Located in the Anaheim Hills, this one-time home to mountain lions is loaded
with ancient oak trees.
Distance: 6 miles Difficulty: Moderate hikes, limited access When to go: Oct.-May Location: Anaheim Hills, adjacent to Weir Canyon Regional Park. Elevation Gain: 1000+ ft. Phone: Call Santiago Oaks, (714) 538-4400 (no phone or office on
site) Dogs: Yes (on leash only). Call ahead. Directions: Exit south on Imperial Highway from the 91 Freeway. Turn
left on Nohl Ranch Road. Turn left when it ends at Serrano Avenue. Take
Hidden Canyon Road right and park where it joins Overlook Terrace.
Trail Information
Remarks: This area of blond rolling grass meadows are a joy to
hikers. Dropping back down from the summit, a wandering, dream-like trail
winds through thousands of oak trees.
From Overlook Terrace, you can either hop on the Anaheim Hills trail (aka
Anaheim Ridge trail) before the fence (which follows the ridgeline), or pass
through the gate to the floor of Weir Canyon and hike up the gentle grade of
the Gypsum Spur. Hiking along the ridgeline, you will no doubt wonder what
may have lived (or lives) in the caves hidden among the outcroppings. This
is former mountain lion country at it's finest. The many ravines also made
excellent hiding places for highwaymen eluding the sheriff's posse in the
late 1800s.
Walking Through Mountain Lion Country
The Ridge trail follows near an old barbed wire fence, offering a physical
workout that winds through beautiful tributary canyons. Keep an eye open for
former mountain lion habitat (you aren't likely to see one).
Environmentalists in three counties and at the state level are eagerly
working together to save the mountain lion habitat corridor just two canyons
to the east and north near Coal Canyon. Even if you don't see a lion, ground
squirrels are doing well along the dried creek and rabbits flourish in spite
of the watchful eye of many birds of prey gliding above.
Imagine Life During Past Eras
After the housing track, the Ridge trail joins Gypsum Spur and begins to
glide back down the center of the canyon at a gentle rolling grade. Or walk
to the easterly side of the development and look for the Gypsum Spur portion
of trail that leads to the east side of Weir Canyon to remain furthest from
the development.
As you hike these trails, imagine the Native Americans who walked these same
fields during another era and cherish the silence. Imagine what it looked
like before all the damage caused by years of grazing. You can't help but
click off a few photos here that simply can not be duplicated at many places
in Orange County.
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If
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