Bear Canyon Trail (Santa Ana Mountains)
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 5:22 pmI'm thinking of taking my favorite "hot date" (hey, it's going to be a warm weekend) to do the Bear Canyon Loop off of Ortega Highway.
It seems that the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness is the best hiking in the Santa Ana Mountains, so I'm hoping to explore a little before it just gets too darned hot. Last weekend, I went to Fisherman's Camp which is on the east side of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. This weekend, I want to scout a trailhead to the NNE (but still in the same Wilderness), the Bear Canyon Trail, which is marked in gold in the preceding link. In particular, I want to check out Pigeon Spring. Pigeon Spring would be a nice spot to get water (if it has any) en route to points further south, like the trail junction marked "4th Junction" on the map.
I think a three day hike would be a great way to explore the area. It's about eight miles to "First Junction" from the Bear Canyon Trailhead, so on day 1, I'd head from the Bear Canyon Trailhead to 1st Junction and then turn SW from the junction, camping somewhere along San Mateo Creek. On Day 2, I'd down to 3rd and 4th junctions and then check out Cold Spring. On day 3, I'd hike out to the Bear Canyon Trailhead.
Alternatives:
Interesting alternatives might include exiting at Verdugo Potrero or Wheeler Ranch, but I suspect that those may be closed to public access. Looking at the satellite photos, it does look like there's a way to go from Wheeler Ranch back to the Bluewater trail that avoids apparent private property. If so, that would make for a most interesting loop.
Another interesting alternative would be to exit via the Lucas Canyon Trail, but that makes for a very long third day. I imagine the Sitton Peak Road is closed to through traffic, so when one came to the end of the Lucas Canyon Trail, one would still have to walk out the Sitton Peak Road -- and then figure out how to get back to the Bear Canyon Trailhead.
Lastly, if a car shuttle could be arranged, exiting at the Tenaja Trailhead over by Fisherman's Camp would be a fun "through hike."
HJ
It seems that the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness is the best hiking in the Santa Ana Mountains, so I'm hoping to explore a little before it just gets too darned hot. Last weekend, I went to Fisherman's Camp which is on the east side of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. This weekend, I want to scout a trailhead to the NNE (but still in the same Wilderness), the Bear Canyon Trail, which is marked in gold in the preceding link. In particular, I want to check out Pigeon Spring. Pigeon Spring would be a nice spot to get water (if it has any) en route to points further south, like the trail junction marked "4th Junction" on the map.
I think a three day hike would be a great way to explore the area. It's about eight miles to "First Junction" from the Bear Canyon Trailhead, so on day 1, I'd head from the Bear Canyon Trailhead to 1st Junction and then turn SW from the junction, camping somewhere along San Mateo Creek. On Day 2, I'd down to 3rd and 4th junctions and then check out Cold Spring. On day 3, I'd hike out to the Bear Canyon Trailhead.
Alternatives:
Interesting alternatives might include exiting at Verdugo Potrero or Wheeler Ranch, but I suspect that those may be closed to public access. Looking at the satellite photos, it does look like there's a way to go from Wheeler Ranch back to the Bluewater trail that avoids apparent private property. If so, that would make for a most interesting loop.
Another interesting alternative would be to exit via the Lucas Canyon Trail, but that makes for a very long third day. I imagine the Sitton Peak Road is closed to through traffic, so when one came to the end of the Lucas Canyon Trail, one would still have to walk out the Sitton Peak Road -- and then figure out how to get back to the Bear Canyon Trailhead.
Lastly, if a car shuttle could be arranged, exiting at the Tenaja Trailhead over by Fisherman's Camp would be a fun "through hike."
HJ