Potato Chip Rock via Mount Woodson

The Potato Chip Rock hike climbs Mount Woodson from the Lake Poway Recreation Area at 14644 Lake Poway Rd in Poway, a city in northern San Diego County, California. Hikers drive to the lake, where the City of Poway charges a day-use or parking fee at the recreation area. The lots fill early on weekends, and fees and hours should be confirmed with the City of Poway before the trip. The route is about 7.5 miles (12 km) round trip with roughly 2,100 ft (640 m) of elevation gain, which makes it a hard hike on the basis of sustained climbing, even though the terrain is not technical.

The trail begins near the lake and climbs a wide dirt and rocky path with long switchbacks across open chaparral and boulder-strewn slopes. Shade is almost absent, and the route is exposed to sun from start to finish. The climb is steady, with few flat sections, and the final stretch crosses granite boulders before reaching the Mount Woodson summit area, where communications towers and views of the surrounding hills and, on clear days, the ocean are found.

Potato Chip Rock is a thin, horizontal granite flake projecting from the mountainside a short distance below the summit. It has become one of the most photographed spots in San Diego County because visitors pose on the edge of the flake, and on busy weekends a line forms for turns. The rock is only a few feet above the ground in most photographs, but visitors should take care, since a fall can still cause injury. The summit is a recommended turn-around point for those who do not wish to queue, and many hikers pause here for a rest before descending the same way.

There is no water source, hut or shelter along the route, so hikers must carry 2-3 liters each. Summer heat is dangerous, and heat-related rescues occur on this mountain, so the cooler months are strongly preferred. A headlamp is useful for early starts, and hikers should plan to be off the mountain before dark. Cell reception is generally available for calling for help.