Big Bend / Laurel Canyon (dayhike)

Trip Date: 11/13/2013

Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Permit/Pass: Day use (weekday) - $3, (weekend) - $5, Annual Pass ($55 or $80)

Trails: New park map, Old park map

Directions: From Interstate 405 take CA Hwy 133 (aka Laguna Canyon Road) south. After you pass under Hwy 73 (toll road) the road narrows. Stay alert for a slight bend to the right in the road, after which there will be a gravel entrance to a parking lot for the park's Willow Staging area. If you do not have an Orange County parks pass, be sure to pay at the machine.

Trail sequence: Stagecoach Springs south / Big Bend / Bommer Ridge / Willow Canyon Rd / Laurel Spur / Laurel Canyon / Stagecoach Springs south

Type: Loop

Distance: 5.5 miles

Elevation: Min. - 150', Max. - 921'

Profile:

Rating: Moderate-Difficult (factors: heat, steep sections)

Synopsis: Taken clockwise (the direction in this guide) this hike offers a challenging first couple of miles with some steep climbing along Big Bend trail. But after you reach the ridge the difficulty drops significantly and the views open up pretty much all around. The hike finishes with a leisurely descent along riparian Laurel Canyon trail.

 

Big Bend / Laurel Canyon - Laguna Coast WP

Turn by Turn:

  -- The hike departs from the south end of the Willow staging area parking lot and follows Laguna Canyon Rd. for about three quarters of a mile before reaching the Big Bend staging area (another lot, and one from which, by the way, this same hike could begin).

  -- Just after passing the Big Bend staging area the path ascends a small hill where you come to a fork in the trail. A marker on the right directs one to take the right fork for Big Bend trail.

  -- Big Bend immediately ascends steeply and continues climbing for almost a mile and a half before meeting Bommer Ridge. Turn right (north) on Bommer Ridge.

  -- After a little over half a mile of walking along the ridge there is a junction on the right with Willow Canyon Rd. Turn right (northeast) on Willow Canyon. 

  -- Just a few yards down Willow Canyon turn left (west) onto Laurel Spur.

  -- Laurel Spur winds and descends down to a junction with Upper Laurel on the left and Laurel Canyon on the right. Turn right (east) on Laurel Canyon.

  -- Follow Laurel Canyon as it heads southeast toward Laguna Canyon Rd. After just over a mile the trail converges with, and turns into, Stagecoach Springs south, which takes you back to the Willow staging area.