Trip Date: 12/30/12
Location: Cleveland National Forest (Trabuco District)
Permit/Pass: Display Day Pass ($5), Forest Adventure Pass or National Parks Pass in car.
Directions: From CA 241 (toll road) in Rancho Santa Margarita take Antonio Pkwy northeast 1.7 miles to Santa Margarita Pkwy. Turn right, then left on Plano Trabuco Rd. Follow Plano Trabuco for a short distance before it veers left and turns into Trabuco Canyon Rd. Go about a half a mile, then turn right onto Trabuco Creek Rd. Follow Trabuco Creek Rd a little over five miles all the way to it's end (do not turn left onto Holy Jim Canyon Rd). Don't forget to hang your Forest Adventure Pass placard.
Be aware - Trabuco Creek Rd is gravel and dirt, very rutted, bumpy and full of rocks. It crosses creekbed several times and is often extremely tight for passing traffic. A high clearance vehicle is necessary, four wheel drive is recommended.
Trail sequence: Trabuco Creek trail / West Horsethief trail / North Main Divide Rd. / unmarked trail to Trabuco Peak / North Main Divide / West Horsethief / Trabuco Creek
Type: Out and back
Distance: 9.7 miles
Elevation: Min. - 2044 ', Max. - 4577'
Rating: Moderate-Difficult (considerations - length, heat)
Synopsis: An enjoyable and challenging hike through riparian and sycamore habitat, then up a hillside to some very nice manzanita scrublands. The views along Main Divide are nice. The peak isn't a thrill, but the rest of the hike is satisfying enough to make up for it.
Turn by Turn:
-- The trail is fairly level and shaded for about two miles, at which point you come to a junction with Trabuco Canyon trail on the right. Stay left (northeast) to follow West Horsethief trail.
-- Climb steadily for a mile or so until you top out on a ridge. Continue on until you meet Main Divide Road.
-- Turn left onto Main Divide Rd. and after descending then climbing again you come to an unnamed (or at least unmarked) trail on your right leading to Trabuco Peak. You'll recognize this trail by the gate (really just a bar) stretching across the trail just a few yards up from Main Divide Rd.
-- It's a short, but sometimes steep, climb to the summit, which doesn't offer any views from the summit marker area (you'll have to search a bit to find it, it's off to the left of the use trail near a large tree).
-- Head back down the way you came, making sure not to miss the marker for your turn back onto West Horsethief trail.
-- Follow West Horsethief all the way back to your car.
Photo gallery: Flickr