Reviewed by: Mike D , from Long Beach Ca

Summary:
I had to see why this ride was getting such a low overall review. Then realized its just some dweeb who's probably never seen single track giving this ride a 1! Bah.. anyways this area is full of technical climbs and rocky sometimes loose downhills. The climbs can be frustrating but it keeps the DH'ers away since there is really no good way to run a shuttle up here. Pure backcountry XC riding.

Recommended Route:
Alternate is up Holy Jim across to HorseThief or Trabuco is a cool downhill ride too!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
San Juan tr. / Los Pinos, Joplin to Santiago Truck tr.

Reviewed by: Madjax , from OC

Summary:
If your not: Its not that bad going up from the bottom just not in the heat or on weekends.Some parts are fast , some parts are pretty lose, gravely, most is not TOO technical and when you get to the bottom you want to go again.

Recommended Route:
If your up for it: Bluejay campground up the divide road and gi down to the left just after you bust your first lung and dodge a few ballsy trucks.

Reviewed by: Pablo Cruzin , from The Desert Techgardens

Summary:
Parking at the entrance to Trabuco Cyn. make the boring climb up to Horsethief west, and at Main Divide go left and go down Holy Jim, which is the longest section of trail in this area, giving the greatest reward for the sucky climb. Trabuco trail is a great technical downhill, and little dismounts if have a buttery smooth Bomber......

Recommended Route:
Everybody reviewing this has got the wrong idea, i think we can all agree that the shortest way up and the longest(singletrack)way down is ideal no? If your not johny joe XC, and want to have "fun" doing this ride, take my way, youll love it.....NONE OF THIS IS BEGINNER/ INTERMEDIATE RATED, so check yourself before you reck yourself all you weekend warriors.....

Other recommended trails in the same area:
If you want to really 'go big', and actually make a day out of it, try Trabuco to Holy Jim, to main Divide to saddleback Pk. to Joplin, to Silverado TT to the 'overated luge' , then back down to trabuco on the road, that oughta 'make a day of it' for ya.....

Reviewed by: Todd , from Huntington Beach

Summary:
First, getting there: Take the 5 fwy South and exit El Toro and head east. El turns into Santigo Canyon Road, make a right on Live Oak (Cooks Corner) and follow that to the trail head. We parked our cars down at the bottom of the dirt road and rode up. Once you reach a parking are you are at the beginning of the trail. There is a map in the parking lot to give you an idea of where you're headed. We took the trail to the right and headed up Trabuco Canyon. The trail up the canyon is a very rough ride (I've ridden San Juan and this is much more difficult). You will have to get off and walk your bike several times, but try riding them anyway or you'll never know if its ridable. Once you get to the back of the canyon, you will have to go up several rock covered switch backs up to the Main Divide Truck Trail. Turn left once you reach the top. The MDTT is a dirt road along the top of the ridge with great views of Orange County on one side and Lake Elsinore on the other. There are cars on this road so be careful. The road forks after a long downhill, stay to the left and on top of the ridge. In a couple of miles you'll reach the top of Holy Jim trail on your left. Its easy to miss so keep an eye out for it. The section leaving the MDTT is straight down and dangerous. After that you'll be on a narrow switch-backing single track with a few washed out sections. This part is a lot of fun so enjoy it. At the bottom you have several stream crossings and will see more cabins, eventually bringing you back to the parking area where we took the road back to our cars. Bring a lot of extra food and water, as this is a very long ride. And plan on it taking the better part of the day if you take this route.

Recommended Route:
From the parking area go left up Holy Jim canyon. This is a tough climb put not nearly as hard as if you try to go up Trabuco canyon. Once you reach the MDTT go right and up for about 5 miles until you reach the top of the Trabuco canyon trail. Go right and down into the canyon. Take this trail back to the parking area. Trabuco canyon is easier to ride down then it is to ride up, it is probably the most technical trail in the area.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Whiting Ranch, Santiago Louge

Reviewed by: CirclePattern , from whittier

Summary:
once you kill your car on the road up do not expect to clear anything here. you portage before trabuco trail junction to cross river beds, boulders, ect. once on the trabuco trail (if you were to go uphill here) you would walk your bike 15% of the time or have to stop for frequent breathers cuz its steep and rocky. Upper Trabuco trail is very nice but still better downhill. i give 3 stars cuz its not a traditional mtb ride (wear hiking boots) however most will like it less.

Recommended Route:
DO NOT turn right and head up the Trabuco trail.
continue up the short, steep 6w11 (sherpa your ride) and do Trabuco trail DOWNHILL.