By twirlymaker on January 20, 2008
Awma Rd to Jeronimo Park,
A Rural, Urban and Riparian Trail with some short steep grades, a couple loops and confusing street crossings.
The lower TH is off Alicia Parkway, on Awma Rd N33.55209 W117.71889 elevation 141 feet.
Park on a dirt lot on the left side, not in the nice Church lot on the right. Trail is in excellent condition. After crossing the creek on a small bridge the Alicia Creek Trail (1.49 mile with a 0.16 mile 8% grade) joins on the right at N33.58418 W117.71166 elev 239‘. Keeping to the left on Aliso Creek, the trail goes to Sheep Hills Park with port-a- potty’s, then turns right N33.59193 W117.71114 elev 278’ on combined sidewalk/trail up Laguna Hills Dr and joins again with east end of Alicia Creek Trail at Paso De Valencia N33.59549 W117.70159 elev 365‘. Cross Valencia then left across Stockport St and back on the trail parallel to Valencia heading North. The asphalt surface along Valencia has root heaves and is in poor condition. Soon after crossing the creek, turn right at N33.60359 W117.70267 elev 328’ continue with up and downs, a 0.14 mile 8.7% grade descends to pass under I-5. Just east of I-5 N33.60736 W117.69441 elev 321’ there is a 0.34 mile loop to the right around Sycamore Park rejoining by a bridge across Aliso Creek N33.61081 W117.69298 elev 362’ then on to El Toro Community Park N33.62273 W117.68928 elev 422’, off Jeronimo Rd.
Jeronimo Park to Cooks Corner. The only Auto entrance to this Trail Head is an obscure turn, off Southeast bound Jeronimo Rd at N33.62457 W117.68677 .
Exiting Jeronimo Park TH east of the RR under pass, the trail has a short steep climb then drops under Jeronimo Rd with two bumps in the underpass, slow down. From Jeronimo Rd to the end, the trail has a 1.7 to 2.6 % grade. Good scenery along this part of the trail as it crosses the creek twice on bridges with an iron oxide finish. The asphalt surface is smooth, the wide section is Old El Toro Road. The concrete surface is wavy and rough. Another TH off El Toro Rd with parking and Port-a-Potty is just west of Marguerite Pway N33.66125 W117.64294. The Trail transitions to a Bike Lane for the last 0.18 miles on El Toro Road and ends at the Intersection with Live Oak Canyon Rd N33.68326 W117.62052 elev 1095’. Also known as “Cooks Corner“, reported as the oldest continuingly operated Café/Bar in Orange County, the building having been moved from the Santa Ana Army Air Corps Base which closed 1946/47. Noel Keller
By Steve L on August 05, 2004
"I usually start the trail at Jeronimo. Heading to the south takes you through several park areas but the creek is more like a concrete ditch. Still, once you go under the 405, you have a choice of paved or dirt. Going to the north there is much better scenery but the ride is slightly up hill all the way on a paved trail.
It's a fun trail to ride."