Trail of the Month: Maple Spring Road - Silverado Canyon
Trail of the Month: Maple Spring Road - Silverado Canyon
A Trail Like No Other
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into Overlanding and off-roading?
My name is Armando Silva, 31yrs, I’m a photographer based out of Los Angeles, CA and I got into Overlanding in the past year. (My rig is a Toyota Tacoma, TRD OR 21) I got into the camping game after working for a Sporting Goods Co. and connecting with people that loved the great outdoors. We went on a camping trip in the summer of 2017 and the rest is history. A good friend of mine and I fervently fell in love with last-minute escapades, road tripping to catch all, and any landscape/astrophotography we could land our lens on. Now, I just have a little more range and I loved the doors this way of life has opened for me.
Name of the trail:Â Maple Spring Road -Silverado Canyon -5S04
Location:Â Orange, CA
Length:Â 7.26 miles.
Best time of year to go:Â We are fortunate enough to live in Southern California so just about any time is good. But I should add that this trail may close during fires.
Key Features:Good for getting your feet wet and taking your rig out. There is a little playground area at the end of the trail where you can test your rig out.
Elevation:Â 4850 feet.
Phone Numbers for local help:Â (951) 736-1811
Grid Coordinates: 33°44'51.2"N 117°34'59.4"W 33.747562, -117.583159
Tire Pressure Advice:Â Generally, when you go off-roading you want to air down to about 20 PSI for a comfortable ride and to limit/prevent any damage to your tires.
Rig requirements: (Example, must be 4x4 with lift kit, or standard 4x4):Â 2WD w/ high clearance will do. Although some of the optional offshoots may require 4x4 or just a little send if you are on 2WD.
Was there any gear you gained a new appreciation for based on this trip?
I definitely have to say that the gear that I’m most thankful for is my rock sliders by Cali Raised LED. Whether on this trail or others for that matter, they give me that extended range of confidence that they have my back.
Would you ever go back?
Absolutely! I’m looking forward to going back during the summer and having a picnic with my girl and grilling it up with the boys!
What makes this a difficult or easy trail?
The trail has a little bit of both, and the more challenging parts are optional that’s the beauty of this trail, for sure.
Tell us about your favorite part of this trail and what time of year did you go?
My favorite part of this trail is the play area at the end. It’s a good opportunity for anyone that is trying to learn about their rig and what they may be capable of. The play area is totally optional and that’s the beauty of it. You can do it only if you want to. I have only been during Spring, but I have to say that the range, depending on how clear the sky is incredible. I’ve been when it’s cloudy with a little bit of drizzle and sunny, and both are definitely something to experience.
Tell us about the trip in general, did you have any scary moments?
There’s an offshoot just before the play area that looks hairy. I did it and heard some scrapping, to be honest, I thought, “there goes my bumper!”. But after reviewing the footage it was just my mud flaps.
What was the coolest moment?
If you decide to go further down this trail from 3S04 -Main Divide Middle Northern Section to 3S04 Main Divide North End Weeks Place you can visibly see the Coast and Catalina Island on a clear day. Pretty breathtaking.
What keeps you Overlanding and off-roading?
Exploring and adventure! Perhaps it sounds cliché but the doors that Overlanding and off-roading have opened are just awesome! My GF and I just came back from Alabama Hills (can’t wait to share about that one!) and we were able to get into a section of campsites that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to without a rig. We get to experience the same lands with a whole new perspective.
What’s your dream trail and why?
Any trail where you can seclude yourself a little more. Where the experience is more personal.
Would you recommend this trail to anyone or more experienced folks?
Anyone can do this trail. From beginners to experienced folks, each would enjoy it just as much! Really just another reason to go outside!
Recent Post
55 comments
Jacob
Nice info
Bryant
Awesome read!
Tim
Thanks for the great description of this trail. I am also in SoCal, maybe when I get in that neighborhood I’ll try it. No shortage of great off roading opportunities in Californication.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure
This is a very fun area for Off-Roading or MTB’n. Here is our trip: https://offroadpursuingbalancethruadventure.wordpress.com/2023/04/25/sierra-peak/
Kirk
When the gate at the end of Silverado Canyon is open, you can go up Maple Springs Road to Main Divide and take it south to The Ortega Highway near El Cariso, but stop for the view from Santiago Peak. Or, you can go north when you hit Main Divide passing Beeks Place (there used to be a house up there owned by the Beek family – they owned the ferry in Newport Beach that went from Balboa Island to the Peninsula. Used to be a livable house with a workshop where old man Beek would work on wind power generation using automotive alternators) and go north to Sierra Peak and look down on the 91 Freeway & Corona. Also, just past the Silverado gate, there is a left turn that will take you directly to Beek’s place and to Bald Mountain. When Tustin Marine Station was in operation, their Ch-53s would practice landings on the flattened out pads (I believe there are 9 of them) in the Santa Ana mountains. Be careful you don’t get onto Black Star Canyon Road from the top. The gate is usually locked at the bottom and will require a back track all of the way back Main Divide to get out. I used to (some 50 years ago) get paid to drive all over those mountain roads.