The mountain is accessible through a 4.7 mi (7.6 km) long out-and-back hiking trail.

The old mines should not be entered due to the risks of collapse, falls from the vertical shafts, noxious gasses and rattlesnakes that shelter there during the day.

[6] This mountain is a member of a distinctive coastal "sky island" bioclimatic zone found in San Diego County and northwestern Baja California, which harbor numerous rare and endemic species due to their geologic composition, usually consisting of gabbroic, mafic, and metavolcanic soils.

[7] The gabbro-derived soil (Las Posas stony fine sandy loam) on McGinty is characterized by low levels of major nutrients necessary for plant life, like phosphorus, calcium, and potassium, and high levels of heavy metals such as nickel, chromium, and cobalt.

[8][9] The mountain is host to a number of rare and endemic species, which include: Other common plants along the trail and mountain include the fragrant Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii).