San Diego Hikes: South Fortuna Loop
Mission Trails Regional Park introduced the 5-Peak Challenge in 2015 in order to get hikers to explore more trails. South Fortuna is the shortest mountain in the challenge, but it is just as challenging as the higher peaks. This is a 6-mile loop hike that lets you experience both sides of South Fortuna.
- Starting Point: West Fortuna Staging Area parking lot at eastern end of Clairemont Mesa Blvd
- Length: 6 miles
- Elevation: 800 foot gain and loss
- Type: Loop
NOTE SPRING 2020: The West Fortuna area of Mission Trails Regional Park is undergoing construction activity on the water line until Winter 2022. This has included closing the parking lot at West Fortuna Staging Area. However, most trails are open. There may be some detours and construction conditions can change regularly. Before hiking you can check the official map for the project to look for current conditions. There will also be updates on the official website for Mission Trails.
You can find full information on the 5-Peak Challenge at our full guide to hiking Mission Trails Regional Park. Basically the 5-Peak Challenge was created because Cowles Mountain, the highest point in the city of San Diego was too crowded. The idea was to get hikers climbing the four other mountains in the park.
At 1094 feet, South Fortuna is 500 hundred feet shorter than Cowles Mountain. However, the hike up South Fortuna can be more challenging. Not only is it a longer hike but you need to hike down before you head up the mountain.
The main starting point for South Fortuna is the West Fortuna Staging Area. As the crow flies this is only a short distance from the Mission Trails Visitor Center. However, by car, it is a 10-mile drive.
There is an option to do the hike starting from the visitor center. We will add that hike later. The “official” route for South Fortuna on the 5-Peak Challenge map is an out-and-back route along the south side. However, we like to do this hike as a loop. We go up the official route, but hike back down via the north side. hike, starting from the West Fortuna Staging Area is the official recommended route for the 5-Peak Challenge.
Note you can do this hike in reverse. However, we recommend going up the steeper south side and going down the more moderate north side. This creates less risk of a twisted ankle going down and also gives you more of a workout.
For a more complete summary you can see the seperate posts on each section. We have the official South Fortuna Hike here and the hike up South Fortuna via North Fortuna here (note this hike does that hike in reverse).
You can download the official 5-Peak Challenge map here.
The West Fortuna Staging Area is at the end of Clairemont Mesa Road in the Tierrasanta community. There is a large parking lot and also plenty of street parking. Just note the gates are locked at dusk.
From the parking lot you will cross a bridge to your first intersection. At this point you will turn left and walk a very short distance uphill (a 100 yards or so) to a narrow trail that heads down to your right.
This trail is the Clairemont Mesa connector trail. It is a short, narrow 0.2 mile trail that connects the parking lot to the Fortuna Saddle service road (Fortuna Saddle Trail West). The trail goes down hill and then up a short staircase to the service road.
At the service road you will start the loop. You will be coming back on your left but here you turn right and walk about 100 yards to an immediate left turn. The trail ahead leads to the Quarry Loop. You do NOT want to go on the Quarry Loop but instead head left following signs towards the San Diego River Crossing Trail and the South Fortuna Trail.
This trail is still part of the many service roads in the park. It goes uphill slightly giving you nice views of all the mountains in Mission Trails Regional Park. Below you to the right is the visitor center area of the park. On your right the River Crossing Trail will branch off towards the Mission Trails Visitor Center.
Right past the River Crossing Trail, at about 0.8 miles into the hike you will come to a meeting of four trail. You want to take the narrow downhill trail to the right, Suycott Valley Trail. This trail leads down to the foot of South Fortuna.
At the bottom you will come to a clearing with a picnic area where several trails meet. You want to head right on the official start of South Fortuna Trail. At this point you have come about 1.3 miles, it is now 1.2 miles up to the summit. If you are tired now is a good time to turn around as the trail gets much steeper.
South Fortuna Trail loops to the south, parallel to the mountain. After a steady climb, the trail curves to the north directly toward the top of the mountain.
At about 0.5 miles from the summit you come to the short, but steep South Fortuna Staircase. These stairs climb directly up with some minor rock scrambling in the portion.
At the top of the stairs you turn left and walk along a plateau 0.4 miles to the summit. This is only a minor elevation gain.
When you reach the summit be sure and take a picture by the sign to get credit for the 5-Peak Challenge.
From the summit you will continue north on South Fortuna Trail down the other side of the mountain. This trail is a fairly gradual descent to the Fortuna Saddle West trail 0.6 miles away. Fortuna Saddle is a major crossroads in Mission Trails. The power line that runs through the park meets here and is a great landmark.
Turning left at Fortuna Saddle, the service road heads to the east down to the East Fortuna area, including Old Mission Dam. Going straight goes up to the top of North Fortuna Mountain. You want to head turn left and head west downhill along the power line.
At this point you could follow the Saddle Trail service road along the power line all the way to the Clairemont Mesa Trail connector that takes you back to the parking lot. However, we prefer a more scenic route that avoids the power line and service road.
The service road has a steep down hill section. As the service road starts to level off, the Suycott Valley Connector Trail splits off to the right. You want to take this trail off the service road.
You will head down and keep bearing to your right on the Suycott Valley Alternate Trail about 1.1 miles from the summit. The trail will start to head up to the Four Corners area,.
At Four Corners, 0.7 miles from the saddle you want to head left to pick up the Rim Trail. This trail is very well marked. For bearings you can look for the power line and the 2 blue towers. The Rim Trail will take you to this point.
You will see multiple trails that split off from the Rim Trail. The good news is that most of these trails will eventually reach your goal, the West Fortuna Staging Area.
The Rim Trail ends at the power line and blue towers. From here you walk down toward your left on either of two short trails that meet the Saddle Trail.
Head right downhill on the Saddle Trail the short distance to where you started the loop at the Clairemont Mesa Trail. At this point you follow the Clairemont Mesa Trail the way you came back to the parking lot.
For more detail you see our separate posts on hiking South Fortuna via the north side and the south side of the mountain. This hike combines those two hikes.
For more hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park be sure and check out our full guide.
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