Rob A Peak!

Hike Robber's Peak in Orange County

It’s a guilty pleasure to bag a peak via a short hike. Steal some spectacular views in Orange County’s Santiago Oaks Regional Park. A 3.5-mile loop climbs to 1,152-foot Robbers Peak (a.k.a. Robber’s Roost) and earns you gorgeous vistas of Orange County, iconic mountains, and the Pacific. The trail is also bike-, equestrian-, and dog-friendly.

According to legend, in the 1800s Joaquín Murieta, “the Robin Hood of El Dorado,” and his group of stage bandits used this vantage to spy justice-seeking sheriffs and easily escape to hide in the nearby Santa Anas. From the parking lot, hike the Santiago Creek Trail for a quarter-mile.

Take a left turn to ascend Oak Trail’s 1.5 miles of meandering switchbacks lined with wildflowers and sandstone rock formations. After the first 0.7 mile, you will see Robber’s Peak for the first time. At the base of the peak, continue straight to hike to the top (tip: those in need of an extra challenge and glute workout, choose the trail to the right and scramble up the sandy base of the rock formation).

Atop the graffiti-covered knob you’ll get a 360-degree view of Mount Baldy and the San Gabriel Mountains to the east and Catalina Island to the west. You can also see areas impacted by recent wildfire as burnt coastal oaks stick out on the landscape.

Return via the same route (there’s a shaded rest structure for those wanting a break).

Picnic Tip: Make sure to explore the 0.23-mile Historic Dam Trail near the start of Oak Trail, which leads to an oak-shaded lunch spot beside a teal-green lagoon.

Take E. Santiago Canyon Rd. to N. Windes Dr. in Orange. Continue on Windes Dr. until you reach the regional park outpost and parking lot. Parking is $3 Monday – Friday and $5 Saturday – Sunday. NOTE: Parking fees subject to change. The exact address is 2145 N. Windes Dr., Orange, CA.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View