Mount Helix Park
5 Reviews
Hello everyone! This is a friendly reminder that any of these fun places we may visit, we are a guest at. Please treat both businesses and trails with the utmost respect. We here at Hidden San Diego follow the 'Leave no Trace' mantra, meaning whatever you bring with you comes back with you. If you see trash on a trail, please do your part to help remove it. Remember, we are not picking up trash from another person but instead cleaning up for Mother Nature. Happy adventures!
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4905 Mt Helix Dr,
La Mesa, CA 91941
Phone: (619) 741-4363
32.766992, -116.983406
HOURS: Sunrise-Sunset
About Mount Helix
Mount Helix arguably has one of the best panoramic views in San Diego County. Sitting at 1,300 feet, this park is recognized as one of the county’s most beautiful landmarks.
The park is 100% volunteer run and relies on donations to help keep it open to the public. Consider making a donation! You can learn more about it here.
Mount Helix is considered the second oldest continuous Easter sunrise service in the country, the oldest being Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside County. They also host concerts, plays, weddings and other fun events here.
The parking is terrible but if you can grab a spot, it is definitely worth a visit! The park is open sunrise to sunset daily.
Mount Helix History
Mount Helix received its name after the helix aspersa snail was found here, which was a rare find at the time. Today we know it as the common garden snail. The first property on the peak began as a 40 acre citrus grove, owned by Cyrus and Mary Yawkey, which eventually fell into neglect and foreclosure.
Theatrical producer, William Gross, had been looking for new investments when he found out that the land was for sale.
Gross scooped it up for $11,500 and put Ed Fletcher, who was a produce salesman at the time, in charge of the management aspect. This would be Fletcher’s first step into real estate.
Fletcher saw great potential with the land, despite onlookers and the press poking fun at the investment and calling it “Fletcher’s Folly”. The development took some time but eventually streets and homes were put up selling for a whopping $2500 per acre.
While you’re in the area, make sure to visit Briercrest Park nearby!
The park, which consists of a huge outdoor amphitheater and 35′ tall cross, was originally built as a memorial to Mary Yawkey. Later, Fletcher suggested that Easter sunrise services be held there, which the tradition has continued ever since.
Anonymous
High School make out spot LOL
December 26, 2013
Anonymous
Can you drive to the top?
April 29, 2019
Anonymous
@Anonymous,
Yes. A few short term parking spots
May 13, 2019
Anonymous
Way too many people coming here now treating the roads like their personal racetrack. They throw trash out of their cars, do drugs, have sex, car accidents, graffiti. Very raunchy scene now, way more than just a “make-out” spot. The damage has been tremendous to this mountain top. Just about every car coming up has blacked-out windows. Please go find some other spot – this is a lovely neighborhood, until all of this.
September 14, 2019
Ginell Bahri
I ended my day exploring La Mesa today at Mount Helix around 3:30 pm with my friend and my dog. We drove to the top by the cross and found about 2-3 parkings open, didn’t look like anyone was in their car hanging out in it.. When we got down I noticed 2 concrete picnic tables, in case anyone wants to have lunch up there. We had to use the restroom right away, so we had to use the porta potty(actually not bad). We walked back over to the theater area and just took that in for a few minutes. A woman was listening to calm music and sitting on a yoga mat there. Then walked up the concrete bleachers to the cross. That’s where the real show is at. A beautiful view straight down to Point Loma and there was a marine layer or something like that and the view was still that gorgeous. The skyline of downtown and all the freeways wrapping around SD. You can also easily see all of El Cajon. We stayed up there quit a while and it was mostly families and couples. Everyone respected the area and threw away any trash. You have to make your way up there.
December 16, 2020