This was the third time that I peaked Santiago, but also the most eventful due to how hot the day got. Not exactly the best day to go hiking as the temperature soared that day. I have done this peak before as a trail run and nothing compared to how it was climbing in the heat. We ran out of water and had to get some off the trail. (That little spring where the water is filtered pretty well through the ground and just slowly drips down). Still a fun adventure despite the heat and the fact we ran out of water!
Laron - Sep 6, 2012 8:16 am Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2008
Sweet trail run
Super sweet trail run!!! Ran the whole washout road then up the Holy Jim Trail all the way to the summit.
milesx5 - May 22, 2011 8:29 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2011
Lots of water!
Did a solo power walk up to the top of Santiago Peak in 2hrs 11 mins, return trip jogging down the mountain in 1hr 30 mins. Good workout, beautiful wildflowers, cool breezes and lots of H2O!
One of my first couple of hikes. I underestimated this one. The Upper Holy Jim Trail was pretty difficult for me and what made it worse is you couldn't really even rest because the bugs were terrible. All in all though I enjoyed it and the waterfall at the bottom was pretty cool.
Went to see the waterfall. It was a nice easy hike.
Robb - Jan 25, 2010 3:29 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2010
Nice trail
Love the views, and getting to Santiago and Modjeska was great.
Alex Wood - Apr 10, 2009 1:36 am Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2009
Great Mountain Biking
Amazingly maintained! Great trail for mountain biking...The upper part is a little steep and technical, however, the lower section is amazing. We hauled but down, lots of fun!! Too bad the summit was in the clouds. Great day nonetheless.
SoCalHiker - Apr 2, 2009 1:25 pm Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2009
Beautiful trail
Took the Holy Jim Trail to Modjeska and Santiago Peak. Beautifully maintained trail and some fire roads to the top. Old Goats Mountain Race (50 mile) happened to be that day.
gimpilator - Mar 11, 2009 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2009
Nice Route
Did this one solo. I sure wouldn't want to be here in the summer. It would be a scorcher. I was surprised by how bad Trabuco Creek Road was. The massive pot holes caused my car to bottom out again and again. "High clearance vehicle" is right.
milesx5 - Oct 30, 2008 8:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 30, 2008
My 30th year hiking this trail
First hiked this trail when I was 13 in 1978. Today was my first time to do it solo. Perfect weather, partly cloudy with unlimited visibility and a cool breeze. Never saw a sole round trip (except for 2 big Alligator Lizards). Started off at 6:35 am and reached summit at 9:10 am. Started back down at 10 am and arrived at my truck at 11:45 am.
forjan - Oct 18, 2008 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2008
Gnats!
Wow....so many freaking gnats on my face. I guess the warm day didn't help. Started at 11:00am and was on top at 1:35pm. Took half hour lunch/break. Back down at my car by 4:20pm.
Left the trailhead in 90 degree heat @ 1:45p. Kept a decent pace and summited @ 5:30. Ran about 50% of the way down and got back to the truck @ 8:15. Great trail, good friends, good fun.
justinjohnsen - Feb 27, 2008 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2007
Newts
We saw a horde of newts in the canyon before the falls trail junction. Perfect cool weather by Santa Ana Mountains standards, with thick clouds from about 3 to 5 thousand feet.
Fletch - Nov 30, 2012 5:19 pm Date Climbed: Apr 5, 2005
hitchhiked the last 500 ftsuuuper tired. fell asleep on the summit.
MValentine - Sep 21, 2012 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Hot Hot Hot!This was the third time that I peaked Santiago, but also the most eventful due to how hot the day got. Not exactly the best day to go hiking as the temperature soared that day. I have done this peak before as a trail run and nothing compared to how it was climbing in the heat. We ran out of water and had to get some off the trail. (That little spring where the water is filtered pretty well through the ground and just slowly drips down). Still a fun adventure despite the heat and the fact we ran out of water!
Laron - Sep 6, 2012 8:16 am Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2008
Sweet trail runSuper sweet trail run!!! Ran the whole washout road then up the Holy Jim Trail all the way to the summit.
milesx5 - May 22, 2011 8:29 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2011
Lots of water!Did a solo power walk up to the top of Santiago Peak in 2hrs 11 mins, return trip jogging down the mountain in 1hr 30 mins. Good workout, beautiful wildflowers, cool breezes and lots of H2O!
socal434 - Apr 3, 2011 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Apr 2, 2011
BUGS!!!!One of my first couple of hikes. I underestimated this one. The Upper Holy Jim Trail was pretty difficult for me and what made it worse is you couldn't really even rest because the bugs were terrible. All in all though I enjoyed it and the waterfall at the bottom was pretty cool.
milesx5 - May 22, 2011 8:31 pm
Re: BUGS!!!!Good job! Your are right, the bugs are horrendous this time of year. I throw on a net over my hat and all is well.
Tom Waggoner - Mar 17, 2010 5:05 pm
Good TrailWent to see the waterfall. It was a nice easy hike.
Robb - Jan 25, 2010 3:29 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2010
Nice trailLove the views, and getting to Santiago and Modjeska was great.
Alex Wood - Apr 10, 2009 1:36 am Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2009
Great Mountain BikingAmazingly maintained! Great trail for mountain biking...The upper part is a little steep and technical, however, the lower section is amazing. We hauled but down, lots of fun!! Too bad the summit was in the clouds. Great day nonetheless.
SoCalHiker - Apr 2, 2009 1:25 pm Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2009
Beautiful trailTook the Holy Jim Trail to Modjeska and Santiago Peak. Beautifully maintained trail and some fire roads to the top. Old Goats Mountain Race (50 mile) happened to be that day.
gimpilator - Mar 11, 2009 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2009
Nice RouteDid this one solo. I sure wouldn't want to be here in the summer. It would be a scorcher. I was surprised by how bad Trabuco Creek Road was. The massive pot holes caused my car to bottom out again and again. "High clearance vehicle" is right.
milesx5 - Oct 30, 2008 8:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 30, 2008
My 30th year hiking this trailFirst hiked this trail when I was 13 in 1978. Today was my first time to do it solo. Perfect weather, partly cloudy with unlimited visibility and a cool breeze. Never saw a sole round trip (except for 2 big Alligator Lizards). Started off at 6:35 am and reached summit at 9:10 am. Started back down at 10 am and arrived at my truck at 11:45 am.
forjan - Oct 18, 2008 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2008
Gnats!Wow....so many freaking gnats on my face. I guess the warm day didn't help. Started at 11:00am and was on top at 1:35pm. Took half hour lunch/break. Back down at my car by 4:20pm.
southswell - Jul 9, 2008 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2008
HOT!Left the trailhead in 90 degree heat @ 1:45p. Kept a decent pace and summited @ 5:30. Ran about 50% of the way down and got back to the truck @ 8:15. Great trail, good friends, good fun.
justinjohnsen - Feb 27, 2008 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2007
NewtsWe saw a horde of newts in the canyon before the falls trail junction. Perfect cool weather by Santa Ana Mountains standards, with thick clouds from about 3 to 5 thousand feet.