Trip Date: 12/26/2013

Location: Crystal Cove State Park

Permit/Pass: All Day Parking Pass - $15. Annual pass - $195. Oversized vehicles (25'long/9' high) - $75 per day (annual pass for oversized vehicles - $270)

Trails: Park map

Directions: Crystal Cove is located just north of Laguna Beach on California's Route 101 (Pacific Coast Highway). There are different access points. For this hike find the traffic light and turnoff to the east next to El Morro Elementary School, the follow the directions to the visitor's center. Park here and start your hike at the trailhead at the northeast end of the parking lot (note that although no one has yet collected any fees from you, your car will be ticketed if you do not stop in at the visitor's center and pay up).

Trail sequence: No Dogs trail / No Name Ridge / West Cut Across / Moro Canyon / East Cut Across / Moro Ridge / *B.F.I. / Campground connector

Type: Loop

Distance: 5.7 miles

Elevation: Min. - 42', Max. - 744'

Profile:

Rating: Moderate (factors: steep sections, heat)

Synopsis: This is a hike that travels both main ridges of the park by connecting through Moro Canyon. Much of the trip is exposed to the sun, so it's a good one to save for a cooler day, but the views are excellent most of the time. Crystal Cove is a popular park, so it's unlikely you'll find solitude here, but on clear, cool days, the ocean views are worth every step. 

Track: No Dogs / East Cut Across - Crystal Cove SP

Turn by Turn:

  -- After parking, find the trailhead at the top (northeast) end of the parking lot. Maintain a generally northeast direction as you follow first No Dogs, then No Name Ridge (they run together) for a little over a mile before coming to a junction with West Cut Across trail on the right. Turn right (south) on West Cut Across.

  -- Follow the trail as it descends, passing Rattlesnake trail on the left, for about a half-miile, eventually ending at Moro Canyon trail. Turn right (southwest) on Moro Canyon.

  -- You only travel along Moro Canyon for maybe a tenth of a mile before meeting East Cut Across trail leading off to the left. Turn left (south) onto East Cut Across.

  -- After about a third of a mile of ascending to the south East Cut Across swings to the east, and soon thereafter to the northeast for another third of a mile or so. Then the trail heads generally east for about a mile, where you come to a fork in the trail.

  -- Both forks take you a few yards further to Moro Ridge trail. To continue on this loop take the right fork and then turn right (southwest) on Moro Ridge.

  -- Follow Moro Ridge for just under three quarters of a mile to another fork in the trail. Taking the right fork continues the loop, but the left fork follows a spur trail to a spot with some nice coast views (if you decide to take this side trip you add about a half-mile to the hike).

  -- Moro Ridge works toward the west and drops, sometimes steeply, for almost a mile and a half before it takes a sharp turn along some old paved road and meets the *B.F.I. (Big F***ing Incline) - dirt trail again - which quickly turns to the north. (Be sure not to follow the pavement down toward PCH.)

   -- Finish the hike by following the B.F.I. down to a little footbridge just a few yards short of Moro Canyon. Turn left (west) on Moro Canyon and return over the bridge to your car.

Photo gallery: Flickr