Trip Date: 3/13/2014
Location: Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
Permit/Pass: Day use ($5), O.C. Parks Annual Pass ($55)
Trails: OC Park map, GTN Mileage Map
Directions: From Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano take the Ortega Hwy (CA 74) exit east. Drive just under eight miles to the park entrance on the left (north) side of the road. After passing through the entrance follow the street past several side roads to a stop sign. Turn right and continue until the road dead ends at the Bell Canyon trailhead parking lot. The trail begins just past the signboard behind the gate.
Trail sequence: Bell Canyon / Sunrise / East Ridge / Cougar Pass / Sun Rise / Bell Canyon
Type: Balloon loop
Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation: Min. - 416', Max. - 961'
Profile:
Rating: Easy-Moderate (factors: heat, some steep sections)
Synopsis: A classic Caspers hike through pretty canyons and along a ridge with views to either side. You travel mostly on spacious, though sometimes rocky, access roads. There's a short, steep ascent to raise the heart-rate, and a couple of good drops to test the knees, but nothing too challenging.
Bell Cyn / East Ridge / Cougar Pass - Caspers WP
Turn by Turn:
-- Bell Canyon begins behind the gate just past the trailhead sign-board. Follow it for around a mile and a quarter before reaching the junction with Sunrise trail. Turn right (northeast) on Sunrise.
-- Sunrise head east for about a half-mile, ascending gradually at first, then quite steeply for the last couple of hundred feet. Eventually the trail dead-ends at East Ridge trail. Turn left (north) on East Ridge.
-- Take East Ridge to its northeast limit where it abruptly turns to the west and drops to meet Cougar Pass. Turn left (south) on Cougar Pass.
-- After about a half-mile Cougar Pass dead ends at Sun Rise trail. Turn right (southwest) onto Sun Rise.
-- Follow Sun Rise a short distance before coming to a "Y" split in the path. Veer left to meet up with Bell Canyon once again. Turn left (south) onto Bell Canyon.
-- Follow Bell Canyon trail back to your car.