Gravel in the Santa Ana Mountains
The Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California are a rugged range that forms part of the Peninsular Ranges system, offering a scenic backdrop in Orange County that includes the highest and most prominent peak in the region, Santiago Peak, reaching 5,689 feet. This area is known for its diverse ecosystems, ranging from coastal sage scrub to oak woodlands and conifer forests, providing habitat for various wildlife, including mountain lions and the endangered California gnatcatcher. The crown jewel climb in the range is Harding Truck Trail, serving as a primary access route for mountain bikers and gravel cyclists looking for an adventure. Harding TT is a challenging 9-mile climb that gains a little over 3,000 feet with an average grade of 6.3%. The road offers great views of the surrounding area and and is best experienced in the spring or fall. On our short list of Beyond Category (HC) dirt climbs in SoCal, we had been looking for a good reason to venture north from San Diego to ride Harding for some time.
Harding Truck Trail is a challenging 9-mile dirt climb that gains a little over 3,000 feet with an average grade of 6.3%.
Chatting with Dom from Thank Gravel It’s Friday, I learned that he would be in town for the July 4 weekend. We had been looking for a chance to collaborate on a gravel ride, and that Sunday would be the perfect opportunity to sync up and experience Harding together. The plan was to meet at 7:00 AM at the Laguna Beer Company in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, giving us a head start on what promised to be a warm day in the mountains. With his experience crafting routes across Orange County for TGIF rides, Dom proposed a 45-mile route that would take our group 4-5 hours to complete. Steep climbs, loose chunk, exposed terrain, and little shade were expected, and the course certainly delivered.
Regroup at “four corners” before descending Maple Springs.
As we approached and climbed Harding Truck Trail the group quickly spread apart. The early start time was a good call as we still enjoyed occasional shade from the steep mountain walls. The road was 100% dirt and chunky at times, but the gravel bike is a very appropriate choice for most of this route. We encountered a few hikers and mountain bikers on our way to the top, but Harding feels very remote with sweeping views of Orange County below as we ascended the Santa Anas. After a brief regroup at Four Corners, we descended a very dusty and technical Maple Springs. Perhaps even more demanding than the climb, the 5 miles of dirt was steep and loose with large rocks to roll over or avoid. Eventually we exited the dirt to encounter a section of broken pavement and water crossings that lasted another 6 miles before our only resupply stop at the Silverado Canyon Market. A fast section of road followed before we made our way through the final dirt of the day in Whiting Ranch for some fun singletrack to round out what was a masterful route from Rancho Santa Margarita. Below we share the Harding Truck Trail gravel route, 3 tips from Amanda Nauman who joined us and had ridden Harding over 20 times before, and photos from the July 7 event. If you’re interested in joining us on future rides like these, be sure to join our Strava club and subscribe to our newsletter.
One of the many views when climbing Harding Truck Trail.
Harding Truck Trail Ride Tips from Amanda Nauman
Don’t go too hard in the beginning. It’s a longer climb than you think, and you’ll pay for it after an hour if you try to ride over threshold early. Also don’t get too excited with the short descent at the top because while it seems to signal the end, you still must climb for 15-20 minutes to the Four Corner stop.
Heads up on the descent, stay to the right, and call out for vehicles. Maple Springs is a popular route for OHV’s getting to the top of Santiago, so watch for the blind corners. There are multiple water crossings, so also be careful to not touch your brakes and roll carefully through them.
Pick the right gear – literally with as spinny gearing as you can manage, and figuratively with other items like hydration packs (you’ll need more fluids than you think), wider tires for the chunky part of the descent, sunscreen, and enough calories for a long climb.