If you're looking for a hidden gem, the Bedford Peak Trail is for you. You'll get an excellent workout climbing about 2000 feet in 3 miles, and at the top, you have gorgeous views of the Santa Anas, Angeles National Forest, Catalina, and on a clear day, the higher peaks of SoCal. Overall it's an underrated gem.
If the gate into Silverado Canyon is closed, park here at the paved lot and walk up.
Gear For the Hike
There's no shade on the trail to Bedford Peak, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen. If you like to climb with trekking poles, they can be helpful. The summit can get breezy, so extra layers will feel nice if you do the hike when it's cool out. Otherwise, it's not a technical hike and can be done with workout gear if you like.
Gear That I Love Right Now
Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.
Note that the main Bedford Peak trail has two names (for the same trail). Some maps list it as the Maple Springs Trail; others list it as the Silverado Trail.
Keep your eyes open for exposed rock layers along the trail. This area is home to the Bedford Canyon Formation. The formation is unique because it's one of the only exposed rock layers that show what settled on the seafloor here 180 million years ago. When this rock was on the seafloor, dinosaurs roamed the earth. You may be able to spot fossils of ancient clams and snails in the shale layers.
The trail you hike up is sometimes called the Silverado Motorway, built years ago for cars to perform fire patrols, and now eroded into a singletrack trail.
The quaint town of Silverado, where the hike starts, was a booming mining town from 1878-1881. That's why you'll see a post office and other facilities in this remote area.
Bedford Peak Trail Directions
Bedford Peak marks the boundary between Riverside and Orange Counties.
Need More Info?
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When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.