Potato Chip Rock

Absolutely loved this hike! It’s mostly uphill but definitely worth it. The views were gorgeous and we were able to take some amazing pictures!

We did this hike in the rain in the early morning and it was still very crowded. The view of the lake is pretty awesome and the trail is very well maintained. Even though we did it with overcast skies I could tell that there is no shade so if you plan on doing this on a sunny day bring LOTS of water and sunscreen. If you hike over the weekend and want a pic on the rock plan on standing in line for a LONG time. I would love to do this hike when there were no clouds, I bet the view is grand! Check out more information about the trailhead and miles on my blog. Happy Hiking.
Lovz2hike

Potato Chip Rock!!! What an awesome and fitting name for a rock. Have seen it in pictures, but nothing beats viewing it in person! Actually standing on the rock beats viewing it in person! When you are in the San Diego area, make the time to hike up here!
My wife and I hiked up to Potato Chip Rock on a Friday at 10am. It was a hot and moderate hike. We should have started earlier to avoid the heat. Took us almost 90 minutes to get to this marvelous destination. Yeah, we took a few pictures on the way.
Fortunately for us, there was no line to hop onto this very cool looking rock! At first, it is kind of intimidating to hop onto. Took my wife about 20 minutes to muster the courage to jump onto it. She was ecstatic that she was able to do it. So worth it! Just wish that I had taken better pictures of her while she was on that Potato Chip! Also regret not joining her on the rock as well.
So, did I get on it too? Yup, decided last minute that I wanted my «Kodak» moment as well. The jump onto the boulder was actually easier than it looked. Getting down, both my wife and I slid down the side of the boulder.
Cannot wait to return to Potato Chip Rock in the future! Maybe, we will take the longer hike next time. Either way, the Potato Chip Rock is a very fulfilling reward for reaching the top of the hike! Just do it folks! Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes and bring lots of water!

Update we went back and took the shorter way up and made it to the top the hike was well worth the amazing view we got from the top. The potato rock was cool af can’t wait to go agian with other friends

Ok. Tough hike. Don’t try throwing a kid in a back pack. Bad idea. Lesson learned. This is for the ones that have hiked Iron mountain and are bored. Take the game up a notch. Camel back. May-​September you’ll be needing more water than you think.
Its not a beginner hike but anyone can do it. it is progressive. Meaning it gets harder not easier.
Have fun
So worth it. Take straws so you can «suck it up» =)

Cool hike in a beautiful area!
LONG line when we were there to get the quick picture in he rock but a good hike. Don’t forget good footwear and bring water in the summer months!
Lots of people here so much that parking can be tricky at times!
It is a bit of a hike so be prepared.
My hiking shoes fell apart on the way back down to the lake so it was interesting… Lol…

Hands down one of the hardest hikes here in beautiful San Diego. There are two entrances to the mountain– one starting at Poway lake and the other one located off behind the mountain, which is the easiest route.
My friends and I decided to come from the lake side… Which has a $ 5 charge to get into the parking. (It’s much safer to park there, since the off side parking had many break ins. But, your call.) Or if your a military personnel, show them your badge or id, and it’s free!
About 45 minutes within the hike, it gets scorching hot! And we started around 7:30am! As we approach the «potato chip», there’s a huge line of people waiting to get a picture with it. Plus, it’s actually not as big as you see in pictures!
Cool hike, but I would probably will never do it again! Haha.

Great hike to do in near San Diego!
It was a hot summer day when we did this hike with a few friends.
We didn’t get much sleep last night so going up hill was a struggle but on the way down was no problem.
Once you get to the potato chip rock you have to wait in line to get a photo.
We ran out of water because we didn’t come prepared with our camelbacks and only had 2 little bottles of water.
Lots of water is always great to have with you on hikes.

This is a real nice view, but difficult hike for beginners. I have only done it once! The hike is really steep and it gets harder and harder climbing up hill! The way down is a lot easier! The line gets really long for the famous potato chip picture. It also gets really warm during the afternoon or summer time!

I hear there are two trails. We took the back trail off highway 67 and there was plenty of free street parking early in the morning (6am). You can use this address: 16 310 Highway 67 Ramona CA 92 065.
The trail is a nice paved road, almost an entire incline to the top. Saw several people bring their pups along. We went early in the morning and took us about an hour to get to the top.
To get a picture on the rock you actually have to jump off another rock to get there, or you can climb from the side which is also very steep. Getting down was also pretty scary for me but I slowly slid down from the side.
When we went it was pretty foggy and the rock was slippery (so be careful!). We didn’t wait long for a picture. Although 20 minutes later was a different story so go early or maybe during a weekday.
Bring lots of water and maybe some snacks. Keep in mind there are no bathrooms unless you see nature as any potential spot to relieve yourself.

One of the most popular picture spots for hiking, Potato Chip Rock is almost something that every San Diegan does at least once, just to see it. I’ve lived here all my life and this was the first time visiting it for me. Near the top of Mount Woodson is this unique rock design that everyone must get their picture in front of. It’s kinda cool and all, but I can’t see myself waiting in line just to walk out onto it (yes, its that crowded here). The views up here are pretty neat though, and even better if you walk up towards the radio station towards the top.

Decent hike, great views but constant up hill and a lot longer than we expected. Every time we passed a bend or peak we hoped to finally have made it only to continuously be disappointed when we still weren’t freaking there haha the rock itself is tiny too which I wasn’t expecting, and there’s a large gap in between you’ll need to jump to get onto the rock. I was NOT having that so I somehow figured a way to climb up the side, not the easiest task.
Overall it’s a nice hike, clean and well paved but long. Much longer than I anticipated, and all just to take a few photos for Instagram… Priorities?
**PRO TIP: go mid day, about ¾pm. The parking lot closes at sundown which we barely made, but at the time we went on a Friday there was no one on the trails with us and we had the rock to ourselves shy of a small group that showed as we were leaving.
**PSS do not follow the address on Google!!! It is an extra 30mins north and takes you to a dead end in some suburb!!! Follow the Unilocal address, strictly

The trail is kept very clean, and is well marked. It is virtually impossible to get lost on your ascent to the rock (Note: I took the longer trail, if/​when I take the shorter/​steaper one, I’ll include notes on that). The whole trip up is pretty scenic.
If you decide to wait in line to take your photo on the rock you’ll be lucky enough to meet some cool people. Something about waiting to pose on a rock brings people together haha. I met students, an eye surgeon, a lone traveler, and a firefighter. Enjoy the conversations (and bring a lunch to enjoy) while you wait.
Please, please, please be careful on the leap to the rock. I saw someone break an ankle trying to make it back. After that incident guys in line came up to help anyone across that needed assistance – so ask for help if you’re nervous.
Have fun, stay safe, enjoy the great view!

Love this hike! It’s challenging but not too overwhelming. You start off at lake Poway which is a pretty way to start a hike. It took about 1.5 hours to reach the top (about 3.5 miles). Out of the three times I’ve went, only one time did I ever have to wait a significant amount of time for a picture (we waited around 40 minutes once).
Tips:
–start early so the sun isn’t too hot
–bring lots of water
–wear sunscreen/​hat/​covering clothes (because let’s be real cancer isn’t cute or cool)

Oh, so you want a pic? Start early, you idiot. It’s a 6 mile hike to reach the top (7mi, technically, if you count the parking lot at the bottom of Mt Woodson).
Let me preface my hostility (skip to the next para if you just want the deets): we arrived around 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon and the parking lot must be cleared by 5:30pm. That gives us 3hrs to hike, wait in line for the pic, and get our asses back down. We hustled like a MF, rocked our pose, and made it back to the car with 10 minutes to spare. It can be done… just don’t stop to smell the roses. And, bring plenty of water. And, a hat. And, maybe an apple or two.
It may look intimidating, but the rock has a wide surface and can easily fit 10 – 15 people and a dog or two. There’s a small gap you’ll need to jump across to reach the rock, but just take your time. We jumped on top of the chip multiple times. it’s a sturdy little thing, trust. To get down, you can scale down the side of the rock or jump back across.
On the bright side, arriving at 2pm (when most people are leaving!), means there are less people in line for pics. Just be prepared to hike during the hottest time of the day.

Went hiking here summer of 2015 after a friend told me about it and was a great hike!
It about 6 – 7 miles to the chip depending on which trail you take. We parked by the park and start on the trail along the lake. The hill consist of mostly uphills and flat land. Lots and lots of stairs once you pass the picnic table.
We got a little loss looking for the trail to take us up to the chip, but when you see a fork after the picnic table stay to your left. There will be stairs that seems to whine and go on forever, but it’s be worth it once you get there!
Although this hike may not seem that long is distance, the elevation (2500ft) is what makes this hike great! We hiked on a weekday so there was no line at all for the chip :)
Recommendations:
— bring lots of water (we finished 3 bottles round trip)
— sun lotion (if you’re hiking in the summer)
— good shoes
— camera to capture the view at the top (of course)
Compared to other hikes:
Similar to Mission Peak where it’s uphill all the way to the top BUT way longer and higher. Much satisfying too ;) Scenery is better as well.

Absolutely one of the most fun hikes I’ve ever been on. Friends and I drove up here super early on a Saturday morning with the intention to try to get an early start before it got too warm in the day and I’m glad we did. We paid for our parking pass and set up up the hill which had so many twists and turns and definitely really challenges you: your energy levels, your leg muscles and your patience to reach the top and then make your way back down.
When you first start off and you see a nice hill and a nice lake filled with other aquatic activities going on, you get a false sense of how challenging this hike really is because everything looks so calm and peaceful. But that’s when they challenge really starts as it starts to warm up, the hills are inclining at a pretty steep level and there are twists and turns with rocks all the way up. However, once you get up there, the view is absolutely gorgeous and then the much anticipated Potato Chip Rock view and photo op!
TIP: Wear good hiking shoes, don’t forget your iPod, carry extra water, bring a walking stick if needed, have a towel to wipe sweat off your face, bring awesome friends to experience the hike with and FREEZE some Grapes for the trip up because nothing tastes better on a warm day after hiking some miles and eating yummy cold delicious grapes.

I had an AWESOME experience here!
My two friends and I went here about 2 weeks ago in late January and actually made it on San Diego News! So here’s the story:
We drove out from Orange County at 7am and got to Mt Woodson around 9:30am. It was a super windy day. There was some light cloud coverage and the temperature was quite nice and a cool 70 something degrees. On the hike up, you could see beautiful views of the surrounding land which were a lot of ranches and orchards. You could even see to the ocean near the top of the hike.
The road was paved the entire trail up that we took so it made the hike quite easy. It was rather gradual most of the way up and there weren’t really man steep parts.
When we got to the top, we saw the rock and it was much smaller than I had imagined it but we got excited because of the photo opportunities that were about to come. While we were striking a pose and such, there happened to be a reporter from the local san diego news who was doing a story on it for a «bucket list» segment.
It was so cool because he was there with a camera man and they started doing interviews as well as taking shots of the area. He actually featured me and my friends for a brief moment taking pictures and such. It made the entire experience so memorable. He even hiked with us the entire way down and he was a really personable guy.
I’ve heard that the line to take the picture can be ridiculously long at times but we went on a tuesday morning so it wasn’t bad at all. I can see why people would want to give this place a bad review due to the line but in terms of the actual hike, it was very enjoyable and had great views almost the entire way up so I would say it was worth the drive. Plus, its just one of those famous spots that you have to go to and cross of your bucket list.
In total the hike was only like 4 or 5 miles round trip and really not that strenuous. It might be a bit challenging for a beginner but if you’re a regular hiker, its pretty easy.
TIPS:
1. Go on a weekday to avoid long lines of people
2. Look up photos on google so you know which pose you want to do. It’ll make it much faster so you won’t hold up the line of people that are waiting to take pictures.
Link to news story:

TAKE THE LONG WAY!!! Unless you are looking to haul butt up a paved road take the longer rout up the mountain. It’s more of a hike instead of just getting to the top to get to the top.
Once you are up there it is a beautiful view! You do need to take a leap of faith to get to the actual potato chip part for pictures but coming down I recommend sliding down the crevasse. Easier, safer and you see all your options.
The last three minutes of the hike are to potato chip but you didn’t hike to the top of the mountain unless you took the left side of the fork. Then you are really accomplished!
Bring water, go around 10 or 3, wear sunscreen and bring your camera because this is a trip to the top of Ramona

You park your car at Lake Poway and pay $ 5 cash on the weekend. Park closes at sunset so plan accordingly. Also the earlier you get the less crowded it will be. We arrived around 8:45 a.m. on a cool overcast day. The hike is mostly uphill… And a steep uphill at that. You’ll definitely want shoes with grip because it can get tricky coming down. This road was unpaved, made of dirt and loose gravel. As you get higher up there will be large uneven stones you’ll have to step on– some are in the form of stairs. Also, bring plenty of water!!! I can imagine you’ll need more on a hotter day. I brought 2L and still had extra. I would say hydrate the night before and morning of. Bring a walking stick if you have one– will come in handy. You may also want to bring a light sweater (can be cooler up top).
Hike was approx 8 miles took us about 3 ½– 4 hours with mini water breaks and a few photo breaks. The hike has you start to go around the lake where you eventually see the signs for Mt. Woodson trail that will take you to potato chip rock. The whole thing from the parking lot takes 8 miles. There are a ton of switchbacks and steep and steady inclines. It was like the never ending story. So be prepared!
The views are pretty so stop and enjoy them along the way. You’ll prob see the line for potato chip rock as you approach. We didn’t bother to stay for a picture– not worth it in my opinion. Instead we snapped a quick photo while people were loading and unloading from the rock. That’s good enough for me. I don’t think I’ll be back for this hike anytime soon but if I do come back it will be during the week.
This hike is pretty popular so there are a ton of people… A little too crowded for my taste. With that said, there were a few things I didn’t like about the trail:
–excess unpicked up dog poop or poop left in bags along the trail (pack it out!!! Enough said)
–people were playing audibly loud music (sorry, I’m hiking a nature trail to get away from the city, I don’t want to listen to your jam)
–people were talking excessively loud (sorry, I don’t want to hear about how your bf cheated on you last night)
–Most people on the trail do not have trail etiquette in terms of yielding to allow another person to pass in a narrow section (sorry, I don’t want to squeeze past you and a rock)
–Also, please don’t follow closely behind someone, kindly ask to pass them (a simple «excuse me» will do)
Happy hiking!