Mt. Laguna: Sunrise Highway

The Sunrise Highway (S1) – a national scenic byway – travels through the Laguna Mountains east of San Diego.

The road rises from 4000′ to 6000′, making it ideal terrain to see black oak at peak in autumn.

Jean Pan and Dylan Ren drove the highway on Sunday, which is about an hour’s drive from San Diego, reporting that “the leaves are looking really nice!”

“Between mile marker 21-26, there are a lot of black oaks at both sides of the road.” Jean said, recommending stops at the Laguna/El Prado campground and the Morris Ranch road area whose small loop near the visitor center which she said has the best color.

Since Jean and Dylan rated the highway as now being at Peak, I’m urging to GO NOW. As, I can’t recall the Laguna Mountains lasting more than a week at peak, due to the dry conditions and small band of peak color.

Not identified on the highway is a scenic overlook at the summit of Mt. Laguna. To reach it, turn right past the Desert View picnic area and continue up the mountain ’til the road ends, SoCalRegion.com recommends.

There are no services along the route, which was first built in the 1920s, though are found at Lake Cuyamaca and Pine Valley. There’s also a general store and restaurant at Mt. Laguna. 

• Sunrise Highway, Laguna Mountains, San Diego County (5,623′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!