Hiking Trail Guide: Laurel Spring, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland NF

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Laurel Spring, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland NF

Distance
9.2 miles

Elevation
2300 feet gain

Difficulty
7/10

City
Silverado ,CA (92676) 39.36 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
From Interstate 5, take the El Toro Road exit in Lake Forest. Head North/Northeast up El Toro Road towards the mountains. At Cook's Corner, take the left fork. Three miles past Cook's,, turn right on Modjeska Canyon Road. At the traffic island (about 1 mile), head down the left fork. Take the right fork (Modjeska Canyon) at the intersection with Harding. Continue to the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Parking Lot (nearly two miles from turnoff on Santiago Canyon Road).

From California 91: Take the 241 South towards Irvine (Toll). Exit at Santiago Canyon Road. Turn left. Just over eight miles from the tollroad, turn left on Modjeska Canyon Road. At the traffic island (about 1 mile), head down the left fork. Take the right fork (Modjeska Canyon) at the intersection with Harding. Continue to the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Parking Lot (nearly two miles from turnoff on Santiago Canyon Road).

Be kind enough to leave a $1.50 per person donation at Tucker.

Description

The trail climbs steadily from the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, granting you superb vistas of the neighboring ridgelines, Vulture Crags, Santiago and Harding Canyons, the Orange Coast, and, on clear days, Catalina and the Palos Verdes Pennisula. Once you get past the spaghetti, the trail runs straight along a ridge through a short forest of scrub oak and manzanita. A large cairn decorated with neckties precedes the spring itself by about a quarter of a mile.

The spring is seasonal and often dry by the late spring. The wildflowers, the vistas, and the solitude even on weekends will astound you. You can continue past the Spring to the Main Divide Road, another five miles and another 2000 feet.

The secret is to pace yourself on the ascent so that you don't get winded. On your return, take it slow and steady. Not a hike for young children, but a wonder for teens and sturdy adults. Begin early in the summer months. There is no shade.

Map / Directions: