This trail offers spectacular views along the boundary of a community (Serrano Heights in Orange) that rests on the fringe of Anaheim Hills, and a cool old dam.
Distance: 4-mile loop Difficulty: Easy to moderate When to go: Year round Location: On Windes Drive off of Santiago Canyon Road Elevation Gain: 800 ft. Phone: 714-973-6620 Dogs: Yes (on leash only). Call ahead. Directions: Exit the 55 Freeway east on Katella Avenue. Go past Hewes
Street and turn left on Windes Drive. The park is at the end of Windes. From
south county, exit the Eastern Transportation Collidor (where the 231 and
261 meet) at Santiago Canyon Road. Turn right on Jamboree Road, then left
back on to Santiago Canyon Road. Continue to Windes Street and turn right.
Parking is $2/vehicle weekdays, $4 weekends.
Trail Information
Full Review: All of the land upon which
the trail passes is owned by public agencies, but one central portion called
Barham Ranch may be sold for a "market" profit to developers who hope to
build more homes on potential parklands.
But today you can enjoy a long hike that's relatively uninfringed upon by
development. The beauty of a thick green creek bed gives way to trails that
provide high hilltop views that can reach to the Pacific coastline, Orange
County's city skylines, and sometimes downtown Los Angeles.
We started our hike along the Santiago Creek Regional Trail, which passes by
a most interesting dam that was built in 1892. It's a "submerged dam" built
deep below the natural bedrock to restrict the flow of seasonal water
through Santiago Creek. The area known as the "narrows" allows the 101-foot
earth and rock dam to exist between stone canyon walls, forcing water to the
surface and creating a year round source of fresh water and a natural
riparian habitat.
We left the pond and waterfall to follow the trail through eucalyptus,
pepper and other exotic trees to the base of the Oak Trail. Here you may
want to stop under the largest oak in the canyon and perhaps the largest in
all of Orange County. Massive trunks support the largest canopy I've ever
sat under.
The Oak Trail wastes no time moving upward from the old Oak to Robbers Peak
and other higher points beyond. A wide and easy hike initially, the cool
canopy suddenly faded and we began to warm and burn calories going uphill.
There were several walk-throughs (gates, etc.) to allow continuous access to
the Anaheim Hills trail system as we crossed through different ownership
boundaries.
At about the climb's mid-point, Christmas Ridge on the left offers a steep
singletrack that drops to a point downstream of the park entrance. But we
stayed on the fire road and continued up to Robbers Peak.
Just short of Robbers Peak, where a chain link gate crosses the trail, a
singletrack marked only by a sign showing a horseback rider veers right. It
shoots across and down the bowl like a skier might traverse. From the
singletrack you get a great view of the steep bowl that supports Robbers
Peak and the canyons to the east. We could even glimpse down into the Villa
Park flood Control Basin and Irvine Regional Park floodplain about a mile
away.
When we finally reached Robbers Peak, we envisioned the landmark's Old West
history. Thieves frequently waited up here to watch for approaching
stagecoaches, then quickly ride down to a narrow passage to rob the stage.
There are several accounts of hideouts, posies and shootouts that are easy
to believe from this view.
Either Robbers Peak or the singletrack next lead to Cardiac Ridge, where we
shot the panoramic photo that offers a view of much of the Old Barham Ranch
and the surrounding hills and canyons. We saw several different groups of
equestrians, hikers and mountain cyclists. I still think walking is the
best, capturing the scents of sage, turning all directions to really feel
the land and it's treasure of pristine nature.
Following the ridge nearly to its end point, you'll find a singletrack that
drops to the right. It's steep and technical so watch your step. The trail
returns to the park near the old Villa Park Dam. Wandering through lush
canopies, soon you'll be back to the trail head where you started.
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