Public Safety

El Capitan Hiker Found Dead Near Lakeside Identified as Johnathan Gorbea, 40

By Santee Pulse Staff ยท Published March 24, 2026 ยท 3 min read
El Capitan Hiker Found Dead Near Lakeside Identified as Johnathan Gorbea, 40
Photo: NBC 7 San Diego

The man found dead Sunday on a hiking trail at the El Capitan County Preserve in Lakeside has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office as Johnathan Gorbea, 40, of San Diego.

Gorbea was reported missing around 10:50 a.m. Sunday by his family after he failed to return from a solo hike at El Cajon Mountain in Lakeside. He had set out Saturday morning, beginning his trek around 8 a.m. at a trailhead in the 13700 block of Blue Sky Ranch Road.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office launched a search involving the Search and Rescue Unit, deputies and detectives from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation, and a sheriff's helicopter crew. Gorbea's body was located near one of the trails just east of the trailhead at approximately 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released an official cause of death. The investigation is ongoing.

El Capitan Mountain, located in the unincorporated community of Lakeside, is a popular destination for hikers in East County. Residents planning hikes in the area are encouraged to inform others of their route and expected return time, and to carry water, navigation tools, and a charged phone.

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