Trip Guides

Laguna Bowl Loop (dayhike)

Trip Date: 1/11/2014

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 but don't turn here. Drive another 3 miles south on Laguna Canyon Road to a right turn onto Cliff St. After just a few yards on Cliff turn right onto High Dr. and follow it as it heads up and veers to the left. After 0.2 miles you come to Poplar St.. Turn right onto Poplar and drive to the dead-end next to a park and with a gated paved road at the terminus.

Trail sequence: Water Tank Rd. / Bommer Ridge trail / Laguna Bowl trail / Laguna Canyon Rd (public street) / Cliff St. (public street) / High Dr. (public street) / Poplar St. (public street)

Type: Loop

Distance: 3.9 miles

Elevation: Min. - 35', Max. - 876'

Profile:

Rating: Moderate (factors: steep sections)

Synopsis: This is a short and often quite steep hike into the hills behind the coastal town of Laguna Beach. On a clear day the views are spectacular, especially on the return leg toward the ocean. There is a short (but, again, steep) bit of walking along the streets of Laguna Beach at the end of the hike, but it's a worthy jaunt nonetheless.

 

Laguna Bowl Loop - Laguna Coast WP

Turn by Turn:

  -- After parking along the street walk to the gate and head around the right side where there is a wooden entry door to the paved Water Tank Rd.

  -- Soon the pavement turns into dirt. Follow this road/trail as it climbs steeply to the west before turning north.

  -- After a little over a mile and a half of generally trending north and east you come to a junction with Laguna Bowl trail. For some reason the markers at this intersection identify Bommer Ridge trail (heading off to the left (north) and Water Tank Rd. - the trail you've been on - heading to the southwest, but Laguna Bowl, heading south, is not identified. In any case, turn right (south) onto Laguna Bowl trail.
 
  -- Follow this trail as it descends, often steeply, for a mile and a half - be sure not to get sidetracked onto spur trails that service utility poles - to finally meet up with Laguna Canyon Rd.
 
  -- Turn right on Laguna Canyon and walk a few blocks to Cliff St. Turn right and walk up Cliff a couple of yards to High Dr. Turn right onto High Dr. and follow as it ascends and turns to the west. Soon you'll come to Poplar St. Turn right here and walk the sidewalk back to your car.
 
 
Photo gallery: Flickr