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** Use at Your Own Risk **
18B |
Modjeska Peak |
5496' |
Location: Orange County, about 11 miles south of Corona, 58 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
| Auto Club | Los Angeles and Vicinity, Orange County |
| Forest Service | Cleveland National Forest |
| USGS Topo | Santiago Peak 7½ |
| Official HPS Maps | TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| Viewable PDF file - Approximately 4.8 megs | |
| GPX file or Google Earth KML file to download to GPS units and other map software (How to use GPX and KML files) | |
| Routes as shown on CalTopo using the above files (How to use CalTopo) |
Nearby Peaks: Santiago Peak
ROUTE 1
From Santiago Peak(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)
- Distance: 2 miles one way on road and trail
- Gain: 500'
- Time: 3/4 hour one way
- Rating: Class 1
Original: Charlie Knapke, September 1991
DRIVING ROUTE 1
- See the Santiago Peak guide.
HIKING ROUTE 1
- From the summit of Santiago Peak, hike down the road about 0.25 mile to a junction with the Main Divide road. Turn right (east, towards Holy Jim trail) and go a short distance to where the road widens at about 5400'.
- An unsigned and not very obvious trail leaves the road on the left. Shortly the trail becomes more obvious. Note: This trail can become overgrown if not maintained regularly.
- Follow this trail northwest to saddle 4988' where the trail meets the Main Divide road, then continues to the right of the road.
- Continue on the "Modjeska Peak trail" for about 0.5 mile to a junction with an old road.
- Turn right (northeast) on the road and follow it to the summit. It saves some distance to shortcut the road, taking a use trail on the right (east) of the road which runs northeast to the summit.
NOTES
Alternate (avoiding the trail): Turn left (northwest) on the Main Divide road and follow it for about 3/4 mile to saddle 4988', then continue about 3/4 mile to a junction with an old road going to the right (northeast). Follow the old road to the summit, or take the use trail shortcut.
The direct route from saddle 4988 to the summit is (obviously) quite brushy.
If you return to Santiago Peak, there is 700' gain. If you return to the road going to Holy Jim Trail, it's 450' gain.
ROUTE 2
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)- Distance: 2 miles round trip on road or 1.5 miles round trip on road and use trail
- Gain: 460'
- Time: 1 hour round trip
- Rating: Class 1, easy
- Navigation: Easy
- Leader Rating: "O", normal conditions
Original: Dorothy Danziger and Byron Prinzmetal, May 2000
DRIVING ROUTE 2
- See Santiago Peak Route 2
HIKING ROUTE 2
- From the 2WD parking area, hike the road up to the summit or hike east up the ridge to the summit.
- 4WD vehicles may drive 1.0 mile further to the summit.
ROUTE 3
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)- Distance: 2 miles round trip on road or 1.5 miles round trip on road and use trail
- Gain: 460'
- Time: 1 hour round trip
- Rating: Class 1, easy
- Navigation: Easy
- Leader Rating: "O", normal conditions
Original: Warren E. von Pertz, March 1969
DRIVING ROUTE 3
- From the intersection of SR 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and Katella Avenue in the City of Orange, go east on Katella and then southeast on Santiago Canyon Road (S18) to Silverado Canyon Road. Turn left.
- Drive east 5.7 miles to the end of the pavement at a Forest Service gate. If the gate is open, pass through the gate, note your odometer, and go as follows:
- At 6.5 miles, fork. Go right.
- At 7.4 miles, fork. Go left.
- At 7.5 miles, fork. Go right.
- At 9.1 miles, fork on the left. This is the turnoff for Santiago Peak. Turn left. 2WD vehicles should park here.
- 4WD vehicles may drive 1.0 mile further to the summit.
HIKING ROUTE 3
- From the 2WD parking area, hike the road up to the summit or hike east up the ridge to the summit.
ROUTE 4
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)- Distance: 7 miles round trip on road and use trail
- Gain: 2500'
- Time: 3.5 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, moderate
- Navigation: Easy
- Leader Rating: "O", normal conditions
Original: Sandy Sperling Lara, December 2010
DRIVING ROUTE 4
- From the intersection of SR 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and Chapman Avenue in the City of Orange, go east on Chapman and then southeast on Santiago Canyon Road (S18) to Silverado Canyon Road. Turn left.
- Drive east 5.7 miles to a Forest Service gate. If the gate is open, pass through the gate, note your odometer, and go as follows:
- Drive 3 miles to the end of the pavement (3 parking spaces).
- High clearance vehicles may go an additional 0.4mi to the hairpin turn where the use trail leaves the road (about 4 parking spaces).
NOTE
If the Forest Service gate is closed, you may use bicycles to get to the trailhead, noting that there are a few paved stream crossings on the road.
HIKING ROUTE 4
- From the end of the pavement, hike the road 0.4 mile, 150' gain, up to the next hairpin turn (3100').
- Leave the road and ascend the ridge behind the guardrail going south. This use trail crosses the road twice and continues to highpoint of ridge at 4550'.
- From highpoint of ridge, descend use trail on the left (NE) side of ridge to large open area where roads converge (4500').
- Continue east on road (do not follow right fork that goes downhill) through first gate marked Maple Springs Rd.
- A few yards farther, turn right onto CNF 3S04 Modjeska Peak Road (called Main Divide Truck Trail on topo maps).
- Twenty yards after passing though this gate, a use trail continues up on the left. Follow this until it reaches a road.
- Ten yards to your left and across the road is the continuation use trail that goes to Santiago Peak.
- Turn left on the road and continue 30 yards.
- Ascend the firebreak on your right to the summit of Modjeska Peak.
NOTE
From the summit of Modjeska, you can continue to Santiago Peak (3 miles, 1000' round trip): Descend Modjeska Peak down the firebreak to the road the way you came. Turn left on the use trail, indicated above, that goes to the saddle between Modjeska and Santiago Peaks. The use trail again leaves the road just past the saddle. Follow this until it joins the road, and follow the road to the summit of Santiago Peak.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Silverado Canyon Road and Bedford Road are seasonal, with fire, weather or other closings. Further, Silverado is closed at special times of the year to protect an endangered frog. Check with the Trabuco District Ranger Station, Cleveland National Forest at (951) 736-1811.
HISTORICAL NOTE
Mme. Helena Modjeska was a world-famous dancer and artist, who lived with her husband Count Rozenta in Silverado Canyon. The peak was named for her after her death in 1909.
History of Summit Signature
Climbing Archives
Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.