100 Peaks: #4 Bernardo Mountain & #5 Battle Mountain
Title: Bernardo Mtn & Battle Mtn
Elevation: 1,150’ & 803’
Mileage: 10 Miles
Trailhead: Piedras Pintadas
Agency: San Diego River Valley Conservancy
Date Hiked: 11/17/2024
11/17/2024
Bernardo Mountain is hands-down the gem of Lake Hodges. With a steep, technical climb that gains over 800 feet, it rewards you with killer views of Lake Hodges, the I-15, and surrounding peaks like Black Mountain.
The first six miles of this run stuck to the west side of the I-15, cruising along the popular trails shared by hikers, bikers, and runners. But the real fun started in the last four miles, where I crossed the freeway and headed up Battle Mountain—a smaller, lesser-known spot I’d never tackled before. From the top, it gave me a totally different view, looking back at Bernardo and the trails I’d just come from.
(Miles 0 - 6): To Bernardo Mountain
I started the day by parking at the Piedras Pintadas trailhead, then followed the cycle path down to the pedestrian bridge that leads toward Bernardo Mountain.
The first couple of miles are a bit of a dance, weaving between bikers, runners, and hikers. Luckily, the trail’s wide enough to share, with plenty of room to pass whenever you need to.
Things get a little more serious once you hit the turnoff for the Bernardo Mountain summit. The trail tightens up and gets a lot more technical—so much so that it might not even be ideal for bikes anymore. It’s all part of the fun, though, as the climb really kicks into gear!
Between the turnout and the peak, I didn’t run into a single soul, so I took full advantage and snapped a few extra photos and videos along the way. If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s to slow down and soak in the moments—rather than charging up and down the hill at full speed just to check it off the list.
At the summit, I took a breather and sat for a bit, looking out over the I-15. From up here, the cars look like tiny blurs, zipping along at a pace that feels miles away from the one I’m trying to keep. Of course, it’s just temporary—I know I’ll be one of them soon enough, heading back to the freeway grind.
For now, though, I popped in some earbuds, queued up a good Crime Junkie episode, and turned my sights on the next challenge: Battle Mountain.
(Miles 6 - 10): To Battle Mountain
Leaving the trails behind, I hit the sidewalk and ran alongside Pomerado Road for about a mile and a half. It wasn’t the most scenic stretch, but it got the job done. After a quick turn onto Escala Drive and then Reata Way, things started to get interesting.
I found a little hidden stone-step trail tucked between a home and some brush. It felt like a secret passage leading right to the base of Battle Mountain. From here, it’s a short but steep climb—about half a mile with 400 feet of gain. It’s one of those climbs that gets your legs working but isn’t so bad that you need to stop and question your life choices.
As the trail wraps around the mountain, you’re greeted by the Battle Cross, a cool piece of local history. Back in 1966, a group of churchgoers put the original cross up here. It eventually fell in the ’80s but was rebuilt by a man named Jack Templeton, who lived right below the trailhead and hiked the mountain regularly. Fun fact: the replacement cross was actually funded by a nearby Jack in the Box. Who knew fast food and trail landmarks could go hand in hand?
The view from Battle Mountain looking back over at Bernardo.
Wrapping up the day with 9.69 miles in just under 1 hour and 48 minutes, I couldn’t help but feel pretty satisfied with an 11:06 average pace. It wasn’t about speed today, though—it was about the experience. From the familiar climb up Bernardo to the new adventure on Battle Mountain, every step reminded me why I love these trails. Even with 188 relative effort in the tank, it felt less like a grind and more like a gift to explore, slow down, and take it all in. Definitely a run worth repeating.
