The Region

Cuyamaca & Laguna Mountains

40 miles east of San Diego are the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains, a ridge dividing ocean and desert. They are part of the Peninsular Range which extend from the San Jacinto Mountains all the way down to the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

Cuyamaca from the Kumeyaay: Ekwiiyemak, has been translated as “the place where it rains”, due to the mountain range collecting precipitation that comes from the onshore ocean prevailing winds. The moisture collects over the ocean then drops onto the mountains and the desert extends to the east. This phenomenon is also known as the rain shadow effect.

The Pacific Crest Trail or PCT is a continuous hiking trail that extends form Mexico to Canada. It passes through this dramatic region. Atop 5,000 foot average elevation in Cuyamaca, one can view to the east a drop off down to the Anza Borrego Desert and Salton Sea area. The western slope of the mountains decent to San Diego and the ocean.

8 One X is located 4 miles from Lake Cuyamaca, the focal point of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, known for its diverse landscapes and extensive hiking and running trails. The lake is a reservoir that was created by a dam built in 1889 during a gold rush period. Boulder Creek which creates Cuyamaca Lake is tributary to the San Diego River and provides some of the water for San Diego.