Finished SoCal 12/12 with Santiago Peak.
I don’t have a high clearance vehicle so I parked at the end of the paved portion of Maple Springs Road where it becomes a dirt road. This is usually an 18 mile out-and-back from here using the boring and dreaded dirt road, which really isn’t fun on weekends with many vehicles kicking up dust as they drive by. But I wanted to explore a single track trail that begins 1/2 mile from where I parked. The road has switchbacks but the single track cuts them.
The single track was overgrown in many areas and was brutal on my shins (I wore shorts) but it was worth the adventure because of different views, no road dust, and it cut off 2 miles. I reached the upper parking just before Main Divide Road in 2.2 miles vs 4.2 miles. This is the popular parking for 6-POP challengers with high clearance vehicles.
I continued on the single track after MDR to the summit, cutting another 2 miles, reaching the summit in 5 miles vs 9 miles. The upper single track is in much better condition and is even used by mountain bikers and also has the branch to Modjeska Peak (maybe next year).
I cannot complain about today’s heat because it’s expected for August and September. But while there was lots of shade on the upper single track, it was not paradise. Way too many flying insects. I packed light and didn’t have my head net or bug spray and sometimes I breathed with my teeth clenched to keep them out. On descent, I simply ran through the shaded areas.
Responses
Thanks for posting this! Nice job – I’ll be doing this one tomorrow morning early. There are so many different opinions on which way to go and where to park. I’m using the Orange Unified School District as my destination.
I’ve only hiked from Maple Springs Road in Silverado, not from the Trabuco Creek Road, Santiago Truck Trail, or Joplin Trails.
Most people that I know drive a high clearance vehicle on MSR to where there is plenty of parking just before Main Divide Road. MSR begins at the MS Visitor Center gate and it is 3.1 miles paved then 4.2 miles dirt road to that parking area. The hike is 9.5 miles out-and-back from there if you take only the MDR dirt road, or 5.5 out-and-back if you use the single-track trail which hits the opposite side of MDR.
If you don’t want to drive the MSR dirt road, the hike is 18 miles out-and-back from where the paved road ends or 24 miles from the MSVC if you hike only MSR and MDR. Take off 2 miles if you hike the single-track from the upper parking (recommended, but the flying insects in the shady areas are horrible so bring a net or spray). Also take 2 miles off if you hike the lower single-track (overgrown, so have fun). Make sure you have a tracker and know the single-track routes if you choose them.
Thanks for all of this information – it was very helpful. Those gnat sucked no matter if you stay on the dirt road or not!!!
Hi Eric, Thanks for your trail report. Congrats on completing the full list of peaks. I am also going for all 12 and Santiago Peak is the last one to summit. I’ve put this one off for last because it is not my favorite trail, and all the dirt from the monster trucks. I’m going to try your route. It sounds a bit more enjoyable with less mileage. And I will remember to bring my headnet.