San Carlos is bounded by Del Cerro and Navajo to the west, Fletcher Hills and the city of El Cajon to the east, and the cities of Santee and La Mesa to the north and south. Most of East County was ranch land a century ago, and the area retains a rural, ranchero feel even in the new developments.
Most of the houses were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, in the popular Ranch Style: single-story houses of 900 to 1,225 square feet with two, three, or four bedrooms and two-car garages. In the 30-plus years since, owners have added patios, room additions, and second stories, giving each house its own look.
The nearest trolley stops are either at Amaya Drive and Severin in La Mesa, or Grossmont Transit Center on Fletcher Parkway. Both serve the Orange Line and the newly opened Green Line, both have free parking lots, and both are about three miles away.
Cowles Mountain is located in San Carlos and at 1,591 feet it’s the highest point within San Diego city limits. From the summit, on a clear day, you can see the ocean. You also can see into Mexico and the rest of San Diego County, both of which have peaks that dwarf Cowles Mountain. It has miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails on it.
