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Poway · Strenuous
Potato Chip Rock is San Diego's most photographed slab of granite — a wafer-thin ledge jutting off Mt. Woodson — and the hike to it is a genuine climb with a genuine line at the top.
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Potato Chip Rock sits on Mt. Woodson near Poway. The main route from Lake Poway is 7.5 miles round trip with about 2,100 feet of gain (4–5 hours); the shorter Highway 67 route is 4 miles round trip but steeper and fully paved. Expect a 30–90 minute line for the photo on weekends, and $10 non-resident parking at Lake Poway on weekends.
Lake Poway route
7.5 mi round trip, ~2,100 ft gain, 4–5 hours
Highway 67 route
4 mi round trip, ~1,300 ft gain, paved service road
Difficulty
Strenuous either way
Parking
Lake Poway $10 weekends for non-residents; Hwy 67 roadside, free and limited
Photo line
30–90 min on weekend mornings; near zero on weekday mornings
Dogs
Allowed on leash; too hot most summer days
Permit
None required
| Route | Distance / gain | Surface | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Poway Trail | 7.5 mi / 2,100 ft | Dirt singletrack and fire road | The classic hike; restrooms, water and real parking at the start |
| Highway 67 (Mt. Woodson Rd) | 4 mi / 1,300 ft | Paved service road, steep | Speed — half the distance, twice the grade, brutal on knees down |
| Ellie Lane Loop link-up | 9+ mi | Mixed | Long day with far fewer people |
On a Saturday morning in spring, 40 to 80 people queue for the photo, and each group takes several minutes. Weekday mornings you can walk right up. If you hate waiting, go at sunrise midweek or accept that the line is part of the experience — it's social and mostly good-natured.
Mt. Woodson generates more heat rescues than almost any San Diego trail. There is no water past Lake Poway, no shade for most of the climb, and the paved Highway 67 route bakes. Carry three liters in summer or, better, hike it between November and April.
7.5 miles round trip from Lake Poway with about 2,100 feet of gain, or 4 miles round trip on the steeper paved route from Highway 67.
Typically 30 to 90 minutes on weekend mornings and close to nothing on weekday mornings.
No permit is required. Lake Poway charges $10 weekend parking for non-residents.
Yes — it's strenuous on both routes. The Lake Poway trail is long with sustained climbing, and the Highway 67 road is short but very steep.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .