Santiago Peak

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Santiago Peak
Santiago Peak's south slopes, seen from above San Juan Canyon, February 2008.
Elevation	5,687 feet (1,733 m)
Location	California, USA
Range	Santa Ana Mountains
Prominence	4,447 feet (1,355 m)
Coordinates	33°42′38″N 117°31′59″W / 33.71056, -117.53306Coordinates: 33°42′38″N 117°31′59″W / 33.71056, -117.53306^[1]
Topo map	USGS Santiago Peak
Easiest route	hike
Translation	Saint James (Spanish)

Santiago Peak is the southern mountain of Orange County's Saddleback formation. It is the highest and most prominent peak of both the Santa Ana Mountains and Orange County. The top of it is covered with many microwave and telecommunication antennas.

[edit] Hiking

More than one trail lead to the top of Santiago Peak, but the most popular among hikers is the Holy Jim trail. The Holy Jim trail gains about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in elevation and is about 16 miles (26 km) round trip. It is a moderate to strenuous hike and is most enjoyable during spring and winter due to the large number of insects during warmer times of the year.

From the summit of Santiago Peak, one can see the larger Southern California peaks like Mount San Gorgonio, Mount San Jacinto, and Mount San Antonio. However, due to the large number of antennas at the top of Santiago Peak, a full 360-degree view of the surrounding landscapes is not possible. Those at the top must walk approximately a quarter-mile around the perimeter of all the antennas to take in views of every direction.