MTB Project Logo

The final grind to the top with views even more stunning than those already amazed by.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

4.5

Miles

7.3

KM

Doubletrack

5,644' 1,720 m

High

4,533' 1,382 m

Low

1,228' 374 m

Up

117' 36 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

11%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

Description

From the "clearing" at four corners there are four ways to go... 1. Continue uphill on Maple Springs Rd for 200 feet and turn right at the gate, which is Main Divide Rd heading south, or... 2. Harding Truck Trail which turns right from the entrance to the "clearing" (the south-west edge for those more inclined), or... 3. Back down Maple Springs Rd where you came from. (then there's... 4. Instead of turning right at the gate you could continue straight, which is Main Divide Rd going north).

You want option #1. (Don't take option 2 or option 4! Option 2 will take you completely away from the peaks and eventually drop you at the head of Modjeska Canyon Rd many, many miles away. Option 4 will... well, I'm not really sure what option 4 does, so don't do it)

You'll know you're on Main Divide heading the right way because you'll start climbing a steep fire road covered with fist-sized loose stones that do nothing but irritate the heck out of you, not to mention slow you down. Don't lose heart on this stretch! You've come too far to turn back now! There'll be a little over a mile of this slog and you'll eventually level out at a flat spot, a wide left-hand switchback 400 feet below Modjeska peak, the lowest end of the "saddleback". Rest here. Get your spirit back by seeing how close Santiago peak is now. Take in the unbelievable views. From this point to the peak your breath will be taken many times. All of Southern California can be seen, from Big Bear to San Diego, Catalina Island to Banning, EVERYTHING. It's crazy.

From here the trail actually looses about 100 feet over the course of 3/4-mile as you make your way over to Santiago. Enjoy it while you can, it doesn't last. Around a left bend, turning you south, the steep fire road begins again. The rocks are still hard to deal with, but there are more lines through them than before. This is the final stretch. You'll make an uphill left switchback and then the trail follows a long crescent shape up right, around to the north face, wrapping around until you reach the peak facing south again.

You made it! You've climbed over 4000 feet!

Contacts

Shared By:

Dave Gregg

Trail Ratings

  3.7 from 3 votes

#6

in Corona South

#20245

Overall
  3.7 from 3 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
33%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#6

in Corona South

#1,516

in California

#20,245

Overall
20 Views Last Month
6,260 Since Jan 2, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Enough of going up, time to go down!
Jan 1, 2019 near Trabuco…, CA
Storm is a coming.
Apr 6, 2022 near Trabuco…, CA
Standing just below Modjeska Peak looking south and east across the meat of the Santa Ana Mountains towards San Diego is Santiago Peak, the highest peak in the Santa Ana's on the far left.
Jan 3, 2014 near Trabuco…, CA
Watch out! Deep in a permanently shaded corner the snow and ice will linger for days, even in Southern California.
Jan 3, 2014 near Trabuco…, CA
Just around the bend from the snow and ice the sun is shining fiercely, but now it's time to put on your climbing pants again because it won't stop until you reach the top!
Jan 3, 2014 near Trabuco…, CA
One short break before the final push to the top. Take a look around. You're so high on the pean now that sight lines open up to both sides of the mountain. You're almost there!
Jan 3, 2014 near Trabuco…, CA

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.