OC Hike: Whiting Ranch Wilderness Area

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/b/1/0/event_198883792.jpegWhiting Ranch Wilderness Park encompasses 1500 acres of Riparian and Oak Woodland canyons, rolling grassland hills and steep slopes of Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral. The park is highlighted by scenic rock formations, including the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. There are five intermittent streams: Borrego, Serrano, Aliso Creek, Santiago Creek and Aqua Chivera meandering through the park, each hosting an abundance of wildlife. Remnants of the former cattle ranching days can be seen throughout the park.

We will begin our hike at the Portola Parkway trailhead and head north up Borrego Canyon toward Red Rock canyon, where sandstone cliffs banded with layers of ancient sand and mud rise into the air.http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/c/0/a/event_198884042.jpeg After a stop at Red Rock Canyon we'll head east and loop around Upper Serrano Canyon

Click for trail map (http://ocparks.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=15841)

Hike will be at least 8 miles with 800' net gain, about 1500 total

History of Whiting Ranch
In 1842, Jose Serrano was granted 10,668 acres of land known as Rancho Canada de Los Alisos. Serrano and his sons raised crops to sell. However, their principle industry was cattle. Unfortunately the drought of 1863 and 1864 caused the death of Serrano's herds, forcing foreclosure of the rancho to Los Angeles banker J.S. Slauson and Associates. Slauson divided the ranch into ten parcels, the largest being more than 10,000 acres. The property was then sold to Dwight Whiting in 1885. Whiting encouraged the development of El Toro by subdividing level land, bringing the railroad through, and by planting olive trees, grape vineyards and some 400 acres of eucalyptus trees; many of these still stand throughout the current city of Lake Forest.

Parking:

Park in the little lot next to Ralph’s. Parking is $3 per vehicle.

The Organizers and members of Hiking With Dean are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Hiking With Dean Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities per our ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER and Section 6.2 of the Meetup.com Terms of Service.