Top Of Saddleback Mount (Santiago Peak)

This by weekend, I had the adventure to larn to the top of Saddleback Mountain amongst a buddy from piece of occupation who wanted to hike to the top of Saddleback Mountain. The autumn weather condition was perfect as well as at the top of Saddleback Mountain (Santiago Peak) at that spot was visibility for to a greater extent than than lx miles inwards all directions. Santiago Peak sits at an elevation of 5,687 feet as well as is the tallest signal inwards the Santa Ana Mountains. I own got hiked to the top of Saddleback Mountain a full of v times as well as it remains ane of Orange County's must produce hikes. For to a greater extent than pictures of the hike brand certain to cheque out our Facebook Page.

Directions to Trailhead: Via the Holy Jim route to the top of Saddleback: From Cooks corner accept Live Oak Canyon Road heading toward O'Neil Regional Park. Keep going until yous overstep Trabuco Creek, later which brand a left as well as caput upward Trabuco Canyon Road (a bumpy dirt road), if yous give-up the ghost on going on Live Oak Canyon Road yous volition come across the dorsum of Rancho Santa Margarita as well as own got gone likewise far. You volition gain the parking lot as well as trailhead inwards unopen to 4.5 miles on the dirt route (You volition cross Trabuco Creek several times), the trailhead parking expanse is but by the volunteer dismiss house. I would recommend a truck amongst proficient clearance equally some parts of the route are a piddling fossil oil as well as I would non utilization this route anytime later heavy rains. H5N1 Forest Adventure Pass is needed to green at the trailhead equally it is located inwards the Cleveland National Forest.

Holy Jim Falls). Make certain to select enough of H2O as well as sunscreen equally this hike tin larn deceptively hot, specially during the summertime months. The trail is good maintained as well as most probable when yous larn yous volition reckon person on the trail. From the split it volition live on almost four miles to the principal separate route where yous brand a left as well as follow the route all the means to the top as well as bask the views. This hike volition live on almost an 8 lx minutes hike for most. It all depends on how long yous bask the views at the top.

Further Thoughts: This hike to the top of Saddleback Mountain was a peachy autumn hike inwards Orange County. There were a fair pose out of people out enjoying the trail as well as heading to the top of Saddleback Mountain. The canyon piece of occupation of the Holy Jim Trail is awesome as well as is a welcomed escape from the urban landscape of Orange County. The canyon is covered inwards dense woodlands (mostly oak trees) as well as fifty-fifty inwards the belatedly autumn at that spot was soundless portions of the flow amongst puddles of water.  On the means upward the mountain, several of the springs also had H2O inwards them equally well.

During moisture years, these springs mightiness live on a house to filter H2O from, nonetheless they should live on considered unreliable sources of water. Bear Springs is located at an elevation of almost 3,900 feet as well as volition live on located on the rights side of the trail earlier yous gain the principal separate road. During the autumn months yous volition discovery a large pose out of acorns inwards this area. Bottom-line is it was overnice to reckon all of the greenish works that was soundless at that spot on the mountain. One of the cool things almost this hike is seeing the sections of pino wood that be inwards the Santa Ana Mountains.

The ane neat affair almost this hike is that for the bulk of the hike yous tin reckon your goal, the top of the mountain. The antennas at the top are visible for most of the hike. Once yous striking the principal separate route as well as yous caput upward the dorsum side of saddleback, yous are rewarded amongst peachy views of the Inland Empire. You tin clearly reckon Mt. San Jacinto, Mt. San Antonio (Mt. Baldy), as well as Mt San Gorgonio (Which is the tallest mount inwards Southern California at 11,501 ft).

On the means upward Saddleback Mountain, nosotros saw a lot of trail runners who were participating inwards a xxx mile race inwards the dorsum country.  Needless to state these long distance runners were inwards amazing shape. Once at the top nosotros enjoyed a celebratory tiffin taking inwards the views of Southern California. There are multiple proficient locations to sit down at the top as well as bask the views. It was a beautiful 24-hour interval amongst peachy visibility for miles inwards all directions. The solely bad affair almost the hike was the large pose out of bugs at the top (lots of gnats).  Make certain to select some type of insect repellent. It took us a full of 8 hours to produce our hike which included stops along the means equally good equally a 45 infinitesimal tiffin at the top of Saddleback Mountain. As ever select your photographic goggle box camera equally the views are breathtaking as well as yous also own got a proficient adventure at seeing wildlife.

Rating: Elevation Gain: 4,000 ft. (Strenuous), Distance: xvi Miles Roundtrip (Strenuous).

Time to Complete Hike: 6.5 - 8.5 hours.

MORE TRAIL WRITE-UPS ON SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN

July 20, 2008

Oct 20, 2013 (This Post)

View Top of Saddleback Mountain Trail Map (Cleveland National Forest) inwards a larger map
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The Sinks Hike (Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park)

Recently Ashley as well as her expert friend Kristal Mikels visited The Sinks inward Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, utilizing the Augustine Trial Head. From the Augustine Trailhead this hike has unopen to 550 feet of elevation make as well as is 7.6 miles round-trip. For our detailed trail description as well as write-up, brand certain to cheque out our formal post service Here. The Sinks, an impressive geological formation, has been called the "Miniature Grand Canyon of Orange County". While the term "Miniature Grand Canyon of Orange County" is a flake hyperbole (because it is clearly dwarfed past times inward size as well as compass past times the Grand Canyon or fifty-fifty Waimea Canyon), it is a beautiful geological characteristic that is located inward some of Orange County's nearly pristine wilderness areas as well as is good worth the hike. Here are some pictures from Ashley's hike amongst Kristal to taste on this much needed rainy solar daytime (rainy weekend) inward Southern California!

Bear Canyon Loop Wildflowers Hike

Ashley as well as I had the run a peril to hike the Bear Canyon Loop the Sabbatum earlier Easter Lord's Day final weekend. We chose to produce this hike because this trail is known to conduct maintain peachy wildflowers inwards the leap time. The hike did non disappoint, nevertheless nosotros conduct maintain seen amend wildflowers along this trail during years amongst wetter rainy seasons. The Bear Canyon Loop is a peachy hike that too offers amazing views of the Santa Ana Mountains as well as is an all unopen to pleasant hike that nosotros would highly recommend to others. If you lot are looking for a peachy hike inwards the Cleveland National Forest as well as the chance to run into wildflowers afterward a rainy flavour this is the hike for you. The hike has an elevation make of 1,000 feet as well as is 6.8 miles round-trip.  This is a moderate hike that should accept somewhere between 2.5 hours to four hours to complete. Ashley as well as I packed a tiffin as well as enjoyed taking inwards the beautiful scenery on this hike every bit good every bit the wildflowers.  For a sum trail description of this hike brand certain to checkout our detailed trail write-up past times clicking Here. Here are some pictures from our hike for every ane to enjoy!

Memorial Twenty-Four Hr Menstruation Sitton Tiptop Hike

Ashley together with I got a jeopardy to become hiking today to the transcend of Sitton Peak off of Ortega Highway. Our neighbors Justin together with Kelley joined us on our hike together with nosotros all had a corking time. We were the outset persons on the trail this morning time together with enjoyed spectacular views at the transcend of Sitton Peak. The weather condition was every bit good rattling good, it started off slightly cool together with hence warmed upwards every bit the twenty-four hr menstruum went on. Ashley together with I promise that everyone got a jeopardy to exit together with produce to a greater extent than or less hiking this by weekend inwards accolade of memorial day. Ashley together with I are hence thankful for the sacrifice together with service of our veterans together with active service members. Sitton Peak is 1 of our favorite hikes inwards all of Southern California together with nosotros convey both done this hike many times. For our detailed trail write-up on the hike to Sitton Peak brand certain to click Here. Enjoy a brace of pictures from our hike today!

Memorial Twenty-Four Hr Menstruum Sitton Superlative Hike

On memorial day, Brian together with I went out together with hiked to the overstep of Sitton Peak inwards the Cleveland National Forest. For a exceptional trail write-up on Sitton Peak, click Here.  In our opinion, the hike to Sitton Peak NEVER gets old! Every fourth dimension nosotros see Sitton Peak, nosotros are rewarded with amazing views.  Obviously, the clearer the atmospheric condition is, the amend the views are from upwardly there. This memorial twenty-four hours hike was actually cool, because Brian together with I watched the clouds/marine layer curlicue inwards over the hills during our drive out to the trailhead. From our car, nosotros were thinking that it would probable misting during our our hike because the peak looked similar it was only floating inwards a cloud.  

We started our hike yesteryear the coveted Candy Store (it's a MUST every fourth dimension nosotros hike), only off of Ortega Highway. We proceeded upwardly the Bear Canyon trail together with saw the beautiful trammel flowers that were aligning the trail, which is typical during the trammel inwards this area. Conditions on the hiking trail were only right. We had a skillful bargain of cloud embrace for the bulk of our hike, with the Sun playing peek-a-boo during most of the hike. It was also pretty breezy this twenty-four hours equally well, which is prissy equally y'all brand your means upwards on the trail. The breeze was prissy to maintain the bugs away. After almost three miles of straightaway hiking, Brian together with I arrived at Four Corners together with the decided to kept going to the summit with out our commons halt at the Four Corners area. I intend this hike was i of our faster records, for our fourth dimension to the overstep of Sitton Peak. We reached the summit inwards almost an sixty minutes together with a half. The hike is an out together with dorsum hike that is 10.3 miles with the loop together with has 2,200 feet of elevation gain.

I actually wanted to receive got a minute to pay tribute to the lives lost yesteryear our service members who lay downward their lives for the freedoms nosotros enjoy. I had a scarf that looks similar an American flag, together with then I brought that with me on the hike together with Brian took roughly photographs of the flag beingness raised to a higher house the hilltops of Southern California. After all, nosotros would non move hiking if it weren't for the men together with women who fought for us. We are forever grateful, together with maintain to move grateful for the men together with women who currently serve together with receive got served.  

As Brian together with I finished our fourth dimension on the summit (which nosotros had all to ourselves) nosotros reflected on how many times nosotros receive got done this hike. Between the 2 of us, it's been over 20 times.  I dearest the lizards, the hummingbirds, tarantulas, deer, turkey vultures, together with the wild flowers that we've seen spell doing this hike over the years. This hike is my favorite local hike close Orange County. The hike may move steep, going upwardly that final fiddling flake to the summit, but it's together with then worth it. If y'all larn the direct a opportunity to hike this peak on a foggy/cloudy day, produce it. When y'all are at the summit, it feels similar y'all are flight alongside the clouds. There is something cleansing to the person when the breeze comes over y'all afterward hiking uphill for an hour. Brian together with I receive got ever recommended this equally a skillful hike for those inwards Southern California to do!

Orange County's Elevation Five Hikes

When y'all intend of Orange County, perchance the get-go thing that comes to hear is Disneyland, the beach, the TV Show the OC, or whatever release of other things.  However, i thing that may non come upward to everyone's hear is the amazing hiking trails that be inwards Orange County, California.  Orange County has a broad multifariousness of dissimilar hiking trails.  One hateful solar daytime y'all tin hold upward hiking correct along the beach as well as the adjacent inwards the mountains.  There are many hiking locations where y'all tin instruct a corking secluded experience as well as non fifty-fifty run into testify of the to a greater extent than than three i G m people that telephone phone Orange County home.  While in that place are many corking trails as well as hiking locations inwards Orange County, nosotros are doing our best to pick our transcend five trails/hiking areas inwards Orange County as well as the next are those that made the list:

NUMBER 5: RILEY WILDERNESS PARK

Riley Wilderness Park is i of OC Parks gems as well as offers approximately of the best hiking inwards Orange County. Riley Wilderness Park has been on of our favorite local commons for hiking.  Even though it is a pocket-sized nature preserve, amongst roughly five miles of trails, it packs a punch amongst abundant wild fauna as well as beautiful scenery.  It is the type of hike y'all tin squash inwards afterward operate or produce on the weekend when y'all bring to a greater extent than fourth dimension to explore.  It is genuinely a jewel inwards Orange County as well as it is an Orange County hike the whole household unit of measurement tin bask together because it is non that strenuous.  Ashley as well as I bring e'er enjoyed visiting this commons inwards the tardily afternoon/early evening.  To run into our detailed trail write-up on Riley Wilderness Park, click HERE.

NUMBER 4: HOLY JIM CANYON TO HOLY JIM FALLS

Hiking to Holy Jim Falls is i of Orange County's to a greater extent than good known hikes.  This hike is essentially at the base of operations of the Santa Ana Mountain Range, below Santiago Peak.  In our times hiking this trail nosotros bring e'er establish H2O at the falls, no thing the season.  The hike is i that is tardily to produce amongst the entire household unit of measurement because it is alone a brusk 2.8 miles round-trip from the parking lot.  This hike is secluded the entire means as well as is pleasant to hike yr round.  For our detailed trail write-up on a hike to Holy Jim Falls click HERE.

NUMBER 3: LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park offers many hiking options.  It is roughly 6,800 acres inwards size as well as has miles of hiking trails.  There are many dissimilar hikes that i could do, from tardily to strenuous.  Hiking hither allows y'all to instruct corking views of Orange County, equally good equally the Pacific Ocean.  And what is corking is that afterward your hike, y'all tin instruct into Laguna Beach as well as catch a seize amongst teeth to consume when finished!  You are probable to run into other hikers as well as mount bikers when hither as well as y'all tin e'er brand novel friends spell hiking inwards this area.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 corking introductory hike is Laurel Canyon, which is a 3.5 mile round-trip hike that volition hand y'all a corking sampling of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.  To run into our detailed trail write-up on the Laurel Canyon Loop inwards the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, click HERE.

NUMBER 2:  CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK

Crystal Cove State Park is a real pop hiking destination inwards Orange County.  There are a broad make of trails as well as beach hiking opportunities equally well.  While hiking hither y'all volition unremarkably bring corking views of the Pacific Ocean as well as the surrounding wilderness areas.  You likewise bring a corking run a peril to run into local wild fauna spell hiking here.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 corking moderate to strenuous hike that nosotros would highly recommend is hiking El Moro canyon.  This hike is 7.8 miles round-trip as well as gives y'all a corking overview of the entire park.  You start at the parking area, which is close the beach as well as and thus get down your hiking going upward over rolling hills until y'all accomplish the high points of Crystal Cove State Park.  To run into our detailed trail write-up on the El Moro Canyon Hike inwards Crystal Cove State Park, click HERE.

NUMBER 1:  SITTON PEAK

Sitton Peak is i of our all fourth dimension favorite hikes inwards Orange County. It is a peak that sits correct on the boarder of Riverside Count as well as Orange County as well as travels through the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. This hike is 9.8 miles long as well as is the perfect hike inwards our opinion.  It is simply challenging enough, but non overly difficult.  Additionally, the hike traverses through a broad make of scenery as well as the views at the transcend of the peak are great!  The trail has e'er been inwards expert kind every fourth dimension Ashley as well as I bring hiked hither as well as nosotros bring e'er been fortunate plenty to e'er seen approximately type of wild fauna spell on the hike to Sitton Peak.  This is our favorite Orange County Hike.  To run into our detailed trail write-up on Sitton Peak, click HERE.