Free — you'll pick up right here.
Watch this trail
Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.
California
Holy Jim
2.3 mi
Distance
858 ft
Gain
No verdict for this trail
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Cleveland National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Holy Jim
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 2.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 858 ft
- Highest point
- 4,854 ft
- Lowest point
- 3,884 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
- Bikes
- yes
About this trail
Holy Jim Trail is a moderately steep out-and-back hike through chaparral and oak woodland in Orange County's Santa Ana Mountains. This scenic route climbs over 1,200 feet through a picturesque canyon with seasonal water features and native vegetation, offering rewarding views of the surrounding ridges and valleys. The trail provides a solid cardiovascular workout in a relatively compact distance, making it popular with local hikers seeking elevation gain without committing to a full day adventure.
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: rmceoin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Holy Jim Hiking Trail
~0 min drive
8.9-mile out-and-back trail in California with 4,281 ft elevation gain/loss
Silverado Motor Way
~8 min drive
5.80-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,173 ft elevation gain.
Falcon
~9 min drive
1.20-mile out-and-back trail in California with 67 ft of elevation gain.
Bell Ridge
~7 min drive
11.84-mile out-and-back trail in California with 4,661 ft elevation gain
Bell Canyon Spur
~7 min drive
0.78-mile out-and-back trail in California with 405 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: rmceoin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Cold Water Canyon
~1 min drive
8.05-mile out-and-back trail in California with 352 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Kitt O'Malley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Vulture Crags Trail
~8 min drive
2.6-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,582 ft elevation gain and loss.
Photo: darinrmcclure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Vista Point Trail
~10 min drive
1.4-mile out-and-back hike in California with 547 ft gain and 1,453 ft max elevation.
Indian Truck Trail
~7 min drive
13.96-mile out-and-back trail in California with 4,612 ft elevation gain/loss.
Photo: nazotoko, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Joplin
~4 min drive
12.82-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,455 ft gain.
Also worth it near here

