The BEST South Santa Ana Loop
Channel: Darshan Ahluwalia
Date: 2023-02-15

I learned about this loop recently through the amazing riders I follow on Strava. I've known about Chiquito but I hadn't gotten around to doing it because I was not quite ready for it and I also didn't know how I would get back to San Juan trailhead. I was recently inspired to go after this myself after seeing a couple of riders connect Chiquito into Los Pinos and having gained a lot of riding experience last year I was ready for a new challenge. While this ride is only about 33 miles and 7k of vertical, it is much more exhausting than those numbers would make it out to be. You start at San Juan Trailhead which presents a good 2000' vertical to warm up on before your first bit of downhill. The terrain on Viejo Tie and Chiquito is difficult and makes the San Juan climb truly feel like a warmup in comparison: numerous rock gardens, stream crossings, punchy up climbs and a few seemingly hiking-only sections make for a slow and arduous ride. If you like rocky technical trails and climbing challenges you will love this part of the loop. After Chiquito you get a bit of "rest" as you climb another 2000' vertical via pavement back up to Blue Jay Campground. Its steep but its smooth and so it is not nearly as taxing as the rocky terrain behind you. Once at Bluejay, you can fill up water before heading up the Main Divide to reach the base of Los Pinos peak. Before you get there you have to climb The Wall, which is a long steep and loose section of dirt road...then you arrive at the first hike a bike. This marks the beginning of your Los Pinos pitch. Push your bike to gain the ridge and after a little up and down you'll summit Los Pinos. Now comes the final chapter of the ride: Los Pinos ridge. I counted at least 10 hike a bikes. The terrain is challenging but for a different reason than Chiquito. Its loose, steep, rutted, bushy, exposed, fast and did I mention loose? The hardest part is the very end. I started cramping up at the end and had to sit down for a minute before descending the final rocky section. I've done a lot of loops in the Santa Anas and I must say this may be the best one yet. Five stars.