Trip Date: 3/11/2014

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, then take the right after the school which leads to the campground. After you pass the entrance kiosk, follow the signs down to the canyon and beach access parking lot. The trailhead is at the northeast end of the parking lot.

Trail sequence: Moro Canyon trail / Elevator / Fenceline / Red Tail Ridge / Rattlesnake / West Cut-Across / Moro Canyon

Type: Lasso loop

Distance: 8 miles

Elevation: Min. - 19', Max. - 957'

Profile:

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

Synopsis: A good length hike on two of the nicer trails in Crystal Cove. Moro Canyon takes through some pretty wooded areas on the way to a steep climb on Elevator trail. You return on Rattlesnake trail, an enjoyable ridgeline single-track with nice plant communities, interesting rock formations and good views. 

Track: Moro Canyon / Rattlesnake - Crystal Cove SP

Turn by Turn:

  -- After parking, find the trailhead at the northeast end of the parking lot. You'll walk around 2.5 miles through Moro Canyon before coming to a junction with Slow 'N Easy trail. Ignore this trail and continue straight on Moro Canyon for another half mile. This brings you to Elevator trail.

  -- Elevator is very steep for the first couple tenths of miles, in places almost requiring hands as well as feet (mostly for reassurance on the slickrock). Take your time and rest if necessary. After leveling out - just a bit - the trail continues to climb to a meeting with Fenceline trail.

  -- Take Fenceline west, crossing Slow 'N Easy and continuing for another half-mile where the trail dead-ends at Red Tail Ridge trail. Turn left (south) on Red Tail Ridge.

  -- A short stretch on the gradually descending Red Tail Ridge brings you to another junction. Here the trail forks - to the right is Ticketron, to the left is Rattlesnake. Take the left fork to continue on Rattlesnake trail.

  -- Rattlesnake ascends easily along a ridge through healthy coastal sage habitat and interesting rocks to a hilltop. From here the trail drops, sometimes steeply along rough and rocky trail before turning to the northwest and then circling back to the southwest. After two miles the trail dead-ends at West Cut-Across trail. Turn left (southeast) on West Cut-Across.

  -- You descend for about a half-mile before once again meeting Moro Canyon trail. Turn right (southwest) on Moro Canyon and walk the mile back to your car.