Santiago Peak

Overview

UPDATE 8/15/2018: The trails on this route have been heavily impacted by the 2018 Holy Fire. It will be quite some time before the vegetation recovers, and it is currently unknown when the trails will re-open.    We at Modern Hiker have been committing an egregious sin for far too long. We have brought you some of the best trails in Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernadino County, and San Diego County. We’ve ventured far afield to the Sierra Nevadas, Utah, Arizona, and beyond to cover the best trails in the western states. And all along, one of the most spectacular hikes in SoCal has sat there right under our very noses. . . or, at least, 5,689 feet above our noses. The summit of Santiago Peak Santiago Peak, frequently referred to as Saddleback Mountain by locals, is not just Orange County’s high point. It is the centerpiece for the prominent Santa Ana mountain range dividing the coastal communities from the Inland Empire. The Santa Anas may not have the soaring heights and coniferous forests of the mountains in the surrounding counties, but its position in the middle of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area provides superlative views of every major geographical and most urban landmarks from the L.A. Basin to southern San Diego County. Looking north and east at the Three Saints On views alone, the hike up to Santiago Peak via Holy Jim Canyon can be considered the premier hike in Orange County. It is also a very difficult hike, with 15 miles of distance during which you will lose and gain 4,000′ of elevation. Getting there is no picnic either, as the trailhead lies near the end of a rutted and unruly dirt road that passes through the cool shade of Trabuco Canyon. However, if you are up for the challenge and in the mood for adventure, you will find that this hike disappoints neither in the views nor the adventure categories. Trabuco Creek Starting at the dirt lot in front of the Holy Jim Trailhead, park your car, display your Adventure Pass, and proceed north up the dirt road in the direction of a

Trail Stats

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