For those of you around Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, etc, Silverado is an awesome ride. Never knew you could get over 2,000 feet of sustained climbing in around here (actually, I am sure there must be a couple of other ways..please inform me!). Anyway, today I headed up Santiago Canyon, then up Silverado Canyon and Maple Springs. While in a canyon all the way for those last two roads (and thus, not as ridiculously scenic as GMR/GRR for example), this was still a great ride.

A few pictures:









Great ride. Full ride report here:

https://www.toughascent.com/blog/?p=45

Cheers to climbing!

great pictures! i haven't been in the silverado/modjeska/trabuco/o'neill park area since the recent
fire(s) and feared for the worst but hoped for the best. looks like not everything went up in smoke.
gorgeous area with all the huge oaks and backcountry feel. thanks for posting the pics here and on your
so-cal climbs thread!

I like your blog. It makes me want to get in better shape to do these longer rides!! I am definitely going to hit that Figueroa ride, one of these days!!

Maple Springs is Silverado Rd on the East side of the Gate. Is it in good enough shape to ride on a road bike? I used to ride it all the way up to Main Divide on my Mountain Bike.

Nice report. Brandy & George rode all the way up to Four Corners (maybe beyond) on their road bikes a few weeks back...I think Brandy said that they put 28's on and that it was tough. Definitely would not try in on 23's.

Wow, I had just drove up through to Silverado about a month ago checking out the area for a ride. Hadn't gotten around to riding it yet but it's awesome to see a ride report of the area! Your blog is also very inspiring, I need to get out there and hit some hills!

Hmmm, maybe I should borrow my brother's hybrid instead of attempting the unpaved section on the 23s I have. Even with 28s, on a road bike, that section would be a challenge! I'll get around to finishing that climb though sometime...I really enjoyed the paved part of Maple Springs. Fun stuff!

Maple Springs from the gate to the end of the paved section is definitely fine on a road bike (but be careful on the descent as there is a fair amount of debris). Beyond that, it is questionable on a road bike, but Brandy & George did it (with 28s apparently)...so it can be done it would seem!