Mt. Woodson via Highway 67 (Ramona)
Big 2026 change: the free roadside parking is over. The east/Ramona approach to Potato Chip Rock and Mt. Woodson now uses the new Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve lot at 16286 Highway 67, Ramona — about 200 spaces, $5 per vehicle per day (or a $50 annual county pass), open sunrise to sunset, first-come with no reservation. Parking along Highway 67 itself is now strictly discouraged and heavily ticketed. This isn't an Adventure Pass site — it's a San Diego County parks fee.
The facts
- Trail served
- Mt. Woodson Trail (Hwy 67 / east side) to Potato Chip Rock and the summit — ~4 mi RT, moderate–hard, paved service road
- Cost / pass
- $5 per vehicle per day, or $50 annual San Diego County parks pass; free perpetual pass for County residents 62+. Not an Adventure Pass site
- Lot size
- ~200 public spaces plus 7 ADA at the Mount Woodson Gateway Preserve
- When it fills
- Weekend mornings — arrive early both for a space and to beat the heat on this shadeless climb
- Overflow option
- None sanctioned — Highway 67 roadside parking is now discouraged and ticketed, so the lot (or the Lake Poway side) is the plan
- Tow / citation risk
- High for roadside offenders on Hwy 67 now that the lot has opened — use the paid lot; it exists specifically to end the dangerous shoulder parking
- Restrooms
- Portable restrooms at the Gateway Preserve lot; none on the trail
- Road to the lot
- Paved: entrance off Highway 67 at 16286 Hwy 67, Ramona
- Busy season
- October–April; the paved, west-facing climb is brutally exposed in summer
Getting there
Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve, 16286 Highway 67, Ramona, CA 92065
Get directions →What changed in 2026
The old shortcut to Potato Chip Rock — free shoulder parking on Highway 67 near the CAL FIRE station, then the paved Mt. Woodson service road — is no longer the plan. On March 18, 2026, San Diego County opened the Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve at 16286 Highway 67 in Ramona, with roughly 200 spaces plus 7 ADA spaces. It was built to move hikers off the highway shoulder, where parking is now heavily ticketed.
The lot costs $5 per vehicle per day or a $50 annual County parks pass. It is first-come, first-served, open sunrise to sunset, and payable by QR code or online. County residents 62 and older can get a free perpetual parking pass. You may walk in outside vehicle hours, but cannot leave a car in the lot after closing.
Which side to hike: Hwy 67 vs. Lake Poway
Mt. Woodson has two trailheads and they're genuinely different days. This Highway 67 (Ramona) side is the short, steep one — roughly a 4-mile round trip up a paved service road, now from the $5 Gateway lot. The Lake Poway side is the longer, prettier ~7-mile round trip on real trail, with its own fee structure ($10 non-resident on weekends/holidays, free weekdays) and gates that lock at sunset.
Quick rule of thumb: take Hwy 67 for the fastest up-and-back to the Potato Chip photo, and Lake Poway for the nicer hike or a free weekday visit. Either way this is a shadeless granite climb — go early, carry more water than feels necessary, and skip it on hot afternoons. Neither trailhead is national forest, so an Adventure Pass does nothing here.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still park for free on Highway 67 for Potato Chip Rock?
No — as of March 2026 the free roadside parking is discouraged and heavily ticketed. The east/Ramona approach now uses the new Mount Woodson Gateway County Preserve lot at 16286 Hwy 67, which charges $5 per vehicle per day.
How much does the Mount Woodson Gateway parking lot cost?
$5 per vehicle per day, or $50 for an annual San Diego County parks pass. County residents aged 62 and older can get a free perpetual parking pass. Pay on-site by QR code or online; no reservation is required.
What are the hours of the new Mount Woodson parking lot?
Sunrise to sunset daily for vehicle access and restrooms. Walk-in trail access continues outside those hours, but you can't leave a vehicle in the lot after it closes.
Is the Highway 67 or Lake Poway trailhead better for Potato Chip Rock?
Highway 67 is the shorter, steeper route (~4 miles round trip) from the new $5 Gateway lot. Lake Poway is the longer, nicer trail (~7 miles) with a different fee ($10 non-resident weekends/holidays, free weekdays) and gates that lock at sunset. Pick Hwy 67 for speed, Lake Poway for the experience.
Facts on this page last verified August 1, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.