Potato Chip Rock

Potato Chip Rock rises to 2,881 feet in California. The Mount Woodson Trail via Lake Poway covers 14.1 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 2,000 feet of elevation gain — gentle grades, but the mileage is what makes it a Strenuous outing.

The Route

Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 0.5, gaining roughly 1,200 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 4,000 feet, the route tops out near 6,008 feet. Along the way the route passes a lake (Lake Poway) near mile 0.2, a landmark (Boulder Field) near mile 2.5, a landmark (Potato Chip Rock) near mile 3.6 — useful checkpoints for judging your pace.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 32.9425, -117.0352 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 250 miles southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. Parking: Lake Poway Parking Lot. Fee: $5-10 parking fee.

When to Go

Spring through fall is the main season. Conditions change fast in the shoulder months — check a point forecast for the summit, not the nearest town, before you commit.

Know Before You Go

The Strenuous rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 5.5 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains and a saved route works offline in any GPS app. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from City of Poway / Lake Poway Recreation.