Laguna Beach is a fantastic place to trail run. The extensive San Joaquin Hills greenbelt surrounds the town, providing access to trails a step away from the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods.
The green belt is comprised of Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Crystal Cove State Park, and Bommer Canyon/Shady Canyon Reserve(part of the Irvine Open Space Preserve).
CLIMATE:
The Laguna Beach climate is Mediterranean, produced by a dominant belt of dry air and cold ocean currents. Often, all that is needed are shorts and a T-shirt. On the rarer cooler days, one just needs to add a layer. A running hat or visor is a good idea due to the almost constant sun.
Rarely is rain gear necessary. On those rare, rainy days, the O.C. Park Rangers or State Park Rangers might close the trails because of unsafe/slippery conditions. The closure is usually only a day. You can check online (ocparks.com or crystalcovestatepark.org)or on the O.C. Parks App for closures.
It is advisable to run with a handheld water bottle, especially in the summer months. There are several water fountains, but the distances between them can be far.
Good trail running shoes aren’t a must as many trails are fire roads, but because of the challenging hills, trail running shoes are advisable. Running with a smartphone or GPS watch is always an option, but the trails are also well-marked and trail maps are posted often.
PLANT COMMUNITIES:
There are five plant communities found in Orange County.
1. Coastal Sage Scrub dominates the lower slopes and is comprised of California Sagebrush as well as White, Black, and Purple Sage. These fragrant plants, especially on hot, breezy days, give the air a pleasant smell.
Two cacti are common. The Coastal Prickly Pear with its bright red and edible fruits and yellow flowers, and the Coastal Cholla which has rounded stems and reddish/brown flowers. Avoid both because of their mythic tendency to jump out and leave their spines in you.
2. Chaparral is found at higher elevations and along the coast. It is comprised mostly of Chamise, a member of the Rose family with small leaves and flowers.
3. The trees of the Riparian Woodland in the valley floors require permanent water and comprise Western Sycamore, Cottonwood, and Willow. In the spring the Cottonwoods dust the air and ground with their snowlike powdery seeds.
4. Southern Oak Woodland is comprised of the large Coast Live Oak with its expansive root system and fireproof bark and the shrublike California Scrub Oak. Poison Oak is also frequently found within this Plant Community.
5. Coastal or Valley Grasslands can be found in the valley floors or coastal terraces. Most of the native grasses have been replaced by Mediterranean weeds introduced as feed for livestock.
Invasive species such as the yellow flowering Mustard, Tumbleweed, and the large purple Artichoke Thistle are also found. All have become a common but sometimes attractive sight within the native Plant Communities.
ANIMALS:
The San Joaquin Hills are home to many animals and insects seen on runs.
Black Stink Beetles are to be avoided as well as the nests of California Harvester Ants. There are many species of butterfly, the most popular being the Monarch which is poisonous like the Milkweed it feeds on.
There are several Spiders, from the poisonous Black Widow to the shy Tarantula. Lizards are common on the trails and in winter Frogs can often be heard in the creek bottoms.
Snakes such as the California Kingsnake and its sometimes prey the Rattlesnake, as well as California’s largest snake the Gopher Snake, are often seen crossing the trails.
Many birds are to be found. Turkey Vultures, several species of Hawks, Swallows, Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Hummingbirds. There are also noisy Crows and Ravens, Mockingbirds often seen defending their territory from Crows or Hawks, shy Quails, and elusive Roadrunners. Owls are plentiful judging from the frequent, regurgitated Owl pellets that are left on the trail but rarely seen because they are nocturnal.
Rabbits, Gophers, and Ground Squirrels frequently cross or pop out from burrows under trails. Large Mammals such as Mule Deer, Coyote, and Bobcats can sometimes be seen as well. Mountain Lions warning signs are found at the trailheads but there have been no recent sightings.
GETTING THERE:
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort town in southern Orange County, CA. The city nestles between the Pacific Ocean and the San Joaquin Hills.
The two main access roads are the Pacific Coast Highway – 1 and State Route 133/Laguna Canyon Road.
Access to the trails around Laguna Beach can be divided into (3) three areas, each with its system of trails that can be connected to make runs of any length.
- Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park
- Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
- Crystal Cove State Park
HOURS/PARKING/FEES:
1. Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
Day Use: 7:00 A.M. – Sunset
Awma Rd. Staging Area/Vehicle Parking – $3.00 Day use fee, the machine takes cash, and credit/debit cards.
2. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Day Use 7:00 A.M. – Sunset
Staging Areas/Vehicle Parking – 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Lots are Gated and Locked at 5 P.M. $3.00 Day use fee, the machine takes cash, and credit/debit cards.
3. Crystal Cove State Park
Park Hours 6:00 A.M. – Sunset
$15.00 Day use/Parking fee.
STARTING POINTS/PARKING:
1. Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park
A. Awma Road off Alicia Parkway in Laguna Niguel – $3 Parking lot or free parking along Awma Road by church.
B. Canyon Vistas off Pacific Park Drive in Aliso Viejo – free street parking
C. Alta Laguna off Alta Laguna Blvd., Laguna Beach – free parking lot, or street parking on Alta Laguna Blvd.
D. Moulton Meadows off Balboa Ave., Laguna Beach – free street parking on Balboa Ave.
2. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
A. Downtown Laguna Beach – Street parking and lots are all paid downtown.
- Laguna Bowl Trail off 133/Laguna Canyon Rd. near tennis courts
- Water Tank Trail off Poplar Street
- Boat Road off Dartmoor Street
B. Big Bend Staging Area off 133/Laguna Canyon Rd. – $3 lot
C. Willow Staging Area off 133/Laguna Canyon Rd. – $3 lot
D. Dilley Staging Area off 133/Laguna Canyon Rd. – $3 lot
E. Nix Nature Center/ Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area off 133/Laguna Canyon Rd. – $3 lot
F. El Toro Road – Wood’s End Trail – free street parking, only 4 spaces though.
3. Crystal Cove State Park
A. El Moro Visitors Center
B. Moro Canyon Day Use area, both off State Hwy. 1/Pacific Coast Highway – both a $15/day use fee
C. Coastal Peak Park, off Ridge Park Rd., Newport Coast – free street parking
HAZARDS:
Poison Oak – “Leaves of three let it be.” Poison Oak has a simple three-leafed structure. The leaves are bright green in the spring, then turn yellow-green to red in the summer and red/pink in the fall. In the winter the stems are leafless but can still cause a rash. Poison Oak can grow as a vine or bush and frequently grows along trail edges in grasslands and woodlands. Avoid any contact as the urushiol can cause an allergic skin reaction.
Coyotes – The most common large mammals. Usually seen in the morning or evening hours. Skittish around people. Stopping, making yourself as large as possible while making noise, will make them run away.
Rattlesnakes – Common, often found sunning themselves on the trails. The best thing to do is avoid them, keeping a safe distance, and going around them.
Mountain Lions – There hasn’t been any sighting of Mountain Lions in the recent past in the San Joaquin Hills. You will see warning signs at most trailheads, but it is unlikely you will encounter one.
Ticks – I haven’t found any on me but that doesn’t mean they’re not out there. Most likely in woodlands and grasslands where deer and other larger mammals are common. The best policy is to do a check at the end of the run and then again before going to bed especially because they can cling on even after a shower.
LOCAL SERVICES/COMMUNITY:
Laguna Beach is a small town with plentiful restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and shopping. Downtown there is a Whole Foods Market, Two Starbucks, and on Saturday mornings between 8 A.M. – 12 NOON, there is a Farmer’s Market in the parking lots off Forest Ave.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
As a tourist town, there are plenty of accommodations. During the summer months, the town does begin to fill up, especially around the time of the Master of the Arts Festival.
Just north of town, there is camping at the Moro Campground in Crystal Cove State Park. Campsites are on a bluff overlooking Crystal Cove Beach. The campground is very popular and fills up fast. In the off-season and during the week though it is usually possible to secure a spot. In Crystal Cove, there are also two backcountry campgrounds that rarely fill up. You have to hike in your water though.
AMENITIES:
Laguna Beach has every amenity of a small tourist town. Food, accommodation, beaches, an art museum, galleries, and an abundance of outdoor activities.
EVENTS/RACES:
Master of the Arts Festival – July/August
Sawdust Festival – June through September
Art Walk – First Thursday of the month
RESOURCES/LINKS:
Laguna Beach App – Good info on Restaurants, Things to Do, Shopping, Happy Hour, Trolley Tracker, Bus info, Beach info, as well as maps. Worthwhile and free.
O.C. Parks App – Has a decent satellite map of trails and guide to each Park, Beach, and Historic site in the O.C. Park System. Free
Wild and Beautiful: A Natural History of Open Spaces in Orange County by Allan A. Shoenherr – if you want to learn more about the Natural History of the area this is a great book. Lots of Pictures.
Afoot & Afield Orange County by Jerry Schad and David Money Harris – a great compendium of trails in the entire Orange County area.