Looking back at Cowles Mountain from Pyles Peak

The Trail up to Pyles Peak from the Big Rock Trailhead

Distance: 8.55 miles. Elevation Gain: 1940 feet . Time to complete: 3-4 hours.

To get to the Big Rock Trail Head, take 52 east or west depending on where you are coming from and get off on the Mission Gorge Road exit. Head west and take a left at the first stop light onto Mesa Road. As soon as you pass the mobile home park on your right you should see a public park (Big Rock Park). Park at the end of the park on the street and the trail head should be right there.

I decided to take advantage of the cloudy day today and get my cardio in with a hike rather then a machine. This hike is easy to get to and gives you a great place for a workout. It is a moderate hike, but on a hot day you may want to bring a little extra water and a little snack for some energy. Once you find the trail head head out, don’t worry when you immediately see the trail split, it come back together soon. Just keep heading up and you should be fine, keep an ear open for bikers with bear bells on this trail, this seems to be the only trail I’ve hiked on where I hear the bikers coming down the trail because of the bear bell, I thank them for that courtesy. Once the trail hooks up with the dirt service road, head right and continue on up towards the top of Cowles Mountain. Once you get to the top, take a breather, take in the views and then head on back to the dirt road, just as it heads slightly down and to the right where the antennas are you should see the start to the Pyles Peak trail. One thing you will notice on this trail if you are used to hiking on Cowles Mountain is how empty it is. The front trail can be packed going up to Cowles Mountain and I’ll hardly see a soul on this trail, by going up the backside of Cowles Mountain and then connecting to this trail its a nice way of keeping away from the crowds. Follow this trail until you see a squared off area to the left of the trail for “trail habitat restoration” at that point take a right and head up the mountain until the trail ends. Have fun and enjoy the solitude.