We found the trailhead across the road from the parking area. The climb is steep, but the unobstructed views along the trail and 360 degree vantage from the summit makes the effort more than worthwhile. This is not a hike for hot summer days, but makes for a fantastic early morning workout or winter excursion. The trail up the western flank of the mountain is a steep and no-nonsense affair through thick chaparral brush with zero shade. The rugged, triangular peak of Viejas Mountain rises just north of Interstate 8 in Alpine.
