Santiago Truck Trail
Trabuco Canyon, CA - The Santiago Truck Trail (STT) is a great mountain bike ride if you’re looking for a climb followed by a really fun descent. The main trail going up is mostly fireroad. Many riders stop climbing when they reach Vulture’s Crag, aka the top of the Luge, which is signified by a flagpole that somebody put up a few years ago. The Luge is named as such because it’s basically a big rut that drops you about 1500ft in a little over a mile.
Riders who are up to it can continue climbing all the way to Old Camp, reportedly an old Indian hunting ground. Regardless if you ride all the way to the top or not, the views of Orange County are great, especially on a clear day.
Those looking for an all-day adventure can link up this trail to Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park or do some further exploring in the Cleveland National Forest.
When to ride
The Santiago Truck Trail is part of the Cleveland National Forest so it’s open for riding 24/7. This is a great place for a night ride. On Tuesday evenings, you’ll sometimes see between 25-50 riders hitting the trail. It’s pretty neat seeing a train of lights just going up the mountain.
You may want to avoid this trail on really hot and sunny days. There’s no cover at all so there’s not much shade and can get quite warm.
Directions
Most people end up parking by Cook’s Corner, a popular biker (think Harley) bar, located at the corner of Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road. There’s plenty of parking by the side along Live Oak Canyon Road. Just look for the other cars and trucks with bike racks. The address for Cook’s Corner is 19152 Santiago Canyon Rd, Trabuco Canyon.
More information on the Santiago Truck Trail
GeoLadders
SoCalMTB.com