Trip Date: 1/18/2014
Location: Crystal Cove State Park
Permit/Pass: All Day Parking Pass - $15. Annual pass - $195. Oversized vehicles (25'long/9' high) - $75 per day (annual pass for oversized vehicles - $270)
Trails: Park map
Directions: Crystal Cove is located just north of Laguna Beach on California's Route 101 (Pacific Coast Highway). There are different access points. For this hike find the traffic light and turnoff to the east next to El Morro Elementary School, the follow the directions to the visitor's center. Park here and start your hike at the trailhead at the northeast end of the parking lot (note that although no one has yet collected any fees from you, your car will be ticketed if you do not stop in at the visitor's center and pay up).
Trail sequence: No Dogs / Poles / Moro Canyon / Campground connector trail
Type: Loop
Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevation: Min. - 3', Max. - 501'
Profile:
Rating: Easy-Moderate (factors: steep sections, heat)
Synopsis: Crystal Cove is a busy park on the weekends. This is a fairly short, and mostly easy (except for the climb at the beginning and a very steep descent down Poles trail) hike. The views of the ocean are excellent, and the walk through Moro Canyon is usually quite nice. But unless you're here on a weekday, expect plenty of company.
Track: No Dogs / Poles / Moro Canyon - Crystal Cove SP
Turn by Turn:
-- After parking, find the trailhead at the top (northeast) end of the parking lot. Maintain a generally northeast direction as you follow No Dogs trail.
-- Shortly after the climb levels out you reach a junction with Poles trail. Turn right onto Poles.
-- You quickly reach another fork in the path. The right fork is a dead-end. Take the left fork to continue on Poles.
-- Again you rather quickly come to another junction. Turn right and follow Poles trail as it descends quite steeply down to meet Moro Canyon trail.
-- Turn right (southwest) on Moro Canyon and hike the mile or so back toward the lower parking lot trailhead.
-- As you near the lower lot you cross a bridge. After doing so take the right turn that leads up the side of the hill.
-- As you climb to the north, skirting the parking lot, you turn west and climb some more before again turning to the northwest and paralleling the campground road as your path returns to the outer parking lot and your car.
Photo gallery: Flickr