Grass and sky in Caspers Wilderness Park
View from the East Ridge Trail in Caspers Wilderness Park
Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
East Ridge Loop in Caspers Wilderness Park
- Location: Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano. From I-5 in south Orange County, take the Ortega Highway (route 74) east for 7 1/2 miles. The park is on your left. Admission is $3 per car on weekdays, $5 on weekends and $7 on holidays. Drive on the park’s main road and park at the San Juan Meadow group area by the visitor center.
- Agency: Caspers Wilderness Park
- Distance: 5.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 500 feet
- Suggested time: 5 hours
- Difficulty Rating: PG
- Best season: October – May
- USGS topo map: “Canada Gobernadora”
- More information: here
- Rating: 7
I’ve already described a short hike and a long hike in Caspers Wilderness Park, so in this post I’ll describe a nice medium-length route. This trip uses almost exclusively fire roads, and the park is well signed, so navigation will not be a problem.
From the parking area, head north into the park on the Bell Canyon fire road. After a mile, you arrive at a split where the Sun Rise trail heads off to the right (the route you would take if you were to do the longer Oso/Juaneno loop). Head left to stay on the Bell Canyon trail, passing another intersection with the Star Rise trail.
Two miles in, you reach a fence, and pick up the Oso Trail to the right. Now you have your first real climbing of the hike, gaining about 200 feet over half a mile, with nice views of Old Saddleback as you ascend. Take a right on the Cougar Pass trail and then quickly a left onto the East Ridge trail. This is the steepest part of the whole route, but when you get to the top of the East Ridge, your efforts are rewarded with views of San Juan Canyon and the Santa Anas on your left (east) and Bell Canyon and the coastal plain (and the ocean, depending on visibility) on your right.
Follow the path along the ridge, passing the upper end of the Sun Rise trail, and after 1.5 miles (5 from the start) look for the Quail Run trail on the right. This single-track descends steeply to reoin the Bell Canyon trail and complete the loop.
Note that with recent rains (as of this writing, 11/21/10), the park is closed, but with better weather predicted for the next few days, Caspers is likely to re-open and would make a great trip for the Thanksgiving holiday.
