Laurel Springs Canyon

Laurel Springs Canyon offers outstanding beauty and bushwhacking! The full route has 4 short rappels (3 B IV), whereas the short route can be done without rope (2 B III). The full route has excessive bushwhacking, whereas the short route has little and easy bushwhacking. NOTE: the time range numbers are for the short vs. full canyon, not expected min / max.

Park at the Trucker Wildlife Sanctuary parking lot in Modjeska, CA. Hike up the Harding Truck Trail for 3.7 miles (short route) to a clearing on the right side, or 4.7 miles (full route) to a wide flat area in the road from an old land slide.

Once Laurel Springs Canyon joins with Santiago Canyon, continue downstream 1.3 miles until you reach buildings. Although it is easy enough to exit through the first private property driveway you will see DCR and climbing over a 3 foot stone wall on the left side of a large steel gate, it likely wiser to continue further down stream in the creek bed. Once you reach a road bridge across the creek, climb up to that roadway, and it's a short walk back to the parking lot.