Trip Date: 2/16/13

Location: Cleveland National Forest (Trabuco District)

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

Start: Bear Canyon Trailhead

Directions: From Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano take Hwy 74 (Ortega Highway) east 19.4 miles to the Ortega Oaks Store ("Candy Store") and park directly across the street in the signed National Forest parking lot. (Pay attention when traveling the Ortega after leaving San Juan. The road sees one of the highest accident rates in California due to high speeds, high traffic, and traffic that often drives as if it's high.)

Trail sequence: Bear Canyon  /Bear Ridge / Bear Canyon

Type: Lollipop loop

Distance:  6.8 miles

Elevation: Min. - 1954' , Max. - 2840'

Profile:

Rating: Moderate

Synopsis: An ecologically varied hike that begins with a steady climb through interesting rocks and chaparral, moves through some oak woods then scrub and chaparral on the ridge before heading back down. Fun red rock/soil section on Bear Ridge that is reminiscent of Utah. Nice views of local and distant mountains on the ridge. Excellent wildflowers in Spring.

Track: Bear Canyon / Bear Ridge - Cleveland NF

Turn by Turn: 

  -- Across Ortega Hwy from the parking lot there is a dirt ramp with wooden supports just south of the Candy Store that leads to the Bear Canyon trailhead. There is an interpretive sign-board with a map - take the time to familiarize yourself with your intended route if you're not carrying a trail map, the Four Corners junction can be confusing. There is a trail register a few feet farther along the path. Follow the trail around the hill, eventually to pass the San Mateo Wilderness sign (yes, you're still in the right place).

  -- Reach a junction with the Morgan Trail which leads left (east). Stay right (south).

  -- After a short descent come to a junction. Turn right (southwest) to drop into Bear Canyon before returning on Bear Ridge (counterclockwise loop). Go straight (southeast) to head up Bear Ridge before coming back by way of Bear Canyon (clockwise). We usually go counterclockwise. Don't know why, just do. Avoid the left turn, sometimes blocked by logs, which leads to private access.

  -- After a little over a mile reach Four Corners. There are five trails leading away from here so the math is a bit off, but as long as you examine the markers and make sure you choose wisely, you'll get where you're going. Sometimes the markers disappear so this is where a trail map or sign-board memorization comes in handy. If you're in a pinch and are trying to close the loop (clockwise or counter...), just pick the north-trending trail - Bear Ridge heads east-northeast, Bear Canyon heads a little east of north.

  -- Reach the previous junction of the ridge and canyon trails. Go straight (northwest) if you're coming off the ridge. Turn left if you're coming up from the canyon. Ascend the small rise before descending the path you traveled up.

  -- Once again you meet the Morgan trail junction. Stay straight to return to the trailhead.