Trip Date: 2/2/2017

Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Permit/Pass: None when leaving from Coastal Peak Park

Trails: Laguna Coast WP: New park map, Old park map

Directions: From California Toll Road 73 take the Newport Coast Dr. exit and go south (toward the beach) for about 1.3 miles to Ridge Park Rd. Turn left and follow Ridge Park 1.5 mile up the hill to a public park called Coastal Peak Park. Find parking along Ridge Park (or turn right onto E. Coastal Peak Rd. and look there). The trailhead is next to the signboard at the gated end of Ridge Park Rd.

Synopsis: Emerald Canyon is a lovely little, and less visited, spot in Laguna Coast. Getting there by way of Bommer Ridge makes for a gentle, fairly flat walk with great views all around. The hike through the canyon itself can be a bit challenging because the trails can be steep, but it's an adventure well worth the trouble.

Trail sequence: Bommer Ridge trail / Old Emerald trail / Emerald Canyon trail / Old Emerald Falls trail / Moro Ridge trail / Bommer Ridge

Type: Balloon loop

Distance: 6.3 miles

Elevation: Min. - 440', Max. - 1028'

Profile:

Rating: Moderate (factors: length, heat)

Notes: These trail sees a lot of traffic on weekends (and sometimes on weekdays), including plenty of bikes. Get there early if you must go on Saturday or Sunday.

Track: Bommer / Emerald Canyon - Laguna Coast WP: Alltrails, GaiaGPS

Turn by Turn:

  -- To follow this hike, head east on Bommer Ridge trail. (It's wise to know the trails beforehand, but there are trail-maps posted at most junctions, so as long as you can read and pay attention it should be pretty difficult to get lost.)

  -- Follow as the path generally trends a bit south of east for about two miles, eventually circling due south.

  -- After a bit over a mile - and a short distance beyond the junction with Big Bend trail on the left (east) - you reach another junction with Old Emerald trail on the right. Take this right turn and head down, sometimes steeply, into Emerald Canyon.

  -- Upon reaching the canyon floor turn right onto Emerald Canyon trail and gradually climb the short distance to a junction with Old Emerald Falls trail on the left. Turn left (west) and begin the ascent out of the canyon. The trail heads north, crossing rocks and creek beds (but nothing too troubling), and at points climbing pretty sharply. At the time of our hike there were quite a few deep ruts in the single-track trail, making steep ascent a bit difficult.

  -- Upon leveling out you close on Moro Ridge. When you reach the Moro Ridge trail, take a right turn to head north the short distance back to Bommer Ridge trail.

  -- At the dead-end with Bommer Ridge, turn left (west) and retrace your outbound track back to the trailhead.