Big Rock Road Trail - Hiking area in Santee - 8301 Big Rock Rd, USA

This is a really great trail. You get a good amount of exercise but it's not overwhelming. I find that there is a good breeze, and a fair amount of shade. Parking doesn't really seem to be a problem either.

Definitely worth the effort. You can make it up in less than an hour and your efforts will be rewarded with great views all around. Two great photo signs show you what you are looking at in both directions. This is a much quieter route up than the one most people take. The service road gets very steep near the end so step carefully on your return trip.

Our favorite local hike. The service road has some decent incline but the main trail is all age friendly as you will see once you get out there...Enjoy! PSA...please clean up after yourselves and your pets. Thank you

You can think of this as one of the "back ways" up Cowles Mountain. You'll encounter a fraction of people on the trail that you'll pass on the main trail (from Golfcrest). The first half of the hike is a somewhat narrow trail with dense foliage in most places; halfway up, it connects with the fire road. While the fire road itself isn't much to look at, it's here that you'll probably start stopping to take photos of the expansive vistas over east San Diego. The last portion of the fire road becomes rather steep and is the most challenging portion of the hike (watch your footing on the way back down; it's easy to start sliding if you go too fast). The fire road ends in a small saddle between the main peak and the communications tower area; from there you can scramble up a short set of stairs to the top and touch the mountain's plaque.

It's a nice trail a little on the difficult side. More so on a hot day bring lots of water. It is like others have posted a less crowded back way up cowles mountain.

Well marked paths. Good hiking experience.

I took the advice of locals and did this trail instead of the front of the mountain. So glad that I did. It looked like marching ants on the front of the mountain and I pretty much had this trail to myself

Its a very nice trail to get to the top of Cowles Mt. Much less traveled and not quite as rocky. There is a bit of a steep incline when you are getting close to the backside of the summit but it's not horrible. Bring water, hot days especially don't forget sunscreen, there is not shade.