Hiking Trail Guide: Borrego Trail - Whiting Wilderness

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Borrego Trail - Whiting Wilderness

Distance
4 miles

Elevation
400 feet gain

Difficulty
3/10

City
Foothill Ranch ,CA (92610) Weather Map

Trailhead
From Interstate 5: Take Bake Parkway northeast towards the mountains. Continue 5 1/2 miles to Portola. At Portola, turn left. Proceed to the first stop sign and turn right and then left into the Whiting Ranch Wilderness parking lot. $2 parking fee.

Note: Bikes are only allowed to travel from the parking area to Mustard Road. All cyclists must return to the parking area by other routes.

Description

A stunning obelisk dedicated to the native wildlife -- both living and extinct -- marks the beginning of this easy family hike that begins next to a shopping center. Though pressed in by recent subdivisions on two sides for the first three quarters of a mile, the feel is wilderness. Steep sandstone cliffs on either side widely separate condos from canyon. The hammering of acorn woodpeckers drown out city sounds. Gigantic live oaks hold up the sky and taller sycamores pierce it.

A footbridge shooting off the main trail on the left leads to the Red Rock trail, a scrubby bottomland. Sometimes the trail and the creek bed share space. You wind through narrowing arroyos to the modestly majestic Red Rock cliffs -- afavorite among local family hikers.

Dangers include direct sunlight along the Red Rock Trail, rattlesnakes,hives of wild bees in ancient oaks, poison oak, and mountain lions. WIth proper caution, this is a fine hike for children 12 and older.

Map / Directions: