massive skyscrapers made of glistening steel and glass, you will find a little road called, "Farmer Road." You need to take Farmer Road until you reach a winery. This happens at a 4-way intersection with Wynola Road. Just ahead of you Farmer Road changes its name, and it becomes Julian Orchard Drive. Also, just in front of you at this intersection is Volcan Valley Apple Farm. But you must not drive straight ahead. Instead, you must turn right (turn to the east) on Wynola Road, and drive for another ten seconds. After driving ten seconds, you will reach a 3-way intersection, and here you must turn left (turn to the north). Then, you need to drive for another ten seconds or so, and that is where you will find the trailhead (this driving is on Farmer Road). Farmer Road is discontinuous, where one half extends north from Julian, and the other half extends north from Wynola Road). At the trailhead, there might be only a half dozen automobiles park. Or there might not be any automobiles at all. There is no visitor's center. And so, while driving on Farmer Road, you need to keep your eyes directed to the right (to the east) and look for the trailhead. If you don't see the trailhead and keep driving, you will eventually find Santa Ysabel East Preserve, which has a big parking lot and several hiking trails. Santa Ysabel East Preserve is now on my to-do list. SUMMIT OF VOLCAN MTN. The hike to the summit is easy. The trail is fairly smooth, unlike the back-breaking bumpy trail that takes you up and down Cowles Mountain at Mission Trails Regional Park. The hike to the summit of Volcan Mtn. begins with a mile of steep hiking, but most persons from the ages of seven to seventy can easily climb this part of the trail. If it is too steep for you, you can just pause and admire the beautiful manzanita trees that are nearby, or enjoy the gnarled oak trees that are everywhere, or instead take FIVE OAKS TRAIL. Five Oaks Trail has many spots that are cozy and hidden where you can discover various kinds of acorns, and where you can find beautiful Datura blossoms. Eventually, you reach an open area that is like a meadow, and beyond that are two groves of pine trees. The trail cuts through the middle of these groves. Just beyond that, is a broad vista where you can see mountains in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Once you have arrived at this broad vista, you have another 15 minutes of hiking on a very gradual trail that leads you to the summit. The summit has an abandoned beacon light for use by navigating airplanes, and there is an educational historic plaque that is mounted on a pole next to the tower. The summit has a circle of thick oak trees that are growing out of a pile of rocks. The trail makes a circular loop around this circle of oak trees. From the summit of Volcan Mtn., I was very pleased that I could see the road leading down Banner Grade. It was a road that I'd taken several times during my visits to and from Anza Borrego. MOUNTAIN LIONS. From my conversations with a representative of the county sheriff (he was hiking on the trail) and with a clerk at a large gift shop in Julian, I learned that mountain lions are frequent here. The main thing is this: DO NOT RUN FROM THEM. Also, be noisy and yell at them. What I did is I brought a 7-foot silver-colored camera tripod (10 pounds) and I carried it the whole way fully extended, in order to appear bigger and to confuse the lions into thinking that I was a radio tower. read more
A fun hike on a cool day. I'm sure it's also beautiful in the spring. I would hate to do this hike in the summer, as it isn't very shaded. We chose to veer off the main path and take the Five Oaks trail on the way up. It was a beautiful hike and was definitely a more intimate experience than the main trail. We took the main trail on the way back down from the summit. Took us about 2 - 2 1/2 hours at a leisurley pace. Lots of dog poop on this trail, though. Please clean up after your dog!! I know this is the wilderness, but you can still have some decency when your dog decides to go right in the middle of the trail! read more
15 years ago
Volcan O mountain, lions rattlesnakes streams running down trails, great view thin air fresh, rarely any humans, quiet, still bees birds and me perhaps a bowl pack be careful, no smoking just, the great outdoors, and sage, lotsa sage rocks frogs ribbit in the distance lizards scatter below feet, maybe some snow, ok time to head back down to the O Volcan. read more
I can't believe it took this long for me to visit Volcan Mountain. Parking is available on the side of Farmer Road in the little agricultural area just north (2 miles) of Julian. You have to walk up a gravel drive about 1/4 mile to reach the park entrance, which is a spectacular gateway of boards set to look like the very mountain itself. The boards on the inner portions of the passage are carved with both traditional (native) and modern American iconography. Pretty cool. The hike up is rather steep, but it is overall fairly short. Not longer nor much steeper than the climb up Cowles Mountain (about 6 round trip, and I recommend taking the 5 Oaks Trail on at least one of the directions). The area has not been burned recently (unlike much of the surrounding mountains) so you really see what the back country can be like without fires. There are sweeping meadows, forest of Pine and Oak, and at the top some breathtaking views that span from the Oceans to the peaks of Cuyamaca, Laguna, and then east to the Salton Sea over the Anza Borrego State Park. I visited in mid-May and the wild flowers were amazing as well. Summer and Fall this place will be blazing hot in the late mornings and afternoons, so be prepared. There is no water and no restroom facility. read more
5 years ago
I just love a good hike! I really love a good hike if I can bring my pups with me. This place is great! Tons of amazing view points and shaded areas. I took the dirt road all the way up and the 5 oaks on the way back down. I couldn't be happier. There are no bathrooms so bring biodegradable TP just in case and a lot of water. There is a lot of food for foraging if you are into that and make sure you bring a pocket knife just in case you have a mountain lion encounter. read more
7 years ago
Headed up to Julian to escape San Diego June gloom and the Volcan Mountain Trail was the perfect place to go! We started at about 9:30 and it was a very temperate 60 degrees. The entrance is super cool and there is quite a bit of shade during the first half up. I'm not going to lie-coming from sea level, it felt steep at first. But we got used to it. The views are breathtaking, it is a calm and serene hike, and there are several points where you get a nice breeze. It's a great workout, nice escape into nature, very well marked trail and about 5 miles round trip. (It took about an hour up and 45 minutes down). We got down just as the sun started to really feel hot. Definitely bring water and sunscreen! Celebrated with Julian apple pieHighly recommend this hike! read more
7 years ago
I did this trail after a snowy week and to my surprise there was still plenty of snow along the way. Luckily I did the whole course and I did not regret it! A beautiful trail to be appreciated any time of the year. read more
14 years ago
Visit Volcan Mountain. The views from the summit of Anza Borrego and the valley are delightful. The trail to the summit is closed during winter months so plan your trip accordingly. The trails are steep but with a number switchbacks, the hike up can be made even for those who are out of shape. I went about 8am on a Sunday morning and only saw about a dozen people heading up the trail when I was on the way back down. It was a good time to go because the fog was just breaking along surrounding area, which added to the wonderful views. read more
Went on a rainy day in the morning and loved it! Initially hard to find because there are two Farmer's Rds, make sure to take the second left on Farmers if you're coming from the West. It's the road that DOESN'T have the wineries. We were lost for a little. The mountain was so beautiful in the fog and the trees provided enough coverage so we didn't get that wet. Make sure to take Five Oaks Trail to the top for the most beautiful scenery. From the summit, we took the main trail down because it was starting to rain harder. The hike took about 3 hours or so, we stopped for pictures and breaks. Kind of slippery going uphill in the mud, but it wasn't so bad with boots. Parking is super easy, just park along Farmer's Rd. Looking forward to going back on a sunny day to see those views! read more
One of my FAVORITE hikes!! I took the normal trail up and the five oaks trail down(since it was steeper). There is a PERFECT bench with an amazing view of luscious green valleys at the top of the five oaks trail. Also a PERFECT picnic table at the top for a snack break :) Hike was ~5.2 miles RT read more
5 years ago
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1209 Farmer Rd
Julian, CA 92036
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3 years ago
Volcan Mountain Preserve - hiking - Updated July 2026
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