- Ride Details
- Distance: 4.3 miles
- Summit Elevation: 416′
- Total Ascent: 533′
- Time: 0.5-1 hour
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Que Sheet: Download
The Extra Credit is a four mile loop that leaves the traditional Fullerton Loop and ascends to the top of the Panorama Nature Preserve, the highest point in Fullerton.
To reach the extra credit from the Fullerton Loop look for a left turn about a quarter mile after you cross under the tunnels after you ride through the Fullerton Golf Course. The trail junction is pretty obvious.
You’ll be heading west towards Brea Blvd on the Lost Trail. On your right, you’ll see the very large Fullerton Sports Complex with it’s three baseball fields, playground and soccer fields.
You’ll climb a short hill and then reach Brea Blvd. Cross at the light and turn right to get back onto the trail. Note that you can turn left and head around the loop the other direction as well, but our instructions are for a counter-clockwise loop.
You’ll make a slight left to stay on the trail and start to see the Coyote Hills Golf Course on your left. The route makes a wide loop around golf course so you’ll see a lot of it including a great view from the top.
Climb the hill through a residential neighborhood and turn slight left at the top and continue to climb on the gravel road next to the houses.
Climb the last hill and you’ll reach the Panorama Nature Preserve. Here you’ll have a 360 view of the area with views of the golf course to the west, the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, Santiago Peak (Saddleback) to the southeast and, on a clear day, the rest of Orange County and the coast.
The first part of the descent has loose gravel and may have ruts from the rain so be careful. You’ll go through a gate and make a sharp left to continue on the trail along Bastanchury Blvd.
After you pass the entrance to Coyote Hills Golf Course, you’ll make a left to stay on the trail along Brea Blvd.
Cross Brea Blvd at the crosswalk and light where you crossed before and continue back down the Lost Trail. Turn left when you reach the trail behind the Brea Dam and continue on the Fullerton Loop.