Orange County Highpoint Trip Report
Date: July 15, 2006
Author: Benjamin Stein
Just wanted to add a few notes on the Maple Springs Truck Trail route. I drove
this in a rental Toyota RAV4. Called the Trabuco Range District (951-736-1811)
which said all roads were open to peak and that Maple Springs should be passable
in a passenger car. I wouldn't have recommended this for most passenger cars.
Some rough, dry, deep stream crossings very near the start which begins at the
end of Silverado Canyon (which appears on most road maps, while Maple Springs
does not). After the stream crossings, the road was in good condition --
very bumpy but not rutted and no big rocks. Felt a bit soft passing hikers and
mountain bikers, while I had tunes and air conditioning but I got over it.
From the peak I could see the big fires to the east. It was 11.3 miles to the
peak from the gate; took me about an hour up. The road junctions were all
pretty clear - head up toward the peak.
While here, I got out and actually broke a sweat to hike up Modjeska Peak which
is on the Sierra Club's Hundred Peak list.