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The Santiago Canyon Loop is one of the most popular road rides in Orange County, California. It is a 32 mile loop, half being on wide low traffic arterials with few traffic lights, and the other half through rural Santiago Canyon Road. Not a bad ride considering the proximity to such a major population center. Although I prefer to do this loop in the clockwise direction (because of where I live on the loop, I can beat the summer heat by doing the canyon first), most cyclists prefer to do this counterclockwise so that that rolling hills in middle of the canyon tend to be in the mostly downward direction. Therefore, the directions, maps, and elevation profile below are all based on the counterclockwise direction. There are many variations and add-ons that one can do with the loop. I present a basic loop below. The starting point I have selected is at the shopping center at Culver Dr and Irvine Blvd. This is easily accessible from the Culver Dr exit off the I-5 freeway in Irvine. The other advantage of this starting point is that it is at the lowest elevation of the loop, so that the climbing is done early in the ride with the downhills saved for the end, or allowing for out-and-back rides without doing the whole loop. Here's the route with Gmaps Pedometer, including elevation profile. Route Slip
Map #1 - without Glenn Ranch Road hill
Map #2 - with Glenn Ranch Road hill
Elevation Profile - without Glenn Ranch Road hill
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