Trip Date: 4/13/2014
Location: Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
Permit/Pass: Day use (weekday) - $3, (weekend) - $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 head begins next to the sign-board.
Trail sequence: Nature Trail / connector trail / Bell Canyon / Sunrise / Cougar Pass / Oso / Cougar Pass / Sunrise / Bell Canyon
Type: Out and back
Distance: 4.7 miles
Elevation: Min. - 407' , Max. - 771'
Profile:
Rating: Moderate (factors: heat, steep sections)
Synopsis: This is a nice hike with a lot of variety that takes you to a fairly intact example of a native bunch-grass meadow. There aren't a lot of these habitats left, and even though there has been significant intrusion of invasive plants the meadow is still very nice, especially early or late in the day.
Turn by Turn:
-- From the Bell Canyon parking area, head over to the Nature Trail trailhead - a few yards along the gravel lot to the west.
-- Follow the Nature Trail single track as it winds first through some grassy areas then some oaks, then stretches dominated by prickly pear, before coming to a junction with another trail. Turning right takes you on a spur connecting with Bell Canyon trail. Turning left takes you a few yards to another fork, the left option of which continues the Nature Trail and the right of which is another connector to Bell Canyon. Take either of the connectors over to Bell Canyon trail. Turn left (north) on Bell Canyon.
-- In a while, following some easy hills and meadow traverses you’ll rise to meet Sunrise trail. Turn right (east) onto Sunrise.
-- After a short distance come to a junction with Cougar Pass. Turn left (north) onto Cougar.
-- Stay on Cougar Pass as it meanders up and down along the east side of Bell Canyon until it meets up with East Ridge trail. Turn left (northwest) to continue on Cougar Pass.
-- After a short descent into a creek bed (there is a bench here if you need to take a break), the trail takes a steep but short rise to a junction with Oso trail. Turn left onto Oso.
-- A few hundred yards and a couple of dips and turns along the path brings you to Oso Meadow. There is a low rise with an exposed red cliff just on the eastern end of the meadow that is fun to explore.
-- When done enjoying the area, head back the way you came, turning right onto Cougar Pass trail, then right again at the junction with East Ridge, and right once again onto Sunrise trail.
-- A few yard down Sunrise brings you to to a fork, both options of which take you to Bell Canyon. Turn left onto Bell Canyon and follow it all the way back to the trailhead and your car.
Video: Youtube