The Santa Ana Mountains are a beautifully diverse scenery that creates a beautiful and unique backdrop for Orange County, which lies on the range’s western side. Laing on the easter side, you can find the 15 Freeway from Corona to Temecula. The most distinctive feature of this range is the “Saddleback,” which is a saddle-shaped formation by the massive point of 5684’ Santiago Peak and the Modjeska Peak (considered Santiago’s sister), the two highest summits in the range. This range is extensive, and while surrounded on most sides by populated communities, it remains surprisingly intact in most areas. The range travels across from chino hills from the north at the 91 freeway and then to San Mateo Canyon Wilderness on the south, running on an axis for about 60 miles.
If you add the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, the site is an astonishing 2,000 square miles. The Santa Ana Mountains include dramatic rock formations, lovely tree-lined canyons, and beautiful waterfalls.
These Mountains are crossed by one paved road, the unique and twisting Ortega Highway. This is a scenic drive and one you should take if you want to familiarize yourself with the Santa Ana Mountains. The excellent San Juan Loop Trail hike is the perfect introduction to the mountains, and it is easily accessed via Ortega Highway. This road crosses the range crest and descends steeply down into Lake Elsinore. A fun fact about the Santa Ana Mountains is that a dirt fire road runs almost along the entire range crest, Main Divide Road. You can also access this road from Ortega Highway, but remember that a high clearance and a four-wheel vehicle are recommended.
The beauty of the Santa Ana Mountains lies deep in its canyons, history, ridgelines, and scenic landscapes. Geographically speaking, these mountains are not rugged; however, in the sense of their landscape, they are. Most of the Santa Ana Mountains slopes are covered with a thick and almost impenetrable type of landscape native to Southern California, chaparral. It was only with slow progress that early pioneers could enter certain areas. But luckily, not the whole range is like this.
For most of Orange County’s locals, the Santa Ana Mountains Trail Head offers a perfect taste of the outdoors. Many hikers come to experience the different canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains, like the Silverado Canyon or the Trabucco Canyon.
