Santiago Peak (5,687') via Indian Truck Trail

Rising high above Southern California's populated metropolis, Santiago Peak, the crown of the Santa Ana Mountains, can be seen throughout the Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire.   Because of its rapid rise from the ocean plains, the mountain is used as a 'landmark' by hikers of higher peaks such as San Gorgonio Mountain and Mount Baden Powell.   The summit of "Old Saddleback" marks the boundary between Orange and Riverside counties, and is in fact the highpoint of Orange County.  Standing alone above the advancing towns below, Santiago Peak beckons not only hikers, but also avid mountain bikers as well as motorcycle dirt racers to climb (or peddle/drive) to its lofty summit, which is almost always above or in the clouds- at least on its ocean influenced Orange County side.  The very top of the mountain is covered by scores of antennae for TV , radio, and phone-thus you can't get a great view  from just one spot. Ninety-nine percent of climbers of this worthy peak start from the Orange County side; either from Trabuco Canyon via the Holy Jim Trail, or via the Harding Trail just past O'Neil Regional Park.  The remaining one-percent travel to it typically from extreme southern Corona via the Indian Truck Trail (5S01).  In my opinion this trail is Southern California's best kept trail secret.  Why?  I don't really know...perhaps because of its rather unusual trailhead location, literally in the backyards of  housing development homes. Or, perhaps, it is because it is more strenuous than the Orange County-side's: totaling both over twenty miles and four-thousand feet of gain.  Nevertheless,  this hike up the eastern-shelf of the Santa Ana mountains is a rewarding experience, through a land laced with pines as well as offering spectacular views of the Inland Empire below.  There are several easier destinations on this trail including Banana Point (3220'), Main Divide (3900'), and Bear Spring (4002').  Whatever your destination may be, it is guaranteed to be a blissful trip through Our Lord's extravagant creation.  As with most low-country hikes, this trek travels through territory that is scorched in the sometimes triple degree heat.  Be wise and leave this hike to a cool day.   

Stats: 

Category: Very Strenuous
Miles: 23
Elevation Gain: 4,600' 
Location: Cleveland National Forest
Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/37pJN  

The Trail: From the trailhead just behind the backyards of Corona, begin your hike through chaparral and oak-dotted hills up the well-graded fire road, Indian Truck Trail.  After a bit less than a mile you will pass a Korean Christian Retreat Center (Private Property), please respect it and stay on the main road.  You begin climbing steeply up through the hills above Corona and soon you cross over to the western-side of the hills, exposing beautiful and tranquil Indian Canyon rising up to Trabuco Peak (4,650') high above you to your left.  You walk a few hundred feet above the canyon for around two miles until the trail switches back to the eastern-side of the range, bypassing pines and oaks alongside the mountain until you reach Banana Point, over 3000' above sea level.  If you are feeling quite tired, this is a good turnaround place.  If you still are full of energy, the next section of the trail is the most beautiful of all, as the road then climbs and drops along the northern-side of rugged and unspoiled Coldwater Canyon, while shaded by an impressive Coulter Pine forest.  The peak you see to your north covered by antennae is Santiago Peak, over 2000' above where you now are.  After three miles paralleling Coldwater Canyon, you reach Main Divide Road-the crest of the Santa Ana Mountains, offering views into Orange County and the sea below.  After lunch at Main Divide, follow Main Divide Road up about a mile to a split with the Upper Holy Jim Trail.  If you wish to continue to trickling Bear Spring, stay on Main Divide Road 0.5 miles.  If you are continuing to Santiago Peak, take the Upper Holy Jim Trail, which shaves off 2 miles of walking via Indian Truck Trail to the same destination.  Upper Holy Jim Trail is unmaintained, but easy enough to follow, just rough in some spots as well as a bit narrow because of some encroaching brush.  I should mention though to take this part slow as it is quite steep in some places, especially during the middle parts of the switchbacks. After close to two miles of switchbacking, you find yourself at a hairpin turn on Main Divide Road.  Follow Main divide about one last hour to the antennae clustered summit of Orange County's highest point, Santiago Peak at 5,687' above sea level. (The actual summit is on the western part of the mountain plateau).  After standing on summit, have fun using lookout contraptions to pinpoint locations such as downtown Los Angeles, Santa Catalina Island, and Palomar Mountain.  After resting and enjoying your views, return the way you came.  

Our Lady of Mercy, Pray For Us! 
Saint Anne, Pray For Us!  
Saint James the Apostle (Lesser and Greater), Pray For Us!  

Hiked: 3-23-2014.   Riverside and Orange Counties (Orange County High point), No Adventure Pass Required.    

7:45 am Morning sun on Lake Elsinore

Trabuco Peak and Indian Canyon

Indian TT

View into Corona near the first pines (2900')

Northernside of Coldwater Canyon

Nearing Main Divide

Main Divide

Coulter Pine Forest

Along upper Indian Truck Trail

Main Divide Gate

View from Main Divide into OC

Main Divide benchmark (3900')

On Main Divide Road towards Upper Holy Jim

western Santa Ana *not lack of pines on this side)

A switchback on almost all shade-less Upper Holy Jim Trail

Meet up of Main Divide Road and Upper Holy Jim Trail

Main Divide Road nearing summit

Almost there!  

No smoking!  

OC'S 2nd highest Modjeska Peak in background 

Summit antenna 

12:45 pm: Summit-marker

Down into Trabuco Canon

Reminds me of Mt. Lowe

View of summit from lookouts

 

Our friend on desent

Blooming flowers

Peaceful tranquility of Creation

Towards Lake Matthews and the IE

Descent, back on Indian Truck Trail

Santiago Peak from Banana Point 

7: 05 pm :Santiago Peak from the Trailhead.  Last car left in parking lot

BTW: This is So Cal's least burned area.  There probably hasn't been a fire here in close to 200 years.   No traces of fire at all!