This hike is moderate-fast pace hike, rated levels 2 to 3 for pace, distance and elevation. Please see the RATING TABLE for more info about difficulty levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Meeting time: 3:30 PM
Distance: ~4 miles
Elevation: ~1100ft
Duration: 1.5+ hours

ESSENTIALS: Bring water, running/hiking shoes, a headlamp or flash light on the way back after sunset.

DIRECTIONS: Address: 1 Concordia, Irvine

ABOUT THIS HIKE:

This is a workout conditioning hike composed of a looped route with a mix of trails and sidewalk/bike paths, along with some not too long but fairly steep hills. The two popular hills: French Hill and Suicide Hill at Turtle Rock. This loop, which uses city streets, single-track trails and a little bit of climbing, is one of several possible routes that visit the two summits. This hike requires regular hikers or those who have exercise experience (stair stepper or treadmill on 5-7 degree incline). The trail is dog friendly.

Route:

The hike begins with a steep climb up French Hill, gaining 200 feet in about 0.3 miles. At the top, you get a nice view of the Santa Ana Mountains and you can also see the other destination, Turtle Rock, to the left.

At the top, bear right, pass by a small summit marker, and begin heading downhill, toward a residential neighborhood. The trail swings around the back side of the houses and begins to curve south, making a moderate ascent to a ridge. Here, you get nice views of the Laguna Canyon area and the San Joaquin Hills.

At 1.2 miles, you begin a sharp descent toward Ridgeline Drive. Head right and follow a trail that’s been beaten on the side of the road. Soon you cross Hillsborough, where you can follow a proper sidewalk up to the intersection with Turtle Rock Drive.

Cross the street and continue following Ridgeline, looking for a paved walkway heading downhill (1.9 miles.) At the bottom of a hill, where the walkway makes a hairpin turn, continue straight on a dirt trail. Never getting too far from the residential area on the right, you climb to another ridge. Head right at a junction, where you’ll see Turtle Rock ahead of you, with its geological outcrops that resemble turtles. You descend into a pleasant wooded area, reaching a paved walkway at about 2.6 miles.

Head left, and almost immediately take a hard right and begin climbing a staircase. At the top, head right and continue your ascent. A little bit of scrambling, though nothing too difficult, is required to reach the top of Turtle Rock (2.9 miles), a nice view of almost all of Orange County, and on clear days, beyond.

Continuing north, you descend steeply from Turtle Rock. Turn left at the next junction and head through a meadow, toward the intersection of San Rufino and Via Novella (3.4 miles.) Follow Via Novella to Amalfi Drive, head right and turn right again on Turtle Rock Drive. Heading slightly uphill, follow Turtle Rock 0.4 miles back to the starting point.

REMINDER:

By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS
>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike

DIFFICULTY/GENERAL RATING: Level 2. You can check the RATING TABLE for more info about the hiking levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating
ABILITY LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate. We hike at a slow pace taking in the views as we go. This can be a difficult hike due to the 600 foot elevation gain, although the trail itself is not technical.

ABOUT THIS HIKE: The hike starts at the trail head for the Harding Truck Trail across from the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Modjeska Canyon Road. The trail is well maintained and climbs steadily along a ridge through scrub oak, manzanita, and coastal sage into the Cleveland National Forest. We'll hike for 30-50 minutes stopping at about the two mile mark for a potluck dinner and some music. BYOB (beverage) and appetizers to share. Acoustic instruments are welcome! The views from our mountain top picnic tables extends on a clear day over neighboring ridge lines to Newport Coast, Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina Island. Following a leisurely picnic dinner, we return on the same route about two miles to the trail head and parking area. Bring a headlamp for the hike down. http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/3/8/c/event_119437772.jpeg http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/9/0/4/event_119439172.jpeg

DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 5, take the El Toro Road exit in Lake Forest. Head North up El Toro Road towards the mountains. At Cook's Corner, El Toro Road turns into Santiago Canyon Road. Three miles past Cook's, turn right on Modjeska Canyon Road. Remain on Modjeska Canyon Road (don't turn on Modjeska Grade Road) passing the Modjeska Fire Station and continuing until arriving at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. Parking for the Harding Truck Trail head is located adjacent to and just beyond the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. The trail head is across the road from the paved designated parking area. To reduce parking congestion at Tucker, car pooling is advised.

REMINDER: By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, mountain lions, coyote, snake bites or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike ***
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY

General Rating/Difficulty: All Levels: Slow to Fast/Beginning to Advance: for distance, elevation and pace.
Link to Hike Rating Table: https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Please keep in mind: Hikers will join for a workout together; there is no leader or sweeper on this hike

Slow pace/new hikers or beginners can turn around and walk back to trailhead if you can't keep up with the group

Route: We will start at Eucalyptus trail and going up hill (optional to the lake) and hike back. Click on the links to see Trails Map (https://ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2023-03/Peters%20Canyon%20Regional%20Park%202023_03_06%20%281%29%20%281%29.pdf) and to read more about Peters Canyon Regional Park (http://ocparks.com/parks/peters)

Duration/Distance/Elevation: 1.5-2 hours, 5-7 miles and gain 500ft-1000ft

The most important: 10 Hiking Essentials (https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/9535234)

Click to read more about HIKING SKILL LEVELS (https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/10328308) that some other organizers may use

Suggestions :

1. Everybody should have good tracking shoes or traction running shoes
2. loose clothes- shorts would be fine since its warm out there
3. Plenty of water

DIRECTIONS :
Sometimes you may get a ticket if you park in the zone "NO PARKING anytime" Try to come early or park at Cedar Grove Park parking

1. From the 5 Freeway- exit Tustin Ranch Road and head towards the foothills and drive approx. 3 miles. Get in the left hand lane and take a left on Pioneer WAY (signal). Now get into the right lane and take the next right on Pioneer ROAD (signal). This road will wind around Cedar Grove Park. Continue to the first stop sign and take a left on Peters Canyon Road (stop sign). Take this road down around a little curve and park on the right side of the curb at the end of the road. We will meet at the sign for Peter's Canyon Trail
2. Another location for parking: Park in North Tustin. Address: 2158 Lower Lake Dr. , Santa Ana, CA 92705 Parking is on the parking lot or on the street. You'll be ahead of the group, so we'll meet with you at the portable potties 10-15 minutes after.

From North or Central OC, take the 55 Frwy exit Chapman Ave in Orange, go toward the mountains for 2.2 miles, then turn right on S. Crawford Canyon Rd for about 1 mile, then left onto Newport Blvd, then right onto Cowen Heights Dr, right onto Skyline Dr, then left onto Lemon Heights and continue to Lower Lake Dr.

REMINDER By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***

General Rating**: Level 2 moderate pace**
Check the RATING TABLE to read more about difficulty levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Please bring a hat/sunglasses, and water. There is not much shade in the trails.

We were lucky with the sunset clouds 2 years ago https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/photos/31144389/493343575/ ⛅️

REMINDER
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
> Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike