Things to do |

A quick and challenging uphill climb in Mission Trails Regional Park

This hike on the eastern side of Mission Trails Regional Park is an easy-to-access, effective workout with rewarding views from the top.

At 1,194 feet, Kwaay Paay Peak is the fourth-tallest summit — out of five — in the park. Along the roughly 2.5-mile hike, visitors will encounter a well-maintained trail, with some sections featuring wooden stairs, as well as a few plateaus to catch their breath on the mostly upward trek.

Kwaay Paay, which means “big chief” in the Kumeyaay language, shares Mission Trails with its sister peaks: Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, South Fortuna and North Fortuna. Hikers looking for a longer-term project should consider the 5-Peak Challenge, a park initiative that encourages visitors to climb all the mountains in Mission Trails.

Kwaay Paay Peak is, to me, an old faithful. I love to do the hike when I’m looking for a workout but am short on time, since it takes about an hour and a half to complete. I’ve also found it to be an ideal spot to test out new hiking boots, since the terrain is slightly technical and gives me a chance to see how new shoes will do on different surfaces.

To begin, park on the eastern end of Father Junipero Serra Trail, the paved road that runs through Mission Trails Regional Park, near the Kumeyaay Lake Campground. Or, find a spot in the parking lot located near the intersection of Father Junipero Serra Trail and Bushy Hill Drive.

There are a few trailheads for Kwaay Paay Peak, but I began at the one located southeast of North Fortuna Mountain Summit Trail.

At the beginning of the hike, hikers will come to an intersection between the Kwaay Paay Peak Trail and the Kwaay Paay East Trail, as marked on trail signs. I took the Kwaay Paay Peak Trail, but either route is fine since they intersect along the way up the mountain.

Begin hiking and take breaks as needed, since the trail is nearly entirely uphill. It’s also rocky at times, so it’s helpful to wear shoes with good traction.

At 0.5 miles, hikers will see the Kwaay Paay East Trail on their left. Don’t take it now, but hikers looking for a change of scenery on their return down the mountain can take this trail back to their vehicles.

The trail continues to climb gradually, though there are some flat sections. Along the way, take a look at the surroundings, such as the view of Santee and the rest of East County beyond it.

At the one-mile mark, the trail gets much steeper, and hikers will find wooden stairs that help make the ascent a little easier. This section lasts a little less than 0.2 miles before hikers make their final moves to the peak.

The hike down the mountain is straightforward. I chose to take the Kwaay Paay East Trail, the roughly half a mile trail that descends back to the trailhead, since I prefer hikes that form a loop. Traveling near a residential neighborhood, it’s a great trail that was made more beautiful and green with the recent rains.