Hike Log

100 degrees not so hot at Sitton Peak!

Trailhead:

Bear Canyon Trail Head, Ortega Highway

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Trail in good condition

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

No bugs

Snow:

Snow free

Sitton Peak was our first choice on the list of the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge 2021…Greg and I were supposed to start at 7 a.m. (due to heat advisory) but instead did not start until 7:30 a.m.,  on Sunday, June 27, 2021.   We have both ran Sitton Peak before but not in the heat that was forecasted for Lake Elsinore on this day…The trailhead starts directly behind the Candy Store off of Ortega Highway…Parking for this hike is directly behind the store…Adventure passes are required… there were bathrooms which were fairly clean…crossing the road to the trailhead is hazardous on weekends…lots of bikers coming from Lake Elsinore headed to San Clemente…the hike is an out and back (if you are specifically going to the Peak)…from the start it is a gradual climb (so it will be a nice downhill on the way back)…the trail is well marked…mostly sandy with rocks…for most of the trail its a single track that opens up wide at certain parts…there is some shade on the trail until you get to “Four Corners”… from there its mostly exposed until you get to the sign that says “Sitton Peak 1.7 miles”…there is some shade at that point prior to the quarter mile climb to the peak…There are several other trails from Bear Canyon (to include Verdugo Trail; Tenaja and San Mateo)…These trails will take you south to the trailhead located at Tenaja off of Clinton Keith in Murrieta…Temps at the start of the trail run/hike was 82 degrees…temps quickly rose…I had to walk for most of the sections that were exposed due to the heat…Greg ran for most of it…only stopping to hike with me for the last 1/4 mile… The climb to the peak can be a scramble for some…loose rocks and sandy trail make for  sliding in areas…I have done this portion with gloves on before (which can be helpful)…it was over 95 degrees at the summit…(3,273 feet)….there are some older signs there to hold…the view was most clear.. lots of bugs at the summit (we had bug spray on which helped a little)…we were the only ones at the summit and did not see anyone until we got back to Four Corners…the run/hike back was much hotter and there was some humidity…we were done by 11:18 a.m…. 103 degrees at the parking lot at that time…elevation gain was 1982 feet…we used 3 liters of water each…overall the run/hike was great…recommendations on days that are hot…start early…bring bug spray…take extra water and food and gloves for the scramble to the top…

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  1. Hi Mary,
    I like how detailed your report is! I will make sure to bring some bug spray for future hikes. Nice job and keep posting!

    1. Thanks for the comment! I hope to do at least two more hikes this upcoming weekend. Not sure yet which ones I will do. Have a great fourth!

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