| The Iron Mountain Trail hike is a fantastic way to | | | | best time to find these plants on Iron Mountain is |
| get back to nature. You can take your whole | | | | mid summer, notably July. |
| family on this hike. You will notice lots of | | | | In order to reach the trail you need to take I-5 |
| youngsters trying the Iron Mountain Trail hike in | | | | onto the Lebanon exit and then go straight to |
| the middle of the day. There are all kinds of birds | | | | Highway 20. From Highway 20 you go east for |
| and woodland critters on this trail. One of the best | | | | about 35 miles, after which you will reach Forest |
| things about this hike is the view of the Northern | | | | Road number 15. From Forest Road number 15 |
| San Diego County and it's neighboring areas. The | | | | you take a right. You should be able to see Iron |
| top of the trail provides you with a mouth | | | | Mountain trail signs by now. There will be a parking |
| watering view of San Diego. Carrying a map with | | | | space half a mile away from here, on the right |
| you will help you identify the surrounding | | | | side of the road. The trail starts at the point |
| mountains. You will be able to enjoy views of Mr. | | | | where Poway Road crosses CA 67. On your way |
| Jefferson, the Three Sisters and Three Fingered | | | | you will encounter a side trail, going towards the |
| Jack. During a clear day, one can also see Mt. | | | | north 0.25 miles in which takes you to the Ellie |
| Adams. You will also be able to see the North and | | | | Staging Area. Keep going straight and after 1 and |
| South Fork Santiam Canyons along with the | | | | a half miles you will reach an intersection. Take a |
| Browder Ridge, which is towards the southeast | | | | left from here and the path will take you straight |
| side of the Mountain. | | | | to the peak, through hair pin turns and further |
| The Iron Mountain Trail is a climb from the start | | | | elevation. On your way you will come across |
| to the finish. That's all you will be doing on this trail. | | | | various colored wildflowers bringing with them a |
| The trail starts from a short distance off Highway | | | | beautiful scent. There is also a picnic area on the |
| 20 and then through meadows and forests until | | | | peak. The trail closes when it is snowing in the |
| you reach a station on the peak. The trail gets | | | | winter but open for public the rest of the year. |
| really shaky around the peak, mostly gravel and | | | | Interesting Fact: |
| rocks. You will find benches to sit on and rest at | | | | The mountain is called Iron mountain because it |
| various locations along the trail. You will also find all | | | | contains iron ore and also because it takes some |
| kinds of plants and flowers on the trail to Iron | | | | bearing on you physically, to reach the top. After |
| Mountain. One of the most famous plants found | | | | all, it is a 2,696 foot peak. |
| on the mountain are red rock Penstemons. The | | | | |