Trip Date: 3/7/2015
Location: Cleveland National Forest (Trabuco District)
Permit/Pass: Display Day Pass ($5), Forest Adventure Pass or National Parks Pass in car.
Directions: From the 241 Tollroad in Orange County take the E. Santiago Canyon Rd. exit heading east toward the town of Silverado. Keep an eye out for the inconspicuous left turn onto Silverado Canyon Rd. Follow Silverado Canyon to its end at the Maple Springs Forest Station, where there is a big white gate and a turning circle with parking spaces. Park here. The trailhead (there is a marker post with an arrow) is a couple hundred feet up the road and to the left (just a bit past where the creek crosses the road). Keep an eye out, I missed it the first time.
Synopsis: The views from Main Divide Rd. are always a treat (as long as they're not obscured by constant traffic from off-road vehicles). This is one of those hikes that makes you earn them, with significant elevation gain most of the way. The "peak" is more of a hill next to the road, but the effort getting there is rewarded with those great vistas.
Trail sequence: Silverado Trail / North Main Divide Rd. / "summit" / North Main Divide / Silverado Trail
Type: Out & back
Distance: 7.1 miles
Elevation: Min. - 1748', Max. - 3755'
Profile:
Rating: Moderate-Difficult (factors: heat, elevation gain, rocky trail)
Trail notes: Typical of a lot of trails in the Cleveland National Forest, there is plenty of rock and scree to be negotiated on this trail - especially in the first couple of miles - so be prepared.
Turn by Turn:
-- After parking, sliding past the gate, and walking up the road, find the trailhead post with an arrow on the left side of the road in a small clearing and follow the trail as it heads up the side of the hill.
-- The trail is pretty straightforward. You swing around the south face of the first hill then ascend along its west side. Soon you come to what at first looks like a junction, but the straight option is really just a use trail that heads up canyon. Ignore this, and take the sharp left in front of the two big sycamore trees.
-- Follow the switchbacks as they climb steadily for a good distance before finally reaching the ridge. At this point turn right to follow the Silverado Trail up to Main Divide Rd. (there is an option here to turn left and head out over to what is called the Silverado Overlook, but the trail is indistinct and the views from the top are better anyway).
-- Some more climbing brings you to a spot where the trail turns south and circles around the south side of a high point on the ridge. Then you head east again as the trail finally begins to level out.
-- A short distance further brings a quick, shallow decent and a quick rise to meet Main Divide Rd. Walk past the rail and turn right. Slide around the white gate (if closed) and walk up the road a few hundred yards. On the right you'll see a small mound behind a low railing. This is the peak.
-- After enjoying the views, head back down to the junction with Silverado Trail. This is a good place for a break, since there are no comfortable spots on the "peak."
-- Head back down the trail, taking care to identify your left (south) turn back down the switchbacks so you don't end up at the Overlook.
Video: Youtube