San Diego Hikes: South Fortuna Mountain via North Fortuna
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 guide to hiking South Fortuna mountain from the north side along the saddle trail to North Fortuna mountain
- Starting Point: West Fortuna Staging Area parking lot at eastern end of Clairemont Mesa Blvd
- Length: 6.8 miles
- Elevation: 800 foot gain and loss
- Type: out-and-back with loop option
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.
There is an option to do the hike starting from the visitor center. We will add that hike later. There is also a hike starting from the same point at the West Fortuna Staging Area that is the official recommended route for the 5-Peak Challenge. That official route goes up the south side of the mountain. This hike goes up the north side.
You can go here to see the South Fortuna Trail hike that takes you up the south side. The hike in this post climbs the South Fortuna Mountain from the north side.
Our recommendation is to combine this hike with the official South Fortuna Trail to complete a 6-mile loop. In this case our suggestion would be to go up the South Fortuna trail and go down using this route. In other words, you would be doing this hike in reverse. We have created a separate post that has directions for this loop hike.
The official South Fortuna Trail has a steeper section near the end. By doing this hike as an out-and-back you can avoid that section. The reason for doing this portion as the downhill is that I like to go up steep sections but prefer to go down the easier route. You get the exertion of climbing without as much danger of a steep descent.
You can download the official 5-Peak Challenge map here.
The main starting point for both South Fortuna hikes 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.
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.
It should be noted that this area of Mission Trails has many hiking trails going off in all directions. Following the official trail can be a challenge, even with a map. The good news is that most trails will take you to the right place.
There are plenty of signs but in general you want to head straight from the parking lot towards the mountain. However, this hike does NOT go up via the South Fortuna Trail. Instead it goes up the north side via the Fortuna Saddle Trail that runs between North and South Fortuna mountain.
The good news about hiking in an open space like Mission Trails is there are plenty of obvious landmarks. With this hike there is a power line that runs from the near parking lot to the saddle area between North Fortuna and South Fortuna mountain. If you follow the power line to the east, North Fortuna will be on your left and South Fortuna is on your right.
With this hike you will go up to Rim Trail at the highest point of the power line. From here you will head north along Rim Trail and down into Suycott Valley. From here you climb to Fortuna Saddle. At this point, you meet back up with the power line and can turn left to North Fortuna or right to South Fortuna mountain.
The main thing to keep in mind is that you want to reach the spot where the power line runs between the two mountains. Our guide is one of only several options to reach that point.
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 Trail
This short connector trail takes you down a short distance before climbing a staircase to the main trail on a service road. At the service road you will go right for a very short distance (about 100 yards).
The Clairemont Mesa Trail ends on the Saddle Trail service road. At this point, this hike deviates from the official South Fortuna Trail hike. You turn right on the service road for South Fortuna Trail. For this hike you want to go left and head uphill along the service road toward the power lines. In the distance you will see two blue towers at the top of the rim. You are heading towards those towers.
The hike to the blue towers is about 0.3 miles. When you reach the top clearing area by the power lines and towers you want to head right along Rim Trail. At this point you can look along the power lines and clearly see the two Fortuna peaks. On the left is North Fortuna and on the right is South Fortuna Mountain. You will be meeting up with the trail at the point where the power line runs between the two mountains. This is Fortuna Saddle.
At this point you could take a more direct route along the Saddle Trail road to Fortuna Saddle. However, this route is more scenic and you avoid the service road and power lines. Whichever way you go your goal at this point is Fortuna Saddle West.
At this point you will be following Rim Trail. Rim Trail will head towards an area called Four Corners. This point is where multiple trails meet, about 1.5 miles from the West Fortuna Staging Area parking lot.
At Four Corners there is a clearing and a bike repair stand. You want to bear right towards the narrow Suycott Valley Alternate Trail that heads down into the valley.
The Suycott Valley Alternate Trail meets with the Suycott Connector Trail. Both will get you to Fortuna Saddle but you want to bear left, following the signs. You will be down in the valley with Fortuna Saddle and the powerlines above you.
The trail will start to head up to met the Fortuna Saddle Trail. At this point the power line will come into clear view. The trail will meet the service road and follow the road up hill to the saddle.
As you reach Fortuna Saddle the first turn off you see is on your left to North Fortuna mountain. You can actuall add an extra 1.2 miles to the hike by climbing North Fortuna and coming back the same route.
For this hike continue a short distance past the North Fortuna turnoff to a sign and the right turnoff to South Fortuna Mountain. This is the official South Fortuna Trail. The summit is 0.6 miles away at this point.
At this point you simply follow the trail up to the summit. Along the ways you can enjoy 360 degree views of San Diego
When you reach the summit you can take a picture by the South Fortuna Mountain marker. When you climb all five mountains you can submit your picture to compete the 5-peak challenge.
At this point you can head back the way you came or continue down South Fortuna Trail to complete a loop. South Fortuna trail goes down a very steep section called the South Fortuna staircase. Therefore, we recommend that if you want to do this loop hike you climb up via the stairs and go down via this hike. In other words, you would do this hike in reverse as the second half coming down from the summit.
To see our hike up South Fortuna Trail go here. You would do this hike in reverse to go down.
We have a full guide to our recommended loop hike. Doing just this hike as an out-and-back can be a good option if you do not like steep climbs. It also is a great option if you want to try and climb both North Fortuna and South Fortuna mountain in one hike.
For more hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park be sure and check out our full guide. We also have a regularly updated hiking guide.
