Kwaay Paay Summit at Mission Trails Regional Park

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Kwaay Paay or "leader" in Kumeyaay Indian language is located in the Mission Trails Regional Park of San Diego. The trailhead is located across the historic Old Mission Dam (right across the mini-parking lot). By this time, we're pretty comfortable hiking from Clairemont Mesa Trailhead to Old Mission Dam, so my wonderful hiking-partner had a "brilliant" idea of going through Fortuna Saddle instead. Basically, what won me over was the argument of: "It's a saddle, so it's flatter-er." NOT!


Yes, Fortuna Saddle saddles North and South Fortuna, but in no way is it flatter. 








Keep following the trail signs to Old Mission Dam. There are some areas with shade where we saw families having a picnic and kids splashing in puddles of water. Cute!


Since this route takes you to the opposite side of the Old Mission Dam, be prepared to cross the water to get to the trailhead. I took off my shoes and with one yelp from the first feel of the cold water, happily walked on.


Right across the mini-parking lot (crossing the Father Junipero Serra Trail), is the Kwaay Paay Peak Trailhead. The trail is pretty narrow and straightforward so you won't get lost. You will arrive at a clearing where you'll probably wonder where-to next. Keep going straight veering to your left and you'll pick-up the trail again. Next, you will encounter these cute steps going up.  With the vegetation arching over the steps, it almost feels idyllic. Your butt and thighs will beg to differ. 




Once you conquer those steps, you will be rewarded with a view at the peak. From here, you can view the North Fortuna and South Fortuna mountains.  





This is not a loop, so you need to go back the way you came. This time, we decided to forego Fortuna Saddle way and went home by way of Father Junipero Serra Trail to San Diego River Crossing to Clairemont Mesa Trailhead. 



Right when we felt everything hurts, we looked up at the sky that seems to put on a show to congratulate us. 


Kwaay Paay Trailhead Address: Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119
Old Mission Dam Address: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119