Hiking Trail Guide: El Toro Peak

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El Toro Peak

Distance
3.25 miles

Elevation
1000 feet gain

Difficulty
3/10

City
Mountain Center ,CA (92561) 109.05 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
Take Highway 74 East from Hemet about 22 miles. You will pass through lovely Garner Valley, and get great views of the Desert Divide. San Jacinto and Tahquitz. The roads in the Santa Rosas are remarkably signed, so you should have no trouble finding the turnoff to Santa Rosa Road. If you have a low-clearance vehicle, you will have a slow time, and maybe wish you had four wheel drive. The dirt road winds up the mountain for 11.5 miles to a locked gate. Park here and walk a mile and a quarter up the road to another locked gate where you finish the steep ascent to the peak, past some ugly and noisy military junk.

Description

This is an incredibly easy hike. The first mile and a quarter is on a well graded, steady uphill road that any member of the family should be able to walk with a little bit of effort. The last quarter mile is quite a bit steeper, but should provide the feeling of attaining a peak, especially for a small child.

The only problem with this hike, besides walking on a road the whole way, is the ugly, smelly, noisy and unsightly military outpost on the top. I read that this was once a craggy peak in the 70's. It is a shame that anyone was allowed to put radio towers atop this peak.

The view is perhaps the best in Southern California. From here you can see the entire Salton Sea, San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, Angeles NF, Cleveland National Forest, The Cuyamacas, Anza-Borrego, Joshua Tree, and much much more. It would be a 360' panorama without the towers in the way. Still the view is superb. I spent my time looking away from the towers.

Map / Directions: