Intro
I hiked up Skyline Drive to Beeks Place for the first time. It’s an iconic homestead, centrally located amidst the Saddleback Mountains. It was the home of Joe Beek, a member of the California Senate. His homestead and property are several hundred acres. The remains of the homestead was recently renovated, and the property sold, with the name changed to Beacon’s Pines.
About Beek’s Place
Joseph Beek’s first built his iconic homestead in the Saddleback Mountains as a hobby project to be a retreat. Both Black Star Canyon and Skyline Drive were popular maintained roads into the mountains in the 1920’s. The homestead was built on a budget with discarded materials mostly by family and friends. He used what he had and was available nearby, as resources.
Off Grid Living
His water source to the cabin was a spring down in the valley, in Tin Mine Canyon. The cement cistern he built there to hold the water deep in the canyon, still stands. The water pump was initially powered by a one gallon gas generator. The lighting to the cabin at first was a single Coleman lantern. One thing he could count on, was a steady stream of wind along the ridge. So he devised a series of wind turbines to power a 6 volt generator which finally grew to a 32 volt array, powering his entire cabin. The power was stored in Edison Batteries. The remnant of this power station, a series of monolithic steel structures in part, still stand.
Learn more about Beek’s Place here.
Corona, CA
During the summer months this area in Corona can become hot and the trails are mostly exposed. However, during the cooler months, the trails around Corona and the Saddlebacks are a nice option for wintertime hikes from December to February, when the inland temps range from 60-70 during the day, much warmer than the coast. Being only 30 minutes drive from Orange County, a hike along Skyline Drive fit the bill. I have not been on a long drive since back in June of 2024, when I drove to Yosemite, to go backpacking. Since then, driving triggers a back issue, and sciatica, so I must instead opt for hikes within a 1.5-2 hour radius of home.
The Scene
This area of Corona is a popular spot year-round, so don’t expect to escape the crowds unless you hike early in the day, or high into the mountains. On a Saturday this trailhead swells with visitors from the most serious hikers, headed all the way to ridge, to those out for a leisurely stroll with kids. I would pass several large hiking groups banded together, and plenty of mountain bikers.
Parking
There is plenty of free parking along Skyline Drive, and even though you will be hiking amidst the National Forest, so no Adventure Pass is needed.
The Trailhead
I began my hike at Skyline Drive trailhead, after parking alongside the road. The first section is paved, for about 0.75 mile, before I reached this gate. At this point the fire-road begins. Off to the right there is a steep single-track, leading to a flag, which would make for a great alternative to the stair-master, and a butt kicker of a workout, if you were short on time.
Skyline Drive
The trail leading to Beeks Place is called Skyline Drive. It’s a wide, flat, and gravel-laden fire road, perfect for hiking, and biking. Although traffic is permitted, there is a locked gate to Skyline Drive, so expect only the occasional maintenance vehicle, or wayward off-road vehicle, who failed to heed the sign up top, which reads no exit, and locked gate ahead.
Don’t Get in a Rut
The ruts along the way were very minimal, compared to other fire roads leading to Main Divide Road, which runs along the ridge-line of the Saddleback Mountains.
Singletracks
Since the fire road has single tracks alongside it, there are tons of different options for hiking, and mountain biking, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Many hikers will take the more challenging narrow, steep single-tracks on up, versus the wide flat fire road, heeding the mountain bikers, barreling on downhill.
There is little chance a mountain biker could stop for a hiker on some of these steep drops without some sort of collision or injury. Since there were many mountain bikers out, so I opted for the flat wide fire road.
Skinsuit Trail
The alternate trail to Beeks Place is Skinsuit trail. If steeps are your thing, you may want to attempt Skinsuit, especially if your training for tough climbs, love mountaineering, or other types of climbing that gets you on all fours, since it is way more technical. It’s a single-track all the way, more rutted, and less popular than Skyline Trail. So if your looking to get away from the crowds, this may be the one to try. I usually opt for the longer, and more gradual trail given the option, if I am short on time. It’s very counter-intuitive, but a shorter steep trail takes longer in terms of hiking time.
This was the third flag I encountered on the way up, around mile 4.5.
This hike up to Beek’s Place is very scenic the entire way. It allows for views clear across the valley and inland empire, along with 360 degree views.
There are so many side trails and overlooks along Skyline Drive. Off in the distance, were even more mountains, and so much beauty.
Late in the day, you can expect some shade, along east facing spots, as the sun dips behind the mountains.
The most breathtaking views toward the mostly snow-free mountains of the Angeles Forest and San Gabriels, such as Strawberry Peak, Mount Islip, Mount Baden Powell and of course Mount Baldy.
After hiking for almost 3 hours I finally reached Main Divide Rd. at the ridge. Here I found a bunch of tall towers with lights, there to prevent aircraft from crashing into the mountain tops. Were I took make a right at turnoff on Main Divide Rd. I could reach Sierra Peak, another hour or so away.
This road sign was a bit misleading, stating there was no exit beyond this point (for cars not hikers).
Along the last half mile stretch I was treated to some amazing views of the “Little Grand Canyon,” of Fremont canyon, with its red rocks in the distance.
I could see all the way into Black Star Canyon, off to my right, home of Black Star Falls and the Mariposa Reserve.
I had no intention of hiking all the way to the weather beacon, since exposure to the energy emanating from it is meant to be harmful for our DNA.
I came to the first of Mr. Beek’s many weather machines, now reduced to being functionally obsolent massive steel sculptures.
I passed through the open gate along Main Divide Rd. while approaching Beek’s Place.
I walked alongside the homestead along the road, since the homestead was officially closed to visitors, since being purchased.
The sign reading “Beek’s Place,” still stands along the entrance way.
The best I could do is zoom in for a closeup of the homestead. It was formerly reduced to rubble, and is now restored to how it once looked. It is composed mostly of the smooth stones of river rock, similar to miner’s cabins. They used the materials available to them, and the same is true for Mr. Beek’s.
I had been wanting to visit this far out of the way historic homestead for some time. With all the recent area wildfires happening, it begins to sink in that the best time to visit monuments are alway now. I had planned a hike to Santiago Peak, but the Airport fire derailed those plans indefiitely, at least the option of going via Holy Jim. Hoping my local trails and wilderness areas remain spared from more wildfires.
The fire-road heading back was shady much of the way, which was welcome.
I ended up being the only one out, as I jogged my way back along the road. It was my first time trying to run or jog in about 9 months. I ended up feeling ok afterward. One of my knees began acting up, but otherwise I felt relief knowing I could run again in a limited way, without further aggravating a past injury I had been progressively healing from since last June.
Nearby Trail Options
There are two more popular, adjoining trails in the canyons by the Skyline Drive trailhead, also worth a mention. To the left was Hagador Canyon, running alongside Hagador Creek off to the left. The Tin Mine Trail can be found, amid the canyon off to the far right of the trailhead. Both are mostly shaded canyons by trees, with a slight amount of gain. They can potentially get muddy after a rain, being canyons, and may take longer to dry out than a trail like Skyline Drive, post-rain.
Conclusion
This 12 mile hike with 2400 feet of gain, along with a run back took me 4 1/4 hours to complete. I would do this hike up to Skyline just about any day there is not traffic into Corona. The 91 freeway is something you really have to time right, not to get stuck for an hour, on a drive that could take only 30 minutes. Aside from that, the weather is another factor which would affect my decision to hit Skyline Trail. I see myself coming here more often, either to head to Beeks, or to Sierra Peak, which would have taken at least another hour. Even if just going halfway up, this is a great training hike, with free parking to boot. Until next time Skyline Drive!
Leave No Trace
Just be sure to come prepared and follow Leave No Trace principles to keep the wilderness pristine for future hikers.
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I hope you enjoyed reading this, and it is helpful in knowing what to expect, should you decide to visit here.
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
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