San Diego: Fortuna Mountains Loop
Stuck in the city? Bag two peaks on this 7.9-miler in the rugged hills and valleys of Mission Trails Regional Park, just a few miles from downtown.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 12.4
Waypoints
FML001
Location: 32.8254203796387, -117.076400756836
Head N and cross bridge on Rim Trail into sage scrub zone
FML002
Location: 32.8257675170898, -117.073799133301
Stay L @ Y and begin 200-ft. climb along edge of canyon
FML003
Location: 32.833179473877, -117.07209777832
Hit ridgecrest and go L @ T, dropping in and out of a pocket canyon
FML004
Location: 32.838020324707, -117.07689666748
R @ Y; follow steep, 200-ft. drop into a chaparral blanketed wash, then curl around its edge
FML005
Location: 32.8426284790039, -117.082801818848
Head E into the sometimes-wet, rolling sinews of Shepherd Canyon and meet up with North Fortuna Loop Trail
FML006
Location: 32.8501815795898, -117.070098876953
L @ T, heading uphill into small gully
FML007
Location: 32.8526306152344, -117.066703796387
L, then R; begin steep, 400-ft. climb along North Fortuna’s NW slope
FML008
Location: 32.8468399047852, -117.060699462891
Reach chaparral-dotted summit of North Fortuna Mtn. for 360-degree views; head S down ridgeline to South Fortuna
FML009
Location: 32.8351707458496, -117.05525970459
Knob of South Fortuna Mtn. (1,094 ft.): precipitous initial drop from peak along walls of Mission Gorge, then gradual 500-ft. descent into valley; curl N through oak forest
FML010
Location: 32.835521697998, -117.063598632812
L @ 4-way and cross seasonal creeklet at the head of Suycott Wash; steep 200-ft. climb to ridge
FML011
Location: 32.8294792175293, -117.068603515625
Confusing intersection on top of mesa: take soft L and head S
FML012
Location: 32.8259811401367, -117.070503234863
R @ T; cross stream and return .2 mi. back to trailhead