South Swartz Canyon Trail

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

This trail follows Swartz Creek as it passes through the San Diego Country Estates and then passes on the east side of Stone Mountain. The trail has several different characteristics - more technical climbs and descents on the north side of the trail, and fast, cool rides under the trees for the remainder of the trail.

The trail starts with an open climb up to a saddle in the ridge. At the summit, a short walk to the right brings you to an amazing overlook with the neighborhood spread out beneath you and mountains ringing the valley. It's worth a few photographs.

Then the trail drops through some steep switchbacks until you reach Swartz Creek bed. Usually dry, the creek does flow after some rains, keeping the riparian ecosystem in this shallow canyon green and cool. The trail winds around and beside the creek, eventually crossing over Watt Road and then passing around the east side of Stone Mountain.

A few technical rocks in the trail add some interest to the trail and can be challenging for some to climb over and descend, but walking through them is easy and quick. There is an old concrete dam structure hidden behind the trees near some of the rocks. The trail parallels Ramona Oaks Road, but you can't see any other homes or the road until the final few meters of the trail.