Santiago Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santiago Peak |
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| Kalawpa, Mount Downey, Old Saddle Buck, Old Saddleback, Saddleback Mountain, San Juan Mountain, Santa Ana Peak, Temescal Peak, Trabuco Peak | |
Santiago Peak's south slopes, seen from above San Juan Canyon, February 2008.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,689 ft (1,734 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 4,387 ft (1,337 m) |
| Listing | California county high points 37th |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Saint James |
| Language of name | Spanish |
| Geography | |
| Location | Cleveland National Forest, Orange / Riverside counties, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Santa Ana Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Santiago Peak |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hiking trail |
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, and also marks a border point with Riverside County. The top of it is covered with many microwave and telecommunication antennas. It is named for Santiago Creek, which begins on its southwestern flank. During winter, snow does fall on the peak.
Hiking
More than one trail leads 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 a 16-mile (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 San Gorgonio Mountain, San Jacinto Peak, 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.
Radio communication facilities
Santiago Peak is a radio site with buildings owned by American Tower, Crown Castle, MobileRelay Associates, Day Wireless, Orange County Communications, the United States Federal Government, the State of California, and Southern California Edison, among others.
Santiago Peak provides radio coverage over much of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties. It houses both broadcast and two-way communications facilities on virtually every frequency band, including FM broadcast, VHF low- and high-band, UHF, 800/900 MHz, and microwave.
