The twin volcanic peaks of Cerro Tetakawi rise sharply above the bay, topping out around 200 metres, and are the defining feature of the San Carlos skyline. The rock is rust-coloured rhyolite, jagged and dramatic against the blue water below. There are two summits — the east peak is more commonly climbed and offers the better view.
The hike to the east peak takes about an hour and a half from the trailhead off Boulevard Manlio Fabio Beltrones. The trail is steep and rocky in the upper section, with some hand-and-foot scrambling near the top. Bring water; the desert sun is fierce. The reward is a sweeping panorama of the bay, the marina, the offshore islands, and on clear days the faint outline of the Baja California peninsula across the Sea of Cortez.