Cowles Mountain, Mountain summit in San Carlos, San Diego, United States.
Cowles Mountain rises to an elevation of 486 meters and offers a 3-mile round trip trail through varied terrain with panoramic views.
The mountain bears the name of George A. Cowles, a prominent rancher and businessman who influenced the San Diego region during the 1870s and 1880s.
Students from San Diego State University maintained a 400-foot-tall letter S painted on the mountain's side from 1931 until environmental protection measures ended the tradition.
The trail system includes multiple paths to the summit, with the main route starting at the Golfcrest Drive trailhead and gaining 290 meters in elevation.
The geological formation consists of Jurassic and Cretaceous metavolcanic rocks that remained exposed while surrounding areas accumulated sedimentary deposits.
Location: California
Elevation above the sea: 486 m
GPS coordinates: 32.81276,-117.03186
Latest update: May 27, 2025 11:37
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