Dreaded Hill Loop Trail
 

Length: 4.8 miles round trip on trail
Difficulty: Hard (Juniors and above)
Elevation Gain: 1,079feet

Check out this 4.8-mile loop trail near Foothill Ranch, California. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 34 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and horseback riding, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.

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 red rock 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.

For more information, please visit http://www.ocparks.com/parks/whiting/

• Parking Fee: $3 daily. Machine accepts $1 bills and quarters or Visa/Master Card and OC Parks Annual Pass.

How to get there:

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.

Bring: Ten Essentials, TP and plastic bags, sanitizer or handwipes, daypack, first aid kit, 1-2 liters of water per person, snacks, sunscreen, hat with brim, hiking shoes or lace-up sneakers

This activity is free. 

Optional Patch purchase is $6.00. Price includes the patch, Shipping and Handling. Patches will be shipped 2 weeks after the event ends

How to Get Your Patch: Take a photo of you with the scenery in the background! upload it to Dreaded Hill . Only Girl Scouts who have registered for the Jeffery Dreaded Hill hike and who are in the photo will receive a patch.

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