Trip Date: 12/15/2013
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 Park Road 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 next to the sign-board.
Trail sequence: Bell Canyon / Quail Run / East Flats / Connector to Juaneño / Juaneño / San Juan Creek / Badger Pass / Oso / Cougar Pass / Sunrise / Bell Canyon
Type: Loop
Distance: 9.6 miles
Elevation: Min. - 321', Max. - 1436'
Profile:
Rating: Moderate-Difficult (factors: steep sections, heat, sandy and rocky creek sections)
Synopsis: This hike is a good all around look at Caspers Wilderness Park. You experience quite a few different habitats and enjoy some excellent views of the Santa Ana mountains to the east and the ocean to the west. The traveling can be a bit rocky in places along Juaneño and Oso trails, but for the most part the footing is good.
Track: Gazebo loop - Badger Pass - Caspers WP
Turn by Turn:
-- This hike begins at the Bell Canyon trailhead but only travel on Bell Canyon trail at the beginning of the hike for a few yards. A short distance up Bell you come to a junction with Quail Run trail on the right. Turn right (east) onto Quail Run.
-- Quail Run ascends to the terrace across which East Flats wanders. Ascend Quail Run until it levels out on the terrace and meets East Flats at the bottom of the ridge. Turn right (south) onto East Flats.
-- Follow East Flats about 0.75 miles to an intersection with East Ridge. Cross East Ridge to continue on East Flats trail. Just before reaching the road and trailhead for East Flats there is a short connector on the left that drops you down into the San Juan Meadow group camping area.
-- Follow the gravel road and work your way to the east side of the meadow where you will find the trailhead for the Juaneño trail. [This hike can be done in the reverse direction, in which case parking here at the Juaneño trailhead, and heading north on East Flats would be a good choice.]
-- Head north on Juaneño trail. After a mild climb the trail descends and levels out, then crosses a service road. Directly across the road pick up the trail again.
-- After crossing the road, continue on the trail as it meanders through woodland, creek, then woods again (somewhere between 1 and 1.5 miles) before coming to the junction with the cut-across to San Juan Creek trail. Stay straight on Juaneño.
-- Continue until the trail turns to the east and dead-ends at San Juan Creek trail next to Ortega Highway.
-- Turn left onto San Juan Creek trail and go just a few yards before coming to Badger Pass on your left. Turn onto Badger Pass.
-- After a little over a mile of mostly gradual ascent Badger Pass brings you to an intersection with Oso trail. At this junction you will find the Gazebo that gives this hike its name. This is a good place for a break.
-- For the return trip, turn left (southwest) onto Oso and hike the sometimes steeply descending trail down to where it levels out at a meadow and a meeting with Cougar Pass on the left. Turn left (southwest) onto Cougar Pass.
-- 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 fork 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.