San Diego – – September 28, 2026 -- Cyclists in San Diego are increasingly drawn to Mount Soledad, a climb that ends not just at a scenic overlook but at a nearly century-old veterans memorial.
Multiple routes lead to the same summit
Mount Soledad offers several distinct roads to the top. Some are short and steep, testing riders early with punishing pitches. Others wind longer through residential streets, offering a more gradual but sustained effort. Regardless of the route chosen, every path converges at the same summit.
A nearly 30-foot cross anchors the memorial
At the top stands the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial, centered on a large white cross rising nearly 30 feet and visible from much of the city below. An American flag flies beside it. The structure has stood on the hilltop in some form for close to a century.
Plaques honor veterans from every branch of service
Surrounding the cross are walls lined with plaques bearing the names, photographs, and service histories of veterans spanning every military branch and generation of American conflict. The cross stands over the memorial, positioned above the walls that record those histories.
The summit offers a nearly 360-degree view of San Diego
From the top, riders can see the Pacific Ocean to the west, La Jolla and the coastline stretching north and south, and inland valleys and mountains to the east. On clear days, it is described as one of the best vantage points in the region.
Attorney Allen Leisorek of Gomez Trial Attorneys, who regularly rides the climb, said reaching the cross after a hard ascent feels closer to a pilgrimage than a workout, offering a few minutes to reflect before heading back down the mountain.