Mr. Beek's Mountain Dream

Hiking to Beek's Place in the Santa Ana Mountains

Hiking to Beek's Place in the Santa Ana Mountains

Beek’s Place in the Santa Ana Mountains is one of those great California shrines to faded dreams, and well worth the thigh-burning 10.5-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike to get there. The trail gains 2,227 feet of elevation as it consistently rewards you with an expansive view of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains to the east and the Orange County coastline to the west.

Joe Beek was a real estate man who played a major role in developing Balboa Island in the mid-20th century. He started building Beek’s Place in 1929 as a hobby retreat and attempted to power the property with wind generators. A giant steel structure close to the cabin ruins is all that remains of this endeavor. Beek developed the property to have running water, power, and even a swimming pool. All the coniferous trees in the surrounding area were planted by the Beeks and were able to grow because of the water that was pumped to the property. Joe’s grandson, Charles Beek, finally abandoned the property in the early 1970s.

Begin on Skyline Drive Trail, which is paved and clearly marked by a sign. The first half-mile is asphalt and then turns into packed dirt. Skyline Drive is a fire road and highly trafficked by hikers and off-road cyclists. After a mile the trail quickly ascends with a series of switchbacks that keep Hagador Canyon in full view. Many of the ascending turns offer an unimpeded view of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges. At 4.7 miles, at a major fork, continue straight, and a short distance ahead you’ll come over the ridgeline and see Orange County all the way to the coastline. When you see a large metallic structure (possibly with many vultures perched atop it), you’ll know you’re in the right place. Just past that, within view, are the old foundations and the remains of Beek’s dreams.

From the 91 Freeway in Corona, take the Lincoln Ave. exit and head south. Make a right on Foothill Pkwy. At the intersection of Foothill Pkwy. and Trudy Way, make a U-turn. From there you'll see the roadside parking along the south side of Foothill Pkwy. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Camp at Goose Lake in the Lakes Basin

    Duck, Duck, Goose!

    Try to get a first-come, first-served campsite at one of the Lakes Basin’s lakeside campgrounds. We love Goose Lake Campground, where there are just 13 sites and no motorized boats.

    View
  2. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  3. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  3. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View
  4. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View