Battle Mountain - A Landmark from a Forgotten Battle

Located in San Diego's Rancho Bernardo neighborhood, Battle Mountain is seen by thousands of passing motorists every day. The mountain stands out due to the large cross on its peak, but very few know the mountain's story. With the Battle of San Pasqual having taken place just miles away, many believe the mountain is named in honor of that Mexican-American War battle. but that isn't the case. Instead the mountain owes its name to a battle for revenge between two Native American tribes.
Battle Mountain is a San Diego landmark, and has long been a landmark for travelers. Highway 395 used to pass by its base, and Interstate 15 travels by it today. In this video we talk about its history and climb to its peak to look around.
Sources: Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, Vol. 12, No. 2
Perkins, Eloise. "Mule meat meals gave rocky rise its name." Times Advocate, February 18, 1968
Battle Mountain is located at 33.048333016123635, -117.06828180288008
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[@VintageVermilion]

I always appreciate the amount of research you invest into your stories. You’re becoming San Diego’s Huell Howser🖖🏼

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I really appreciate it. I think Ken Kramer might have that title though!

[@rampage44km]

I miss Huell

[@skydiverclassc2031]

As a retired firefighter, the first thought that came to mind was how brushy that mountain is, and then you relate the story of one tribe burning the other ones up in a fire. That's brutal. I feel for you having been surprised at the difficulty of the hike. I've been there. Thanks for the education.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I imagine it was far more brushy back then too, without the trails and people clearing brush to keep it away from houses.

[@PoniesandPaintOfficial]

Idk if you've ever done a video on Grape Day Park in Escondido, but I would love to see you do one. There is a great museum there with several structures(some original, some reconstructed) from Escondido's early history(1800s to 1900s). They also have a working blacksmith's shop that they teach classes in. They also have an old train car and a building with history about trains in the region. Just a fair warning that there are quite a few homeless people in the park, so be careful. They probably won't bother you, but I wouldn't leave anything to chance.

[@cockpitracing]

People will always remember where they were on September 11. For me, I was going to Marimar for work on southbound 15 from Escondido. I passed under Pomerado Road and that cross drew my attention as news of tower one fell was coming over the radio. I never took the time to learn anything about the cross but now I'm going to take a hike up to it and learn more about it. Thank you

[@knightsaberami01]

Dude, you always make me miss San Diego. The San Diego I knew in the 80's is gone though. Thanks for the history lesson. Blessings upon you.

[@Texscripter]

I really appreciate you going to such lengths to not only research these histories, but actually go to these locations and film them from so many different angles. I've never been to the area, but I love learning little bits about history that larger history may have overlooked. Thank you for your time and efforts.

[@1wholovestrees]

I was born and raised in San Diego. Lived in the South Bay and Escondido, as well as San Diego proper. Now that I no longer live there, I so much enjoy these videos. I remember as a child traveling up 395 for trips. Sad to see it gone; lots of nice memories.

[@choppermontana8212]

Add me to the list of people who'd drive by that mountain every day and didn't know it's real history! Great video, thanks!

[@tcromike77]

Enjoyed the video. Appreciate the research and how you weave together the story with present day video footage. The story of the Native American battle sounds similar to the Battle of Pima Butte though much later.

[@chuniquepaceno470]

My family lived in Escondido during the late 60s and I'm amazed at the growth of the area when I googlemapped it. There use to be quite a few open spaces of farmland between Esco and San Diego on 395 but now it's become like LA north of Camp Pendleton. Thanks for another trip down memory lane, Steve, enjoy all of them.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

The closer you get to the interstate, the more built up it is. My aunt and uncle lived in Escondido and I remember going up there in the late 80s/early 90s versus now and it has been built up so much.

[@boomtownrat5106]

I remember a time when the hills that ran starting north from around Rancho Bernard south to Rancho Penasquitos to the Pomerado Rd entrance/exit of I-15 were all cattle roaming those hills. The only thing roaming now are humans and their vehicles and the hills littered with homes. Sigh…

[@griffhenshaw5631]

I'm from Warner springs i remember when I was a kid sitting in the back seat Esco area was boring.....trees trees and more trees.....wish it was like that still.

[@griffhenshaw5631]

@@boomtownrat5106 yep I remember the cattle too👍

[@scottm8914]

@@griffhenshaw5631 i went through warner springs a week ago, safe to say not too much built up around there ha , loved it

[@eddieagnich1875]

Another great video. I'm a native Californian born in 1957 in Hollywood. The history of California is so vast and I thank you for sharing your knowledge. Lot's of your video's have helped me expand my bucket list.

[@davidthejanitor847]

I grew up in Escondido, born and raised.....Never knew this story.... This is a great channel, keep it up....

[@michaelsimonds2632]

Very interesting! I drive by this very often and have heard several vague stories, but your treatment is a big improvement to my knowledge. Since I no longer have the physical ability to hike, I greatly appreciate your videos. Thanks, Mr. Adventures!

[@boomtownrat5106]

Excellent episode! Thank you for your efforts bringing these obscure but still important events to those who were impacted. After living in downtown San Diego and finishing high school at the end of 1972, my father moved the family to Poway. I used to work at National Cash Register overlooking Hwy 15 in Rancho Bernardo just south of the area you visited. I can’t tell you how many times I used to hike up Battle Mountain and Mule Hill. At the time, though, I didn’t know the story about Battle Mountain. I’ve been fascinated with the story of Mule Hill and the Battle of San Pasqual. You touched on the history about them in this episode. A more detailed tour would be most welcomed.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I've actually wanted to do something on the Battle of San Pasqual but the park's visitor center is still closed from the pandemic. Hopefully it reopens soon.

[@boomtownrat5106]

@@SidetrackAdventures That’s disappointing to know. I drove by the San Pasqual battlefield around January 2022 and noted the center was closed. It may be that the state has decided not to fund that visitor center anymore. Years ago I would regularly attend reenactments of the battle. There would also be living history demos, also. It was fascinating seeing reenactors dressed like Californio Lancers and US Dragoons. It makes history come to life.

[@CactusAtlas]

Another fantastic video! The effort you put into these things... Mad respect. And yeah... imagining that thing on fire is an INSANE mental image.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. I imagine the brush was much thicker back then too, so it would have really burned too.

[@lesliefranklin1870]

That is quite a distance from Yuma. It's amazing they would cross the desert that far to make a raid.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That was my thought too. The Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology story dates it to the time of Mexican occupation and basically states the raiding party had heard all area Mexican forces had been dispatched to Los Angeles, so they took advantage by raiding through the San Diego area. The same group supposedly burned all of the buildings in Jamul too.

[@jcf6546]

You have a good speaking voice, and a well-rounded vocabulary. Can't say that for a lot of channels here on KZbin. keep up the good work.

[@generay6807]

I lived in Escondido and San Marcos for a few years and loved hiking around there. I miss those views.

[@tyhogue8316]

I love your videos, the older I get the more I want to travel.😊

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@mssixty3426]

I'm only about a minute into this video, but already appreciate your research into the historical background of this location. Thank you!

[@joewenzel5142]

Those two houses must love it when it rains, that path has got to turn into a stream.

[@MrFmiller]

I love the style and content of your videos, Steve.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I appreciate that.

[@kyleohara8700]

Super cool, thanks as always for taking us along. I love that you found the actual history of the mountain. First video I've caught on Upload day! Have a great week!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@nancyhale5054]

I love your content, it's like comfort food to me. I grew up in OC and my dad loved the outdoors & information/ history. It seems like every weekend we'd head off somewhere in the camper. I'd sit in the cab with him & he'd tell me story after story about areas we passed thru. When I saw Battle Mtn, I thought it was going to be about Nevada, I didn't know there was one in CA too! Thank you for this wonderful video.

[@glennencarnacion3360]

I am SO glad I found your channel. I find your content so interesting and enjoyable. I live in the So Cal area as well (GO PAD's) and look forward to following many of the adventures you have featured. Keep up the GREAT content!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[@robertfritz9916]

For nearly 40 years we lived in North Poway and traveled Pomerado to 15 going north, passed the Mountain and the monument and never stopped or climbed the trail We live in Idaho now so this is a kick in the pants for what we missed. good job.

[@sw8741]

I always enjoy your videos being a native Californian The round cement might be a very old surveyors benchmark. Not a surveyor but it can be a possibility.

[@sandiegobrewreview]

Thanks for sharing San Diego history

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Our pleasure!

[@cwavt8849]

I, like you, love to find all but forgotten places and discover the history. I seriously loathe having an algorithm feed me videos. But, it led me to you, right? Thank you for that wonderful history. I am in Texas and will probably never travel to California again, But, you are making me re-evaluate

[@kurtweiand7086]

Thank you for all the work you put into these videos. I enjoy them so much!

[@leonajameson8902]

That was awesome. I love all the history you bring.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you.

[@markoverman9628]

At the retirement home, across the freeway, my father could see that cross from his easy chair. We would on occasion talk about it. We wondered why it was there. Even as a resident of SD for 50 years I never knew that history of that mountain. Thank you for the great information! I was aware though of the history of Mule Hill.

[@1984xlx]

Wow, what a story (true or not). We never would have known about it if you hadn't shared it with us. Keep up the great, informative and interesting videos!

[@rickkaylor8554]

Thanks for the video. You come up with the most interesting places around San Diego.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. Luckily there is a lot of interesting history in San Diego.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

So many tales for one small mountain. Thanks for taking us along and sharing the stories.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

It makes you wonder what may have happened on other random mountains.

[@guardgilbert]

Thank you for the great video, and thank you for all the San Diego history.

[@markomaticd4106]

Another great video.

[@jameswalker9002]

Thanks for another interesting video. I appreciate the resurch you put into your presentations. 👍🙏

[@ScratchGlass9]

Great research and history Steve ! Another fine expedition.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[@eileenirwin2778]

Thank you, Steve, for sharing another interesting video. I really enjoy all your videos. Take care and stay safe in your travels.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you.

[@dorianmclean6755]

This double native San Diegan just subcibed. I loved this ...thank you.

[@darlalinn6216]

Great research. I grew up near San Diego. I enjoy the content. Most places you profile I have visited myself while growing up. The area has changed so much. Thanks for the videos. Keep it up.

[@CremeBrulee543]

I love learning about these places

[@swankles3877]

Appreciate the research on your videos. Even if you're not sure, I enjoy hearing your opinions. Thanks for pointing out Mule Hill, I was looking way in the distance 😊

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you!

[@richardmitton4115]

I really enjoy your vids of San Diego and our out-lying areas! You to always seem to catch the essence of the areas and provide the perfect background music as well. Thanks for posting!!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you very much!

[@bacondad6960]

Wow! I lived just north of there from 99-05. I never knew why the cross was there. Great info!!!

[@awesomeferret]

Dang, highway 395 again. In retrospect, I don't quite know why, but I never realized how long and historic that route is until watching your videos. I drive on 395 many times a week up in WA State.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I don't think it gets much attention, like say a Route 66, outside of the area. I haven't been on that part of it yet, but the part of Highway 395 from Spokane to Canada was the original 395. It wasn't extended south to San Diego until 1934.

[@lifewithjosef]

At first glance, I thought you were in Battle Mountain NV. As always, love your content and style

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Battle Mountain, NV made searching through old newspaper stories take 5x longer than it should have haha

[@reneejones7807]

Another great video. I'm driving through that area next week and have added that to our itinerary! Thanks!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@toddrodgers5108]

Happy Easter. Thank you. Blessings

[@ronnieka3309]

Steve I love your stories. Learned so much about Southern California/AZ

[@briancisco1176]

Fascinating story!

[@AndrewLale]

A truly interesting channel.

[@rangerjoe2635]

Thank you sir for providing us this information of the Battle Mountain 🏔️. I've ALWAYS wonder about the white cross when I'm driving either direction of the freeway. Thank you for sharing it to us. Definitely looking forward for more informative videos in North County. Whenever you can come by to Dixon Lake yo visit us....Take care...

[@agrofindastation]

Always wondered about that one. I used to live near Mt Helix, and of course everyone in the early 2000s remembers what went on with Mt Soledad, so it is always interesting that there isn't much about this particular cross hill.

[@CondorSkyGhost]

Great video. Hope that you keep traveling in your spiritual journey. It defines who we are and as we become the sage, we pass it on through our oral history as cultural knowledge keepers-Ha-Emah (dances with water) Tipai/Digueno/Kumeyaay

[@percymcnabb4746]

love the history

[@daveswinington896]

Yes thank you for the local history you're passing on to us old native San Diegans! Good work!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@matthewgauthier7251]

Cool. Thank you.

[@pizzafrenzyman]

outstanding

[@Country78155]

never knew what that cross was, during my few trips down I-15 when a long-haul truck driver. Thank You for your due diligence explaining.

[@talljohnsfunshop2722]

I've seen the mule hill sign for many years and new that it seemed to be placed in a funny spot but as paul Harvey used to say and now you know the rest of the story

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I'm still unsure why it was placed where it was. Even newspaper articles in 1950 mention that it isn't near Mule Hill.

[@jeff7.629]

I've always wondered about the cross up there and you answered the mystery.

[@silvercash64]

I love Sidetrack Adventures !

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Me too!

[@thatplace1]

Thanks Steve. Interesting and enlightening. Who knew about battle hill and Mule hill? 🤠

[@MCW1955]

What a great channel you have. So much interesting history here in California. Let’s make California Great Again.

[@DK5ONV]

BEAUTIFUL...💯🙋‍♂

[@scottyhoffo1]

Thank you, that was very interesting! By the way, there is/was a plaque dedicated to the victims of the Tenerife disaster near "the clock" on Bernardo Center Dr about across the street from the BofA.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I wasn't aware of that. I'll have to stop by next time I'm in the area to see if its still there.

[@henryhillebrecht9589]

This awesome, I have relatives that live close by and will have to ask about this👍🏻👍🏻

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Fascinating place...

[@mawi1172]

You better watch out, boy! That steep cliff could hurt you! 🙄🙄🙄❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Always wondered how it got its name. You're way cool!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@JustAnotherGenXer]

I remember driving through that section of 15 North during the El Nino of 1998, the whole freeway was flooded with at least 2-3 feet of water. I believe CalTrans reworked the curvature in the early 2000's

[@madcolor]

Chief Panto (Pontho) 1803-1874 was the San Pasqual chief you are talking about. His daughter was Felicita. She tells about this battle in the book "Indians Stories of The Southwest" (Page 103) written down by Elizabeth Judson Roberts . This battle was, likely, one reported on September 1st 1837 by Mexican authorities. It is likely that the battle took place further east past what is now Lake Hodges Dam at "The heights of San Alejo" but could have also happened nearer to Black Mountain or even Mt. Whitney in San Marcos (this was where Felicita claimed it happened). Panto and his warriors stopped along the way at "the ringing rock" which is very close to Mule Hill en route. The fighting began in a canyon with Panto's men on one side and the Quechan on the other, yelling across the canyon at each other until Panto gave the order to burn the men. Calamee (also recorded as Claudio) was the Quechan who survived and was then executed by the San Pasqual tribe near the current point at Raptor Ridge, where it runs up agains the San Dieguito River.

[@robertchilders8698]

Reading this , blows my mind! When I was a teenager in Escondido in the fiftys , I went looking for the " ringing" rock"! Found out about it from an old indian lady. Thats what the indians called it, because they didn't know it was a SHIPS bell. The ship was wrecked near San Luis Rey River- before the mission! They had just plundered the coast for treasure. when must of them fell ill and died! Francisco De Olayha?? was the Capitan. before he died , he killed his indian slave mistress( who was gravely ill) by bashing her head in with a big rock! They were buried by the " mission". The treasure ship has never been found buried in deep sand from the local rip-tides! the " long boat and a few coins" was found near the Oceanside pier. but not the ship itself!. It was loaded with treasure and made its way back from its most Northern port - in San Francisco!. I believe all this took place in the mid 1500's- about 1547 ?? Never had the resources to follow threw ! Would love to get an update from this story! My search was in the early fiftys.

[@robertchilders8698]

P.S. ended the search for the ships bell in San Pasqual! found an old indian camp and heiroglyphics near the east end of San Pasqual Valley. also the remains of an old Spanish gold mine nearby!. The place is crawling with history!

[@madcolor]

@@robertchilders8698 I'd love to see that hieroglyph if you're still around. I can take you to the ringing rock. It's still there, even though some claim it was moved.

[@robertchilders8698]

@@madcolor The " heroglyphic" was painted with berry juice on a small granite boulder at an indian encampant in a grove of Oak trees! I made a copy of it,! put the copy of it in a tobbaco can and buried it at the base of the small boulder? (1953). It told of a love story of a maiden Indian that was raped, when her lover went to the coast to go fishing! upon his return he killed the bad guy! I got this information from an old indian lady- a Ms. Roberts who was in her ninetys! (1953?) at the time! nearby was a domed oven. Also nearby was an underground spring of water, severel indian pots were found! I thought that the ships bell or " ringing rock " might have been hidden there! This site was at the must eastern part of San Pasqual valley and to the north! accross from what used to be San Pasqual Adventist Academy?!

[@marksanchez8055]

Pleasant presentation and quite informative, I subscribed on my other device, it won't let me text on it because I am techno challenged lol

[@johnking6252]

Cool imagine all that area flooded. Been there seen that , all the little islands . Interesting now that it's raining. ✌️☔

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks!⛰

[@andyjay729]

I used to live near here; the adjacent Pomerado Road/West Bernardo Drive exit off the 15 was my usual exit when going or coming from the north. (When going or coming from the south, I would take the Rancho Bernardo Road exit.) Also, whether or not the Yumas ever set it on fire, it almost did get set on fire during the 2007 Witch Creek Fire (which my parents and I had to evacuate from).

[@secretdaisy6484]

Some of it might have happened somewhere near there 🙃. That’s quite a view from up there. I bet the cross looks great at night when traffic is going by. 👍☮️🌞🥾✝️❤

[@LostShipMate]

There was once a man with a couch and a dream, that's the story that will remain a mystery.

[@andyjay729]

There's also a memorial to those local residents killed at Tenerife outside the former site of the Rancho Bernardo Library (which I think is now a bank).

[@d.l.hemmingway3758]

Immediately next to where I work is a hill that is taller than Battle Mountain. Menninger Hill is a nearly mile long ridge with elevations ranging from 1080 Feet Above Sea Leave on the west end to around 1100 at the east. It is not even the tallest elevation in Shawnee County, Kansas. Near where the I-470 By-Pass crosses Gage Boulevard lies a cashew shaped ridge called Burnett's Mound. Its Northeast summit is 1145 ft. ASL and its southwest summit is 1150 ft. ASL yet people outside Kansas say we're flat. Battle Mountain does have some decent views though and the history of the native American on native American battle fought there was great. So many think the natives of the Americas were peaceful until the arrival of those of European Descent. Far from the truth though for many native peoples fought over hunting grounds, and other resources needed by semi-nomadic and nomadic peoples.

[@trailcameralakeloon]

I carried that couch up battle mountain on my back.

[@espressobuzz1253]

LOL

[@robmiller5593]

Steve can you find Bear N Cub off 395? As kids we would sleep under Helmet Rock. In the mid 70s. Good luck! Hint; we walked through Escondido Country Club golf course to access it.

[@jerrysullivan8424]

This has nothing to do with this video, We had a great time in San Diego. We stayed at the MCRD for all 4 days, only going out to see Old Town, Loma point and the ocean, you would have to spend a month in S D just to see things. on the way home we spent 2 days in Williams Az. visiting the Grand Canyon. Thank youfor responding in the comments of your other videos, you were helpful to us.

[@brucebarnes9638]

Reminds me if a 3 Stoggies film that featured a middle east town of "Don't Give a Damn". Love the humor!!

[@IndridCool54]

Great video and killer views! Really enjoyed the story, we know so little of Indigenous history before the arrival of Europeans.

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

Where are you getting the music for your videos... this one has really great music.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Epidemic Sounds.

[@stewartthompson72]

Interesting as always Steve. Thanks for climbing the mountain for us. 😊

[@rampage44km]

I drive for PUSD and we use Battle Mountain as a landmark quite a bit.

[@griffhenshaw5631]

Learned something pretty cool. Known about mule hill for years but this no. Thanks

[@3nineteen319]

I used to drive past there every day, wondering what the story behind the cross was. Thanks for the info .

[@ocnightflyer1359]

cool

[@josephbingham1255]

Thanks for the interesting video. They need sound barriers at the Freeway. The Yuma Quechans rebelled in 1781 killing the priests and soldiers at the Yuma Mission Purisima Concepcion. A marker at the former mission site is there. Recovered remains are surrounded by an iron fence on the grounds of Mission San Gabriel Arcangel which I came across at one time. Long back I read this somewhere. At one time Indian peoples somewhere in San Diego County were against communication towers being put up on a hill. They were not protesting them being put up on a taller hill. Thinking the taller hill would be more important or "sacred" to the local Indians someone decided to investigate out of curiosity. Wondering why that lesser hill was so important he studied a topographic map and saw a series of physical features and hills making a "face." The protested hill would have been the forehead or brain. When that person talked it over with a leader of the protest he became quiet then said , " It is something you were meant to know."

[@billofrightsamend4]

I think they pronounce it kwet son. Like on as in on...son, or sawn. 😁 You know I often wondered if people when hiking, brought some water to water the plants. Of course make sure you have enough for yourself. Just a few plants, and with as many people hiking as there is. I did that when I visited Death Valley, watered some of the wild flowers with distilled water. I did it on the way back to Vegas, in the evening when it was cooling down. I wonder if that would help keep the dried out plants to a minimum.

[@lourdesgallegos7508]

Dude, that is dark!

[@JB-rt4mx]

Do the historic Mission Gorge Dam and Climbing Cliff

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I plan on doing something on the dam soon.

[@chrismalcolm5518]

I feel for the poor guy who has to empty the trash can at the top.

[@lovescoffee9780]

Ive driven by this mtn many times. Didn't know the story

[@GrumpyCat24]

Sad to see all the houses being built on all the hills. Hike it while you can.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Hopefully they wont be adding anymore, but who knows.

[@GrumpyCat24]

Short trail....but steeeeeep A.F.!!!