Hiking Trail Guide: Dreaded Hill Loop

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Dreaded Hill Loop

Distance
3 miles

Elevation
1200 feet gain

Difficulty
3/10

City
Trabuco Canyon ,CA (92678) 43.16 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
Concourse Park Trailhead: From Interstate 5, take the El Toro Road exit in Lake Forest. Head North/Northeast up El Toro Road towards the mountains. At the last stoplight before El Toro Road splits at Cook's Corner, turn left on Ridgeline. Turn left at the top of the hill, which is Saddleback Ranch Road. Proceed one block to Concourse Park.

Glenn Ranch Trailhead: As above for freeway exit information. Turn left on Glenn Ranch Road. Proceed past Saddleback Ranch Road. Look for dirt road leading to parking area on the right. $2.00 parking fee required. (Add 1 2/3 miles to loop distance from this trailhead.)

Description

Dreaded Hill rises to the south of Four Corners where you can find water and information about the area. This is the gentler of the two approaches. The Dreaded Hill Trail begins an eighth of a mile west of Four Corners and rises 300 feet in about the same distance. On good days, you may see as far out into the Pacific as Catalina Island. The Santa Ana mountains rise to the northeast: you may lay claim to an excellent view of these as well as of Portola Hills and the Little Grand Canyon. Look for the redrock face to the northwest.

Regardless of which approach they take, hikers should walk the Dreaded Hill loop in a counter-clockwise direction. The Serrano Cow Trail connects the Dreaded Hill Trail with the Whiting and Line Shack trails in the south. A fine grove of sycamores and coast live oaks shades your passage here. Watch for mule deer. Leave small children at home: mountain lions have been sighted in these parts.

Map / Directions: