What is the San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks, and which hikes are in it?
A self-paced, year-long hiking challenge: pick six of seven county peaks, from Volcan Mountain (5 miles) to El Cajon Mountain (11 miles, 4,000 feet of climbing). Membership was $60 a year in 2026.
- Peaks
- Pick 6 of 7
- Hardest
- El Cajon Mtn
- Highest
- 6,533 ft
- 2026 cost
- $60/yr
Self-paced
~4,000 ft gain
Hot Springs Mountain
Or $6.99/month
The short version
- The challenge runs Jan. 1 to Dec. 31; the 2026 edition was its 6th annual San Diego run.
- Choose six of seven: Volcan, Corte Madera, Cuyamaca, Hot Springs, High Point, El Cajon and Mount Woodson.
- El Cajon Mountain climbs about 4,000 feet in 11 miles and closes for the month of August.
- Hot Springs Mountain, the county high point at 6,533 feet, is on the Los Coyotes Reservation, which charges an entry fee.
- 2026 membership was $6.99 a month or $60 a year, and it supports Big City Mountaineers.
The Six-Pack of Peaks is a hiking challenge run by SoCal Hiker's Social Hiker community since 2015, with editions for SoCal, NorCal, Arizona and San Diego. The San Diego version picks iconic county summits and lets you hike them in any order over the calendar year. Finishers get bragging rights; members get a welcome packet with stickers, a hiker tag and an enamel pin, and log each summit online.
How much climbing each peak takes
Recommended Six-Pack routes, total elevation gain
Social Hiker challenge pages. Cuyamaca varies by route and is omitted.
| Peak | Summit | Route length | Know before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volcan Mountain | 5,353 ft | 5.1 mi | Near Julian; the usual first hike |
| Corte Madera | 4,633 ft | 6.7 mi | Pine Creek Wilderness granite dome |
| Cuyamaca Peak | 6,512 ft | Varies | State park; paved fire road to the top, dogs allowed only on paved roads |
| Mount Woodson | 2,881 ft | 7.4 mi | Optional alternate; Potato Chip Rock on the way |
| Hot Springs Mountain | 6,533 ft | 10.2 mi | County high point, on the Los Coyotes Reservation (entry fee) |
| El Cajon Mountain | 3,675 ft | 11 mi | Closed in August for heat; lot closes at sunset |
| High Point (Palomar) | 6,138 ft | 13.8 mi | Longest route; snow possible in winter |
Volcan Mountain
- Summit
- 5,353 ft
- Route length
- 5.1 mi
- Know before you go
- Near Julian; the usual first hike
Corte Madera
- Summit
- 4,633 ft
- Route length
- 6.7 mi
- Know before you go
- Pine Creek Wilderness granite dome
Cuyamaca Peak
- Summit
- 6,512 ft
- Route length
- Varies
- Know before you go
- State park; paved fire road to the top, dogs allowed only on paved roads
Mount Woodson
- Summit
- 2,881 ft
- Route length
- 7.4 mi
- Know before you go
- Optional alternate; Potato Chip Rock on the way
Hot Springs Mountain
- Summit
- 6,533 ft
- Route length
- 10.2 mi
- Know before you go
- County high point, on the Los Coyotes Reservation (entry fee)
El Cajon Mountain
- Summit
- 3,675 ft
- Route length
- 11 mi
- Know before you go
- Closed in August for heat; lot closes at sunset
High Point (Palomar)
- Summit
- 6,138 ft
- Route length
- 13.8 mi
- Know before you go
- Longest route; snow possible in winter
Social Hiker San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks pages (2021, 2025, 2026 editions), checked Nov. 8, 2026.
The order most people use
A sensible progression
- 01
Start with Volcan or Woodson
Short, well-marked, and good for testing your pace.
- 02
Corte Madera and Cuyamaca next
Longer days at higher elevation; Cuyamaca charges state park day-use.
- 03
Hot Springs on a cool day
Rough dirt road access and a steep upper trail; check that the reservation is open.
- 04
Finish with El Cajon and High Point
The two biggest days. Start early, carry more water than you think, and skip them in heat.
Want a warm-up first? Try the Mission Trails 5-Peak Challenge, Cowles Mountain or Potato Chip Rock. Some peaks need a Forest Adventure Pass at the trailhead.
Six-Pack peaks
Summit points from OpenStreetMap (Volcan is the trail). High Point on Palomar not pinned. Trailheads differ; use the route guides.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 8, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
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SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
Social Hiker · 2026
6th annual; Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026; pick six of seven; $6.99/mo or $60/yr
Social Hiker · 2025
Peak elevations, distances, El Cajon August closure, Woodson alternate
Social Hiker · 2021
Volcan, Woodson, High Point route stats; Big City Mountaineers; Los Coyotes fee
Axios San Diego · Jan. 5, 2026
Seven options, pick six; El Cajon lot closes at sunset