Rob A Peak!

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.