Home › California › Chula Vista › Mother Miguel Mountain Trailhead
Mother Miguel Mountain Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 691 Google reviews · Running trail in Chula Vista, California · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 2.5 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Mother Miguel Mountain Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Easy, steep 2.5-mile trail popular for hiking and dog-walking, plus mountain-biking.
What runners say about Mother Miguel Mountain Trailhead
“Beautiful views at the top.”
“No shade except a little spot towards the beginning mostly shrubs the whole way.”
“The first half up seems more beginner friendly.”
Peaceful hike along the side of the mountain which had lots of switch backs but you could easily walk straight up not realizing your not on the path but on a wash out. Your supposed to stay on the trail and not cut through but at times I found myself cutting through by accident.
This mountain was quite a challenge to take on, and yet was an incredible experience. This is a fantastic workout with a breathtaking view. If you have not gone before then you should start by setting a hiking date, THIS IS A MUST DO!!!
I recently hiked this trail for the first time and decided to try jogging/running to the summit. It turned out to be more challenging than I anticipated, and as a first-timer to this location, I found the various side trails created by others a bit confusing.
I regret not wearing proper hiking boots. It's slippery from all the small rocks and gravel going down the steep trail. It was confusing at first to stay on trail since there aren't many marks. I guess you walk in a zigzag direction until it gets more steep uphill and than walk straight up to the top.
Trail conditions & character
“However, once I reached the top, the views were absolutely incredible and made the effort completely worthwhile.”
“You can park at the local dog park (I think it said no trail access but I went early and it was mostly empty) or on the road.”
“5 miles total it was moderate difficulty; the beginning steep and definitely got the heart rate up but then the rest was not bad.”
“No shade except a little spot towards the beginning mostly shrubs the whole way.”
“A little rocky at a few points and noticeable dog poop occasionally along the trail.”
“Parking at the park is easy and always available.”
“It's slippery from all the small rocks and gravel going down the steep trail.”
Plan your run at Mother Miguel Mountain Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Distance2.5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitefws.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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