HikingOC (Meet to Hike in Orange County & Travel the World)

Description: *Okay for Advanced Beginner/Intermediate hikers wanting to take on some hills at a moderate pace * Link to Hike Rating Table (http://files.meetup.com/1554500/RATING%20TABLE.pdf) HIKE TIME: 7:30 AM SHARP! Lying peacefully in east Orange alongside the Santiago Creek, the 1,758-acre Santiago Oaks Regional park is a nature lover's paradise. This secluded refuge offers hikers, bikers and equestrians the natural charm of mountain vistas, an orange grove, a meandering creek and a mature forest of many different species of trees. Wildlife abounds and a series of interconnecting trails leads through shady groves and to a lookout that features an awe-inspiring view of Orange and the surrounding foothills. ABOUT THE HIKE: We hike as a group, starting out on a trail that has beautiful houses on one side and the Santiago Creek on the other. After about 10 minutes, we enter the actual park. We will hike on both flat shady trails and include some hills for a good workout. We will stop for a snack midway or towards the latter part of our hike. Plan on 5-7 miles for about 2-3 hours. Terrain can be uneven so shoes with good traction are recommended. The trails chosen will vary from week to week. A map of the trail system can be found here. Please bring a copy with you if you are not familiar with this park. Attention Dog Lovers: This is a dog friendly park & hike, However your canine buddies are required to be on a leash at ALL times as a courtesy and safety to all hikers, Please obey park rules! NOTE: Rain or extreme heat or low attendance may cancel hike. Please check meetup on the morning of the event. DIRECTIONS: From Serrano Ave. in Orange, go south on Orange Park Blvd. After 0.3 miles, the street curves at the end and becomes Mabury Ave. Make a u-turn right after the curve to park along the fence. For your GPS or internet map program - use the closest house address of 6531 E. Mabury Ave., Orange. We will meet in front of the opening in the brown fence area across the street from address above. NOTE: This is a residential neighborhood so please be respectful by keeping voices low (turn your boom box down). NECESSITIES: Adequate water (1 to 3 liters), snack, hat, sunscreen, hiking or trail running shoes, and a friendly attitude. OPTIONAL: Trekking Poles, camera, binoculars. PARK INFO: For more information about the park, visit: OCPARKS DISCLAIMER: Before undertaking any outdoor activity described on this site, it is your personal and exclusive responsibility to ensure that the activity is appropriate for you, that you have researched the activity description, and that you have proper training, equipment, and physical conditioning to safely participate in the planned activity. NOTICE OF LIABILITY RELEASE: ***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, direct, or indirect, incidental, punitive, health related, physical, psychological, loss, personal injury or any other damages that may be sustained during this hike*** Please email me if you have any other questions.

We still keep distancing when hiking in small groups (3-4 per group), so ONLY RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND PLEASE! Also may help the group if you know the route. Thanks! It'll be 4-5 miles, about few hundreds to 1000+ ft gain/loss. We start at the Ridge Park entrance in Newport Coast at the top of the hills street parking and go on unusual route (includes these trails: Red Tail Ridge, Fence Line, Slow and Easy, Elevator, Missing Link and may beLizard Trail, etc) http://www.crystalcovestatepark.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/crystal-cove-map-handout-8-28-18-color.pdf General Rating/Difficulty: Levels 2 to 3 Moderate to Fast for distance, elevation and speed; Click RATING TABLE (http://files.meetup.com/1554500/RATING%20TABLE.pdf) to read more about difficulty levels. WHAT TO BRING AND WEAR: water, snacks. Dress layers clothes and hiking shoes with traction and 10 Hiking Essentials (http://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/9535234) Directions: From Newport Coast Road take Ridge Park Road uphill until it ends at intersection with Coastal Peak Road. Trailhead is at the end of Ridge Park Road. Park along the road and meet at trailhead. 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***

We still keep distancing when hiking in small groups (3-4 per group), so ONLY RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND PLEASE! Also may help the group if you know the route. Thanks! Weekly sunset Tuesday hike on the hills of Turtle Rock. This hike is rated levels 2 to 3 for pace and elevation. Please see the RATING TABLE (http://files.meetup.com/1554500/RATING%20TABLE.pdf) for more info about difficulty levels. Meeting time: 6:30 PM Duration: ~1.5 to 2 hours Distance: 4 miles Elevation: 1100 ft ESSENTIALS: Bring water, running/hiking shoes, and a flashlight or headlamp, the hike will end 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, where you enjoy 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***

Take 210 Freeway and exit at Baseline Road. Turn left at Baseline Road and then turn right at Padua Ave for about 2 miles. Turn right at Mt Baldy Road and drive about 1.5 miles. You should see parked cars at both sides of Mt Baldy Road. You don't need adventure pass to park there. We begin at Evey Canyon entrance by side stepping the locked vehicle gate. We hike through the beautiful oaks and greenery of Evey Motorway Trail. About a 1 ½ miles into the hike we reach an intersection leading to the Claremont Wilderness trail to the right or Potato Mountain to the left. We will take a short break at this point and wait for the entire group to catch up. On this hike we turn left and hike up to Potato Mountain. On a clear day we will have great views of Mt. Baldy and the nearby peaks as we ascend. One tradition is that you may bring a decorated potato and leave it in the concrete platform. Once atop Potato Mountain we can view the Saddleback, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains as well. Basic Hike : Distance: 5 miles Elevation: 1200 ft For people who want more challenge, we can add more mileage. Instead of turning back to Evey Motorway to the parking lot, we can continue to hike another 1.5 miles on Ever Motorway and then go back to the parking lot. Extended Hike Distance: 8 miles Elevation: 1800 ft Bring water, hat, sunscreen. An outdoor hat net may be handy as there may be insects flying around in your face. General Rating: Level 2 MODERATE, moderate pace, Download RATING TABLE (http://files.meetup.com/1554500/RATING%20TABLE.pdf) to read more about difficulty levels. 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,