Hi Jags, I went up earlier this week to help with the search. So off 74 go north on main divide rd for about a mile on the rough paved rd then I ran into the gate being open. Up on the hill I ran into a guy In his JK. He told me its usually open during these past winter or spring months and that the exit or another entrance gate is off Trabuco cyn in irvine. The gate does get locked but its unknown when.. Ill prob stop by the fire station/ visitors center just south of 74 in that same area to ask them when it closes.. I do know that the gate in corona at the dead end of foothill Parkway is now permanently closed and the county isn't issuing any more keys and changed the lock for those who had a key. I'm planing on going back up soon. Good luck!
I found out the hard way that Skyline, at the end of foothill, was locked. I came in from Silerado canyon in Irvine, up Maple springs road to the main divide road. From there you can go right or left. Right takes you over Santiago Peak back down to Hwy 74. (ortega hwy) As far as I know the south side from ortega is always open. If you go Left you can drive all the way to the 91. However all of the gates are closed at the top. Except Bedford RD and Skyline. Skyline's gate is at the bottom, so don't bother. Found this out after driving for 4 hours and had to back track. I went all the way to Sierra Peak. (got a nice pic of the 91) and had to back track 1.5 hours to bedford rd. I have gone down beford twice now and I don't think it will be open much longer. It comes out on a nice golf course and country club type housing. (looked like Scarface's home with the big pillers and fountains out front)
I'm doing the indian truck trail out of Lake Elsinor, over Santiago peak then down to Silverado Canyon this Sunday morning. I've done trabuco creek as well. There are a few trails, most of it is driving through the actually creek down in the valley. There are a couple roads but most don't go anywhere and you have to drive back down. Long post, but I don't want anyone else getting stuck on the top of the mountain with now road down. I was up there for 6 hours. It was awesome, if I had planned it would have been even better.