My Hike Habit OC

TURTLE ROCK “ULTRA” FRENCH HILL LOOP, 4.5-5 MILES, 800’ gain, 8:00 AM
MEET AT 1 CONCORDIA, IRVINE, CA
Meet on Concordia street across from Turtle Rock Preschool

Repeats the 2nd and 4th Thursday morning each month. Dog friendly.

Please join me for this 2026 challenge 😅!
What makes this version of Turtle Rock French Hill Loop “ULTRA” :) ?!!!

THREE of the HILLS are being REPEATED!

• The first steep hill from Concordia, X2
• The next steep hill before the gazebo, X2
• The last big hill, the Turtle Rock, X2

This is sort of a trial hike. I am seeking to improve my uphill speed over time by doing this. I’m estimating it can be completed in about 2.5-3 hours.

I will still schedule the “regular” French Hill Loop on several Saturdays throughout the year. The ULTRA may become 2X per month on Thursday mornings or Sunday afternoons, TBD.

This is one of my favorite conditioning hikes. There are a few steep places, but they are not too long, and one technical hill where one needs to choose a path, use hands and watch footing.
There is an easier alternative path around the fourth technical hill, if desired.

See my YouTube video below with highlights of the trail.

We'll start at the trailhead off Concordia across the street from Turtle Rock Preschool. Here is the first big hill, a second hill comes within the next mile, but both of these hills are not long. From there it's lower "rolling hills" not too steep. In the spring there is very tall mustard on either side of the trail, it's very beautiful and exhilarating to hike through. By about mile 2 the trail passes behind residential for less than a mile, then up narrow, slightly steep hill.

The fourth and most challenging hill comes next, steep and wide, but it's a slow and steady climb with plenty of places to navigate and get your foothold. At the top of this hill you can see all of downtown Irvine and Catalina Island out yonder. The last mile~ish is the end of the dirt trail, and back to residential which closes the loop at Concordia.

CHECKLIST:
- SHOES W/GOOD TREAD, PREFERABLY HIKING BOOTS
- 1-2 LITERS OF WATER
- HAT, GLOVES
- SNACKS optional

COLINAS BLUFF - To Peppertree, Bring a Painted Rock (optional), 5-7 Mi, 9:00AM

Approximately 2.5-3 hours. We’ll go down Shea to Peppertree to see the Rock Snake and the Hen House :) ! From there we’ll either go up the vacant lot if it’s still open or just backtrack.

MEET: 30211 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(Marina Hills Drive and Golden Lantern)
MEET AT THE PATIO NEXT TO STARBUCKS
DOG FRIENDLY!

REPEATS
THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, Three Route Choices, mix/alt:

• Peppertree to Rock Snake
• To Big Hill and Back
• Pass Big Hill to Ocean View and Back

The hike averages 2.5 hours, (600-800 feet elevation gain). Three Alternatives are to the Big Hill, past the Big Hill to Ocean View or down to the Rock Snake on Peppertree.

On the Bluff Trail, the first 2 miles~ish the trail has slight gain and is alongside residential. It's a beautiful dirt trail with epic views of the surrounding area, Santiago Peak and I-5. Peppertree Alt at about mile 2 goes downhill, switchbacks then up a slightly steep dirt lot. To or past the Big Hill has an option to go around the Big Hill, hiker’s choice, we still can come back together within 10 minutes and proceed to Ocean View. OR from Shea Trail down to Peppertree to see Rock Snake!

PLEASE BRING:

- 1-2 LITERS OF WATER
- HAT AND SUNSCREEN
- WEAR SHOES OR BOOTS WITH GOOD TREAD
- A Painted Rock if you desire :)

WOODS END TRAIL TO BARBARA'S LAKE LOOP, 5-6 Miles, aprx 650 eg, 9:00 AM
21933 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 (at Hummingbird Lane)

PARK ON HUMMINGBIRD LANE next to the Park, right off Aliso Creek Road, then we'll walk together to the trailhead, which is very close at Aliso Creek and El Toro Road. There's a very clean port-a-potty at Hummingbird Park if needed before we hit the trail. Sorry, no dogs aloud on this trail.

Woods End Trail to Ridge Top Trail, and beyond. We’ll cross over to the Nix Center to add some mileage and a restroom break if needed, then to Sunflower and Black Jack trails for a bit of a workout. Great views and we'll pass by Barbara's Lake!

NOTE: This trail was closed for a few months and experienced a maintenance project by the city. I can’t wait to see the changes!

The first 1/2 mile gain is approximately 300 feet and is a bit rocky at times, however it's a pretty wide trail that intermittently smooths out and gets rocky again, smooth, rocky, smooth, rocky :) The transition to Canyon trail takes us back down into a canyon and is mostly flat, however beautiful, with some trees and other foliage. Once at Black Jack Trail it is steep uphill for about 1/4 mile or less - views from the point are spectacular.

HIKERS CHECKLIST
- WATER AND SNACKS
- WEAR SHOES OR BOOTS WITH GOOD TREAD
- HAT AND SUNSCREEN Recommended

TURTLE ROCK “ULTRA” FRENCH HILL LOOP, 4.5-5 MILES, 800’ gain, 8:00 AM
MEET AT 1 CONCORDIA, IRVINE, CA
Meet on Concordia street across from Turtle Rock Preschool

Repeats the 2nd and 4th Thursday morning each month. Dog friendly.

Please join me for this 2026 challenge 😅!
What makes this version of Turtle Rock French Hill Loop “ULTRA” :) ?!!!

THREE of the HILLS are being REPEATED!

• The first steep hill from Concordia, X2
• The next steep hill before the gazebo, X2
• The last big hill, the Turtle Rock, X2

This is sort of a trial hike. I am seeking to improve my uphill speed over time by doing this. I’m estimating it can be completed in about 2.5-3 hours.

I will still schedule the “regular” French Hill Loop on several Saturdays throughout the year. The ULTRA may become 2X per month on Thursday mornings or Sunday afternoons, TBD.

This is one of my favorite conditioning hikes. There are a few steep places, but they are not too long, and one technical hill where one needs to choose a path, use hands and watch footing.
There is an easier alternative path around the fourth technical hill, if desired.

See my YouTube video below with highlights of the trail.

We'll start at the trailhead off Concordia across the street from Turtle Rock Preschool. Here is the first big hill, a second hill comes within the next mile, but both of these hills are not long. From there it's lower "rolling hills" not too steep. In the spring there is very tall mustard on either side of the trail, it's very beautiful and exhilarating to hike through. By about mile 2 the trail passes behind residential for less than a mile, then up narrow, slightly steep hill.

The fourth and most challenging hill comes next, steep and wide, but it's a slow and steady climb with plenty of places to navigate and get your foothold. At the top of this hill you can see all of downtown Irvine and Catalina Island out yonder. The last mile~ish is the end of the dirt trail, and back to residential which closes the loop at Concordia.

CHECKLIST:
- SHOES W/GOOD TREAD, PREFERABLY HIKING BOOTS
- 1-2 LITERS OF WATER
- HAT, GLOVES
- SNACKS optional