Day Hikes Around Orange County

112 Great Hikes

Robert Stone

• Publisher: Day Hike Books
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781573424011
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Travel

Orange County lies along the coast in southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. The county is framed by the Pacific Ocean on one side while the Santa Ana Mountains stretch along the entire back side of the county. The coast-to-mountain landscape creates an interesting, diverse terrain that offers many opportunities for exploration. Despite the urban encroachment, nearly 30% of Orange County is preserved as city parklands, wilderness preserves, national forests, and state parks. Along the county's 44 miles of shoreline reside long stretches of sandy beaches, marine terraces, and promontories. The Cleveland National Forest and the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness cover thousands of acres of forested canyons and plateaus in the Santa Ana Range. This essential guide describes how to get to backcountry trailheads in the Santa Anas, the best trails to hike in the county's expansive parklands, and where to find access points to the coastline. Several inviting urban routes are included as well. Highlights of the hikes include sheltered coves, tidal estuaries, forested canyons, cascades, weathered sandstone peaks, and vista points that offer views from the ocean to the cities. A range of hikes is included, from easy coastal walks to strenuous hillside climbs. Statistics, accurate directions, and a map for every hike makes these adventures stress free. Dog access information is included, as well as a thorough index.Companion guides include Day Hikes On the California Southern Coast and Day Hikes Around Los Angeles.

Table of contents

• Hiking Orange County
• MAP Map of the Hikes
• MAP Santa Ana Mountains (Hikes 1–65)
• MAP CHINO HILLS STATE PARK (Hikes 1–12)
• 2. Gilman Peak from North Ridge
• 3. Gilman Peak Loop: North Ridge–Telegraph Canyon Trails
• Rimcrest Park Entrance
• 5. San Juan Hill from Rimcrest Drive
• Bane Canyon Park Entrance
• 7. Upper Aliso Canyon–Raptor Ridge
• 8. Hills For Everyone–Four Corners–Telegraph Canyon Loop
• 9. San Juan Hill from Rolling M Ranch South Ridge–Telegraph Canyon Loop (east end)
• 10. Water Canyon
• 11. Scully Ridge–Lower Aliso Canyon
• 12. McLean Overlook
• MAP ANAHEIM HILLS • ORANGE • NORTH TUSTIN (Hikes 13–24)
• 14. Oak Canyon Nature Center
• MAP SANTIAGO OAKS • IRVINE REGIONAL PARKS (Hikes 15–22)
• 16. Windes–Pacifica Loops to Rattlesnake Ridge Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• 17. Robber’s Peak from Santiago Creek Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• 18. Robber’s Peak Loop: Anaheim Hills Trail–Serrano Avenue Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• 19. Weir Canyon Loop: Weir Canyon Wilderness Park
• MAP IRVINE REGIONAL PARK (Hikes 20–22)
• 21. Santiago Creek–Horseshoe Loop: Irvine Regional Park
• 22. Roadrunner Loop: Irvine Regional Park
• 23. Peters Canyon Reservoir: Peters Canyon Regional Park
• 24. Peters Canyon–East Ridge Loop: Peters Canyon Regional Park
• MAP HIGHWAY 241 (Hikes 21–31)
• 26. Borrego Canyon–Red Rock Canyon Limestone Canyon–Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
• 27. Serrano Canyon Loop to Four Corners Limestone Canyon–Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
• MAP O’NEILL REGIONAL PARK (Hikes 28–30)
• 29. Edna Spaulding Nature Trail: O’Neill Regional Park
• 30. Arroyo Trabuco Trail: O’Neill Regional Park
• 31. Riley Wilderness Park
• MAP SANTIAGO CANYON ROAD (Hikes 32–40)
• 33. Silverado Trail to Overlook: Silverado Canyon
• 34. Silverado Trail to Bedford Peak: Silverado Canyon
• 35. Harding Road to Santiago Canyon Viewpoint Modjeska Canyon
• 36. Harding Road to Laurel Spring: Modjeska Canyon
• 37. Santiago Trail to Vulture Crags Modjeska Grade–Santiago Canyon
• MAP TRABUCO CANYON (Hikes 38–40)
• 39. Trabuco Canyon to West Horsethief Trail: Trabuco Canyon
• 40. Trabuco Canyon–West Horsethief Loop to North Main Divide Road Trabuco Canyon
• MAP ORTEGA HIGHWAY • LOWER SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS (Hikes 41–65)
• 42. Lower East Ridge Loop
• 43. Lower Bell Canyon–East Ridge Loop
• 44. Pinhead Peak
• 45. Upper Bell Canyon
• 46. Upper Bell Canyon–East Ridge Loop
• 47. Bell Canyon–Oak Trail Loop
• 48. Bell Canyon–West Ridge Loop
• MAP UPPER ORTEGA HIGHWAY (Hikes 49–57)
• 50. Lower Chiquito Trail San Juan Canyon to the Lion Canyon Overlook
• MAP NORTH MAIN DIVIDE ROAD TO TRAILHEADS (Hikes 51–54)
• 52. Upper Lion Canyon–Chiquito Basin Loop
• 53. Upper Hot Spring Canyon to Hot Spring Falls
• 54. Los Pinos Peak from North Main Divide Road
• 55. El Cariso Nature Trail El Cariso Fire Station and Visitor Center
• MAP SAN MATEO CANYON WILDERNESS (Hikes 56–60)
• 57. Morgan Trail–Morrell Canyon South Main Divide Road to Ortega Highway
• 58. Tenaja Falls
• 59. Upper San Mateo Canyon San Mateo Creek–Fisherman’s Camp Loop
• 60. Tenaja Canyon: Tenaja Trail–Fisherman’s Camp Loop
• MAP SANTA ROSA PLATEAU (Hikes 61–65)
• 62. Granite–Vista Grande–Waterline Loop
• 63. Wiashal Trail to Cole Canyon
• 64. Coyote Trail–Oak Tree Loop
• 65. Vernal Pools and Historic Adobes Loop
• MAP PALOS VERDES PENINSULA TO CORONA DEL MAR (Hikes 66–80)
• 67. Abalone Cove and Portuguese Point
• 68. Portuguese Bend Overlook Crenshaw Extension Trail from Del Cerro Park
• 69. South Coast Botanic Garden
• 70. White Point and Point Fermin Park
• 71. Long Beach Oceanfront Trail to Belmont Pier Long Beach City Beach
• 72. Belmont Pier to Alamitos Peninsula and Bay Long Beach City Beach
• 73. El Dorado Nature Center: El Dorado Park
• MAP HUNTINGTON BEACH
• 75. Huntington Beach • Bluff Top Park Bolsa Chica State Beach to Huntington Pier
• 76. Newport Beach • Balboa Peninsula Newport Pier to West Jetty View Park
• MAP NEWPORT BEACH
• 78. Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve North Corridor from Interpretive Center
• 79. Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
• 80. Back Bay Drive Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve
• MAP NEWPORT BEACH TO SAN CLEMENTE (Hikes 81–112)
• 82. West Wall of El Moro Canyon Crystal Cove State Park
• 83. El Moro Canyon to Bommer Ridge Crystal Cove State Park
• 84. Emerald Bay Overlook: Crystal Cove State Park
• 85. El Moro Canyon–Moro Ridge Loop Crystal Cove State Park
• 86. Bommer Ridge–Laguna Ridge Loop from Laguna Canyon Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
• 87. Emerald Canyon–Bommer Ridge Loop Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
• 88. Laurel Canyon–Willow Canyon Loop Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
• 89. Barbara’s Lake James Dilley Greenbelt Preserve • Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
• 90. Laguna Beach Bluffs and Heisler Park Crescent Bay Point Park to Main Beach
• MAP LAGUNA BEACH
• 92. Lower West Ridge–Wood Canyon–Mathis Canyon Loop Laguna Coast • Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Parks
• 93. Upper West Ridge–Upper Wood Canyon Loop Laguna Coast • Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Parks
• 94. Aliso Canyon and Wood Canyon Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• 95. Sulphur Creek Reservoir Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• 96. Aliso Summit Trail Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• 97. Aliso Peak from Seaview Park Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• 98. Seaview Trail from Badlands Park Badlands Park • Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• 99. Aliso Peak from South Laguna Ridge Trail Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• 100. Aliso Peak from Valido Trail Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• 101. Salt Creek Beach Park
• 102. Salt Creek Trail from Salt Creek Beach Park
• MAP DANA POINT
• 104. Blufftops of Dana Harbor Ken Sampson Overview Park–Hide Trail
• 105. Heritage Park
• 106. Lantern Bay Park
• 107. Doheny State Beach to Capistrano Beach Park
• 108. Pines Park
• 109. Rancho San Clemente Ridgeline Trail
• 110. San Clemente State Beach to San Mateo Point
• 111. Trestles Beach at San Mateo Point San Onofre State Beach North
• 112. San Onofre Bluffs San Onofre State Beach South
• Companion Guides