Trip Date: 11/20/2013

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 0.9 miles south on Laguna Canyon Road to the Big Bend Staging area on the right. Turn in at the gate with the park sign next to it and find a spot in the gravel lot. If you do not have an Orange County parks pass, be sure to pay at the machine.

Trail sequence: Stagecoach Springs south / Laguna Ridge / Bommer Ridge / Willow Canyon Rd / Stagecoach Springs south

Type: Loop

Distance: 5.7 miles

Elevation: Min. - 118', Max. - 984'

Profile:

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

Synopsis: After the initial challenge of climbing the rocky and steep Laguna Ridge trail, the hike tops out on Bommer Ridge, offering excellent views in virtually all directions. Although the eastern sections of this trip do follow the road, the canyons and ridges are quieter and enjoyable. Weekends on these trails include a lot of company, many of which are on wheels.

Laguna Ridge / Willow Canyon Rd. - Laguna Coast WP

Turn by Turn:

  -- From the Big Bend staging area head south on Stagecoach Springs south trail. The path ascends a small hill where you come to a fork in the trail. A marker on the right directs one to take the right fork for Big Bend trail and the left for Laguna Ridge. Take the left fork.

  -- Laguna Ridge rises and falls several times as it works its way west along the road for about a half mile before climbing to the northwest.

  -- The trail continues ascending for a little under a mile before it dead-ends at the junction with Bommer Ridge trail. Turn right (north) on Bommer Ridge.

  -- Stay on the broad and sandy ridge trail for a little over a mile and a half before coming to an intersection with Willow Canyon Rd. Turn right (northeast) on Willow Canyon.

  -- Follow the trail as it descends gradually along the side of a hill, then drops steeply down to the Willow Staging area.  

  -- Head to the south end of the Willow staging area parking lot and pick up Stagecoach Springs south again.

  -- The trail parallels the road for about three quarters of a mile before returning to the parking lot at Big Bend staging area.