Southern California - Biggest Hills in Orange County??

I'm looking for some crazy road hills in the OC. CRAZY hills. The steeper, and longer, the better. Anybody have anything?

The only one that I know of is Newport Coast Drive, and while it isn't that steep, it's very long (2 miles) and heartbreaking.

i keep hearing about this newport coast climb.... i'm going to have to do it some day.....

Newport Coast really isn't that bad.

I ride NC alot, and it's under 2 miles long. If you're going toward the ocean on NC, the climb is longer, but not nearly as steep as coming from the ocean. From the ocean, it's steeper (I think maxing out at 6.5% or so) but not quite as long.

You can increase the pain significantly by making a right (assuming you're coming from the ocean) at Vista Ridge at the top of NC. That's really steep, but short. It simply loops around and reconnects with NC a hundred yards or so from where you turned.

Have fun!


I'm looking for some crazy road hills in the OC. CRAZY hills. The steeper, and longer, the better. Anybody have anything?

The only one that I know of is Newport Coast Drive, and while it isn't that steep, it's very long (2 miles) and heartbreaking.

I don't think you'll find it very challenging, Cali. If you're in town, do it, but don't make any special plans...


i keep hearing about this newport coast climb.... i'm going to have to do it some day.....

I don't think you'll find it very challenging, Cali. If you're in town, do it, but don't make any special plans...

if they are plans with BF.... they are ALWAYS special! http://www.smileycons.com/img/love2/05.gif

Isn't Ridgeline off of Santiago Cyn steep?

Here's a link to a bunch of local rides. Some of them include a *bunch* of climbing. :)
http://www.veloallegro.org/content/rides-races/rides/index_socalrides.html

Isn't Ridgeline off of Santiago Cyn steep?

Here's a link to a bunch of local rides. Some of them include a *bunch* of climbing. :)
http://www.veloallegro.org/content/rides-races/rides/index_socalrides.html
It's steep, but very short.
The best/hardest/steepest hills in OC are in Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda. There are some really nasty climbs that lead up to the ridge just east of the 91 Fwy between Yorba Linda Blvd and Weir Canyon. Newport Coast is not very tough, it's good for repeats, but not worth seeking out. Also, Santiago Canyon, Modjeska (a little detour in the middle of Santiago Canyon), and Live Oak (the climb to the East of Cook's Corner) are really fun to loop together. Laguna Beach has some nasties, Bluebird Canyon and Pacific Island Drive. But if you really want to do climb after climb, go to Anaheim Hills. I've got a route slip that will get you about 7500' of climbing in 70' miles if anyone's interested.

The highest point in Orange Co is Santiago Peak at 5687’ and the pavement stops well short of the top (and the trails are overrun). There just aren’t any long climbs in Orange Co anywhere near the category of say Baldy Road, Angeles Crest, Angeles Forest, 138 Silverwood to Crestline, Onyx Summit, or even GMR/GRR. The best OC has for climbing are the short bursts like NCD, Santiago Canyon, Live Oak, San Joaquin Hills, Spyglass Hill, Nohl Ranch Road, Weir Canyon, Serrano, etc., barely enough for a deep wheeze from this geezer.

i keep hearing about this newport coast climb.... i'm going to have to do it some day.....

You've done it...it was on the TdSS!

Newport Coast really isn't that bad.

Agreed. Not bad at all.

The highest point in Orange Co is Santiago Peak at 5687’ and the pavement stops well short of the top (and the trails are overrun). There just aren’t any long climbs in Orange Co anywhere near the category of say Baldy Road, Angeles Crest, Angeles Forest, 138 Silverwood to Crestline, Onyx Summit, or even GMR/GRR. The best OC has for climbing are the short bursts like NCD, Santiago Canyon, Live Oak, San Joaquin Hills, Spyglass Hill, Nohl Ranch Road, Weir Canyon, Serrano, etc., barely enough for a deep wheeze from this geezer.

That's a nice shot you got there. Is that the GRR you speak of? Where/what exactly is GRR?

North East of San Dimas. You should have come out with us on Saturday!

North East of San Dimas. You should have come out with us on Saturday!

That road looks awesome. Wish I were there.

On second thought, I just looked at the elevation map on routeslip.com. Maybe I need more training first ;)

It's steep, but very short.
The best/hardest/steepest hills in OC are in Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda. There are some really nasty climbs that lead up to the ridge just east of the 91 Fwy between Yorba Linda Blvd and Weir Canyon. Newport Coast is not very tough, it's good for repeats, but not worth seeking out. Also, Santiago Canyon, Modjeska (a little detour in the middle of Santiago Canyon), and Live Oak (the climb to the East of Cook's Corner) are really fun to loop together. Laguna Beach has some nasties, Bluebird Canyon and Pacific Island Drive. But if you really want to do climb after climb, go to Anaheim Hills. I've got a route slip that will get you about 7500' of climbing in 70' miles if anyone's interested.

I have to agree the gnarly road hills in OC are in Anaheim Hills - look at Canon, Serrano or Nohl Ranch. Put them together and you have a hell of a tough ride. If you start on the Anaheim side, come up Canon/Imperial Hwy and then turn left onto Santiago, go through the Canyon, turn left onto Live Oak, past O'Neill Park into Mission Viejo. Go back through MV taking Marguerite Parkway or one of those lovely streets, to Irvine Blvd to Jamboree, or Skyline/Newport back to Canon up and over again. About 50 - 60 miles and will definitey work the legs.

The Other known nasty climbs are through Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills (Aliso to Wood Canyon) and Dana Point (PID is a ball buster). Actually just ride East or North of Irvine. You'll hit hills!


Starting in February, Bike Club of Irvine starts "Bear Training" rides to prepare for "Ride Around the Bear". Each ride is progressively nastier than the preceeding ending with a ride up Palomar. If you want to do some hill training come out for that.

Newport Coast BTW is tame in comparison. Although true story - to prepare for the Bear RIde I have a friend that rode upa dn down the PCH side of Newport Coast for 8 hours!!!! She did 100 miles and around 8500' of elevation gain. I thought she was crazy... actually I still do! She did the Bear in 7 1/2 hours so it got her prepared.

I agree, Yorba LInda and Anaheim Hills have the best climbs packed closest together in OC. I like Casino Ridge off of San Antonio (which is off of Wier Canyon/Yorba Linda Blvd.) and Hidden Hills, which is at the end of Orangethorpe (or whatever road name that turns into . . . ). That one goes up to the huge house Arnold built, but then abandoned (sold) when the neighbors woudn't let him put his helicopter landing pad next to it.

Rick / OCRR

Rick...

was it on purpose you posted for OCRR after I posted for BCI? :rolleyes:

Actually I still owe Jess a dinner for helping me out with some route slips. It was on an OCRR ride that I first did Canon. Tough climb!

I agree, Yorba LInda and Anaheim Hills have the best climbs packed closest together in OC. I like Casino Ridge off of San Antonio (which is off of Wier Canyon/Yorba Linda Blvd.) and Hidden Hills, which is at the end of Orangethorpe (or whatever road name that turns into . . . ). That one goes up to the huge house Arnold built, but then abandoned (sold) when the neighbors woudn't let him put his helicopter landing pad next to it.

Rick / OCRR
The route we usually do starts in Tustin, climbs Newport Ave, Cannon, Serrano, Camino de Bryant, Hidden Hills, last time we threw in Casino Ridge, then comes back and climbs Serrano the other direction, takes Cannon back to Chapman, climbs Chapman, then you can either return to the start, or throw in Santiago/Modjeska Canyons, just to make sure that you're in pain at the end of it all:)

Was it on purpose you posted for OCRR after I posted for BCI?
Actually I still owe Jess a dinner for helping me out with some route slips. It was on an OCRR ride that I first did Canon. Tough climb!

No Pam, not on purpose, in fact I think I was still composing mine when you posted yours. Whatever, you know I don't have any bad feelings toward BCI, and all that Jess vs. BCI stuff is so far in the past for everyone (yeah, except maybe Jess) that its not worth discussing.

I know one Pam that rides with OCRR, but probably that is not you? Yes Cannon is a good climb, and so is Imperial Hwy from the opposite direction (12% I think), which is what Cannon becomes.

Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR

i thought i could do the newport coast drv climb ok, but these guys in front of me this past sunday morning were machines! half way up i couldnt even see them anymore...back to the cardio drawing board i guess

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Antonio Parkway in Ladera Ranch.

Also, although Silverado Canyon (off Santiago Canyon) doesn't rise to the level of ball-buster, I enjoy that climb.

i thought i could do the newport coast drv climb ok, but these guys in front of me this past sunday morning were machines! half way up i couldnt even see them anymore...back to the cardio drawing board i guess


sorry 'bout that... :o

If you don't care about really long, Park in Laguna Beach (from the beach, past LB High, and up to the top of the world) is pretty nasty steep. Has one section that reminds me a lot of the switchbacks on Baldy. Just without the 4+ miles part. Would be wicked repeats.

The best/hardest/steepest hills in OC are in Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda.
I've never riden Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda area but I'll take OCRoadie's word on it.

For me, by far the best hilly routes are in Palos Verdes. Unfortunately, that's in LA county. Every climb is scenic and almost all of them are on residential roads (i.e., nobody zinging past you at 60+). The nastiest one is Eastvale-Sunnyride; I have to stand in a 39-23 on this one, which is rare for me. The long climbs can be 4+ mi and can be found on east as well as west side of the PV.

I've got a route slip that will get you about 7500' of climbing in 70' miles if anyone's interested.
OC, will you send me that route slip? Blastinbob@aol.com Thanks.

I've never riden Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda area but I'll take OCRoadie's word on it.

For me, by far the best hilly routes are in Palos Verdes. Unfortunately, that's in LA county. Every climb is scenic and almost all of them are on residential roads (i.e., nobody zinging past you at 60+). The nastiest one is Eastvale-Sunnyride; I have to stand in a 39-23 on this one, which is rare for me. The long climbs can be 4+ mi and can be found on east as well as west side of the PV.

Kinda funny how I grew up in Palos Verdes, but I didn't take up cycling until after I moved away from home. Go figure. Maybe I should go pay my parents a visit (still in PV) and take a quick ride afterwards.

OC, will you send me that route slip? Blastinbob@aol.com Thanks.

Yeah, why don't you just link us all to your route slip? Sounds interesting.

Yeah, why don't you just link us all to your route slip? Sounds interesting.
I'll see if I can get it in the right format, and I'll post it in this thread.

Biggest Hills in Orange County?? .

Brandy??!

Oh, I just kill myself sometimes....<is this thing on? testing testing...>

Brandy??!

Oh, I just kill myself sometimes....<is this thing on? testing testing...>


http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/89.gif http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/201.gif http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/84.gif

Brandy??!

Oh, I just kill myself sometimes....<is this thing on? testing testing...>

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/images/smilies/notfunn.gif ;)

OCR - did that route slip get posted? Let me know if I missed it.

Thanks!

Not yet, sorry:o I'm heading out of town and actually have to get some work done. I promise I'll post it next week. If you PM me with your email address, I'll send it to you, I just don't have time to convert it tor Word or PDF.

Post it on routeslip.com then put the link here.

There's also Turnbull Canyon, although technically that's in LA county. I'm in northern OC (just about as far north as you can get -- La Habra) and Turnbull is just a nice ride through the heights away from me.

I love riding Turnbull. Just a nice personality for a climb (switchbacks!), and not too busy considering how it is in the middle of several cities.

Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR

OCR - did that route slip get posted? Let me know if I missed it.

Thanks!

here is the route sheet from OC.

Ok see, Brandy's corrupting me and I just looked at the title of this thread and thought, "Hmmmm, Brandy's new uhhhhh enhancements".

:D

Ok see, Brandy's corrupting me and I just looked at the title of this thread and thought, "Hmmmm, Brandy's new uhhhhh enhancements".

:D

thomson beat you to it! http://www.pacfit.com/roflmao.gif

thomson beat you to it! http://www.pacfit.com/roflmao.gif

Really?!? Where? :D

well... crap! i THOUGHT it was this thread! same subject.. but musta been a different thread... cuz i can't find it (brandy gave him the U not funny guy!)

Brandy??!

Oh, I just kill myself sometimes....<is this thing on? testing testing...>


here it is...

Really?!? Where? :D

oh and i wasn't laughing AT YOU... i was laughing at the two of you having the same FUNNY comment/response!

Really?!? Where? :D

Post #30

here it is...

:o

Ok see, Brandy's corrupting me and I just looked at the title of this thread and thought, "Hmmmm, Brandy's new uhhhhh enhancements".

:D

OMG...did you just come out and say that I got breast implants? :eek: It was a secret!!!!

Oh...and for the record...they're not very big, so definitely wouldn't qualify as the biggest hills in OC! :p

OMG...did you just come out and say that I got breast implants? :eek: It was a secret!!!!


the rest of us were all keeping your little.... errrr... your big....... errrrrr... you secret! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/111.gif

What are you all talking about?