The Cuyamaca Mountains, locally the Cuyamacas, are a mountain range in San Diego County

San Diego County, California

San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. The mountains run roughly northwest to southeast. The highest elevations are Cuyamaca Peak

Cuyamaca Peak

Cuyamaca Peak is a mountain in San Diego County roughly from the Pacific Ocean, in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park east of San Diego and southwest of Julian...

 at 6512 feet (1,984.9 m) and Stonewall Peak at 5700 feet (1,737.4 m). The San Diego River

San Diego River

The San Diego River is a river in San Diego County, California. It originates in the Cuyamaca Mountains northwest of the town of Julian, then flows to the southwest until it reaches the El Capitan Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the river's watershed at . Below El Capitan Dam, the river runs...

 and the Sweetwater River

Sweetwater River (California)

The Sweetwater River is a long stream in southwestern California in the United States. From its headwaters high in the Cuyamaca Mountains, the river flows generally southwest, first through rugged hinterlands but then into the urban areas surrounding its mouth at San Diego Bay. Its drainage basin...

 both rise in the Cuyamacas.

The mountains are part of the Cleveland National Forest

Cleveland National Forest

Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...

 and contain Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is a state park located forty miles east of San Diego, California in the Laguna Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges. The park's 26,000 acres feature pine, fir, and oak forests, with meadows and streams that exist due to the relatively high elevation of the area compared...

.

There are several small towns in the Cuyamaca Mountains including Julian

Julian, California

Julian is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,502, down from 1,621 at the 2000 census.Julian is an official California Historical Landmark No. 412...

, Descanso

Descanso, California

Descanso is a small census-designated place in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California and part of California's 52nd congressional district. Descanso is located east of Alpine and west of Pine Valley. The population was 1,423 at the 2010 census.The community's name...

, Pine Valley

Pine Valley, California

Pine Valley is a community and census-designated place in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. The population was 1,510 at the 2010 census, up from 1,501 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...

 and Guatay

Guatay, California

Guatay is an unincorporated community in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. Its elevation is 3,999 feet . Although Guatay is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 91931....

.

Interstate 8

Interstate 8

Interstate 8 is an Interstate Highway in the southwestern United States. It runs from the southern edge of Mission Bay at Sunset Cliffs Blvd, in San Diego, California, almost at the Pacific Ocean, to the junction with Interstate 10, just southeast of Casa Grande, Arizona...

passes through the Cuyamaca Mountains. State Rt. 79, known as the Cuyamaca Highway, runs lengthwise through the mountains.

Gold rush

Gold was discovered in the Cuyamacas in 1870 and the mountains were subject to a gold rush. Towns and encampments sprang up to support the miners. The company town of Cuyamaca City had a population of 500 and served the Stonewall Mine. The town was abandoned after mining operations ceased, and few traces of it exist. The site of the town now lies within Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Other gold mines were supported by the town of Julian, which celebrates its mining history with an annual festival called Gold Rush Days. The Eagle-High Peak Mine, no longer productive, is now a museum and gives daily tours.