Fire Station Hill* (dayhike)

Trip Date: 5/31/2014

Location: Cleveland National Forest (Trabuco District)

Permit/Pass: Display Day Pass ($5), Forest Adventure Pass or National Parks Pass in car. 

Trails: (Currently no online maps)

Directions: From Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano take the Ortega Hwy (CA 74) exit east. Drive 12.7 mile to Hot Springs Canyon Rd. The San Juan Fire Station is located at this bend in Hwy 74. Turn left onto Hot Springs Canyon and watch for a small parking space (enough for one car and a motorcycle) on your right. [If this space is taken you'll have to find parking elsewhere, continuing down Hot Springs Canyon Rd will get you to a dirt parking lot at the trailhead for the San Juan trail, but you'll have a bit of a walk back up the road.] After you've parked next to the fire station - be sure to hang your Forest Pass placard - then walk down the road a few yards past a bend to the right. Then, where the road bends back to the left, climb up the hill to the right and find the dirt track that begins the trail up the mountain.

Trail sequence: Fire Station Hill* trail

Type: Out and back

Distance: 1.7 miles

Elevation: Min. -  724', Max. - 1990'

Profile:

Rating: Difficult (factors: steep sections, very steep sections, rocky and sandy trail, heat)

Synopsis: This hike climbs 1200' in just over three quarters of a mile. It is very steep in places, exposed to the sun (and a good breeze if you picked a nice day) and offers great views when you can lift your eyes from the rocky trail. Bring poles and be especially careful on the descent. There are places where the footing is very tricky, and having extra points of contact can save your butt.

 

SJ Fire Station Hill - Cleveland NF

 

Turn by Turn:

  -- After leaving the road, find the trail (unmarked) that heads up the hill. There is another trail that essentially parallels the one you want, but it leads to a water tank just a short way up. The trail for this hike is to the right (south) of that one.

  -- Once you've passed the white water tank over to your left you know you're on the correct path. From here it is essentially a straightforward climb up the side of the first hill. There are short spurs here and there, but the main trail is pretty obvious, and easy to follow.

  -- Having crested the first hill (you'll notice some posts stuck in the ground) follow the trail to the northeast as you drop briefly, then climb a second small knob. From here the climb begins in earnest, essentially heading straight up the ridge line. As you ascend the trail sometimes splits then reconnects. Be alert to any of these forks that go nowhere.

  -- As you near the summit you pass through a boulder hallway, scrambling over some rocks along the way. Continuing on to the top becomes a bit more tricky, as the path seems to peter out in places. But following a generally eastward direction should bring you to a cluster of rocks with a flat sandy spot at the summit. Here you'll find a register and some good places to sit and enjoy the view.

  -- Return the way you came, being especially careful on slippery gravel, shaky rocks, and steep sandy trail.

 

Photo Gallery: Flickr

 

(*This is not the official name of this peak or the trail that leads to it. I have done some brief investigation, and will do more, but to this point I cannot find any source that actually names either. )