Chimera 100

The Cleveland National Forest, nestled in the bustling greater San Diego area, spans a modest 460,000 acres intersecting parts of Orange and Riverside Counties. Providing ample recreation, sprawling mountain vistas, and an abundance of wildlife and natural resources, visitors don’t have to travel far to explore a wilderness environment within urban boundaries. This National Forest is host to The Chimera 100 Mile trail race.

The Chimera is a figure out of Greek mythology. She is a fire breathing animal comprised of a lion, a goat, and a serpent and those who have participated in her race refer to it simply as "THE BEAST". The Chimera 100 Mile race takes place on a figure eight course that starts and finishes at Blue Jay Campground, located in the Trabuco region of the Cleveland National Forest. The views from the summit of Santiago Peak can be spectacular on a clear day. Included are the Queen Mary in Long Beach harbor, downtown Los Angeles, and the beach cities of the OC. The light shows at night can be extremely dramatic with the mountains surrounded by a sea of city lights. In a population of almost 10 million, fewer that 1/100 of a % of the people in the greater LA area have seen these views.

The Trabuco Wilderness trails are maintained by volunteers. All entrants (including potential pacers) are asked to donate at least six hours of trail maintenance on the Chimera trails. If you are located outside Orange County, Riverside, LA or San Diego Counties, trail maintenance or other services in a National Forest is acceptable.