I was excited to hike Sitton Peak and continue my journey on the SoCal Peak challenge. It’s been a solid year since we hiked a peak, but I’m happy to be back at it. It was my first time hiking in Cleveland National Forest down in Orange County. If you’ve never been to Cleveland National Forest, it’s known for more manageable challenges (you aren’t going to be hiking 10k of vertical here), plus stunning vistas from Catalina Island to Southern California’s towering peaks.
About Sitton Peak:
Sitton Peak appeared for the first time on the 1901 USGS topographic map. It is believed it was named after Albert Sitton from Fullerton. The peak is positioned on a ridge that serves as a boundary between the San Juan Creek and San Mateo Creek watersheds.
To its north, San Juan Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains is characterized by much higher elevations. Although Sitton Peak is lower than central range summits such as Santiago Peak, Modjeska Peak, Los Pinos Peak, and Trabuco Peak, it is still a popular trail and high enough that you feel “above it all.”
Where is the Sitton Peak Trailhead? San Juan Loop & Bear Canyon Trailhead. Here’s the address for the Sitton Peak Trailhead: San Juan Loop Trailhead, Trabuco Canyon, CA, 92679, USA.
Sitton Peak Trailhead Parking Details: You’ll find about 20 parking spaces at the Sitton Peak Trailhead as well as more at the Candy Store and trailer park. Yes, the Sitton Peak trailhead does really start near a candy store. You’ll need a National Parks Pass, an Adventure Pass, or a day pass from the Candy Store.
Hiking Sitton Peak:
- Distance: 9.6 miles
- Vertical: 2050
- Strava
Gear Used:
- 361 Futura Shoe: More on this later, but you 100% need either a trail running shoe or hiking shoe, or it will be challenging near the top.
- UCAN Energy Bar snacks
- DripDrop ORS Hydration
- CamelBak Zephyr 10L Running Vest
Unless you parked on the Candy Store side, you’ll need to cross the main road, which was slightly scary. Anyway, after crossing, you’ll see the small trailhead and continue up. When we started, there was a bunch of fog rolling in. For most of the Sitton Peak hike, it was actually pretty clear. For the last mile, it got very foggy.
Anyway, you’ll first enter the serene expanse of the San Mateo Wilderness, transitioning from scrubby brush to shady oak groves. Approximately 0.8 miles in, the trail continues on the Bear Canyon Trail. While there are signs for Sitton Peak, they can be easy to miss. I missed the first one, but luckily it was easy to find. During the first nearly 4 miles, the trail is gradual and it seems like it won’t be a super challenging hike, just long. Don’t worry, the last half mile gets very steep and it’s why you need appropriate footwear.
At around 3.2 miles, you reach the “4 Corners,” a crucial junction where you make a right turn to stay on course to Sitton Peak. Then around mile 4 of the Sitton Peak, you’ll start going downhill. You’ll wonder: am I going the right way? Why am I going back down? You end up going down about 300 feet. But, eventually, you’ll see a sign that says “Sitton Peak” .36 away.
And believe me, the last .36 miles is where you most definitely need appropriate footwear. It climbs about 500 feet and it’s steep. If that wasn’t enough, it has been completely rutted due to rain so it’s easy to lose your footing. We averaged around 24-minute miles most of the way, but the last mile was nearly 40 minutes due to how steep it is. Many people use trekking poles as well.
Once you make it to Sitton Peak, you’ll be rewarded with a 360 view. For us, it meant being above the fog layer rolling in, but it was beautiful. Then you’ll head home. We thought we would average much faster going back but we were only about 10 minutes faster. We ended up finishing the Sitton Peak hike in just under 4 hours.
Sitton Peak Conclusion:
Why Hike Sitton Peak? It’s a great peak, that isn’t the most challenging in the area but still gives you rewarding views of Orange County and maybe even Catalina. It’s a great option for those looking for a challenge that may not want or need to spend the entire day hiking.
Other SoCal Peaks we’ve done:
- San Gorgonio Hike on the Vivian Creek Trail
- San Jacinto Peak
- Strawberry Peak
- Mt. Wilson
- Mount Pinos, Sawmill Mountain, and Grouse Mountain
- Mount San Antonio (aka Mount Baldy)
- Bighorn Peak and Ontario Peak
- Hiking San Bernardino Peak Trail via Angelus Oaks
You can see more hikes here.
Questions for you:
What is the steepest hike you’ve done?
What is your favorite hike?