Trip Date: 10/3/2015

Location: Cleveland National Forest (Trabuco District)

Permit/Pass: NA. 

Maps: NA

Directions: On California Tollroad 241 north of Rancho Santa Margarita take the Portola Pkwy exit and head north a few hundred yards to a right turn onto Glenn Ranch Rd. After about a mile turn left onto Saddleback Ranch Rd. Drive another mile to a left turn onto Ridgeline Rd., followed fairly soon by another left onto Santiago Canyon Rd. In a half mile turn right on Modjeska Canyon Rd. and drive east for a little over two miles, past the Modjeska Canyon Fire Station to the parking area on the right for the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. The trailhead for this hike is across the road on the other side of the turnaround island.

Synopsis: Take this hike on a cool day, as much of it travels exposed ridgeline. The upside is the views are terrific and the path is nicely graded and not too rocky, unlike many other truck trails in the Santa Anas. Harding Canyon, on the north side of the trail, is pretty and geologically interesting.

Trail sequence: Harding Truck Trail / Laurel Spring access trail / Harding Truck Trail

Type: Out & back

Distance: 10 miles

Elevation: Min. -  1344', Max. - 3460'

Profile:

Rating: Moderate-Difficult (factors: heat, elevation gain, length)

Trail notes: As of the time of our trip there was a brown marker post at the right turn onto the old Laurel Spring access road. You will know the road is there, though, even if you don't see the marker, so just find your way over to it.

Track: Harding Truck Trail / Laurel Spring - Cleveland NF

Turn by Turn:

  -- Head up the trail, pass around either side of the metal gate, and follow the trail past the paved access road on the right that goes to a water tank.

  -- The trail - really an old truck road, and as a result comfortably wide - ascends for the entire five miles to the access road to Laurel Spring, with the exception of one half-mile or so dip near the beginning. You will generally trend east, but there are plenty of hillside rounding and in-and-outs that will give you a look at all points of your compass.

  -- At around a mile and a half, just after the early descent, you come to a couple of picnic tables on the south side of the trail - a good place for a break, and maybe lunch on the way back.

  -- After the relatively short dip the trail mostly follows ridgeline and hillside, and is therefore quite exposed. If the day is be a warm one, it might be best to start early enough to get some shade when the trail travels the north side of the hills.

  -- At a little over four miles the trail circles to the southeast. As you pass 4.5 miles keep an eye out up ahead for what looks like two different trails, one below the other - the lower one is the old access road to the spring. As you approach the five mile mark look for a landslide on your left (it will be obvious). Below, on the other side of the road, is the spring. Continue on Harding trail as it climbs and rounds a bend, and hike another couple of hundred yards to the brown marker post denoting the right turn onto the Laurel Spring access road.

  -- Follow the access road down to the spring, which you may have to push through some foliage to see, then head back up to the marker.

  -- Turn left to begin your return trip to the trailhead.

Photos: Flickr