Trip Date: 3/28/2013

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 / Oso / Cougar Pass / Sun Rise / Bell Canyon

Type: Balloon loop

Distance: 4.8 miles

Elevation: Min. - 416', Max. - 708'

Profile:

Rating: Easy / Moderate (if it's hot)

Synopsis: This hike is a nice introduction to Caspers. There is just enough climbing to work up a little glow, but not enough to wreck the kids. Bell Canyon is the heart of Caspers park and it features a good variety of habitat types, including oak woodlands, coastal sage scrub, riparian areas and broad meadows. As usual when in Caspers, be aware of your surroundings - rattlesnakes are no strangers here, and there's always the chance you'll be lucky enough to see a mountain lion (so know what to do if that happens).

Bell Canyon / Oso / Cougar - Caspers

Turn by Turn:

  -- Bell Canyon begins behind the gate just past the trailhead sign-board. Follow it for around 2 miles, past meadows and hillsides, through oak woodlands and a creek bed, before reaching the junction with Oso trail. Turn right (east) onto Oso.

  -- Oso meanders generally eastward working it's way up the terraces of Bell Canyon, eventually leveling out as it crosses a meadow and meets up with Cougar Pass. Turn right (south) onto Cougar.

  -- After about a 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.