Tag Archives: bike path

Canyon Acres Trail (Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park)

Posted on by dlockeretz

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Sunset over Catalina Island from the Canyon Acres Trail

Full moon and sandstone geology, Canyon Acres Trail

Canyon Acres Trail (Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park)

      • Location:  Hills north of Laguna Beach in south Orange County.  From I-405, take the highway 133 exit south for 8.5 miles.  Turn left on Forest, which becomes 3rd St, and after 0.3 miles total take a left onto Park Ave.  Go 1.8 miles on Park to its terminus in Alta Laguna Drive, and head left, and park at the end of the street.
      • Agency:  Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
      • Distance: 2.6 miles
      • Elevation gain: 850 feet
      • Suggested time: 1.5 hours
      • Difficulty: PG
      • Best season: All year (Hot during the summer)
      • USGS topo map: “San Juan Capistrano”
      • Recommended gear: sun hat;  hiking poles
      • More information: here; Everytrail report here
      • Rating: 6

This short but steep “reverse” hike explores the southwestern corner of Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. There’s a nice variety of scenery, including great ocean views, aerial vistas of Laguna Canyon and the characteristic sandstone geology of the area. You can also see Old Saddleback, and on clear days, the San Gabriels. This trail is a great place to watch the sunset, and it is short enough that it can be done easily as an after-work excursion, as well as on the weekends.

From the end of Alta Laguna, follow the Park Avenue Nature Trail past the billboard and downhill. Where the nature trail heads off to the left, take a right to access the Canyon Acres trail, a fire road. The trail bends to the left and starts heading downhill, providing nice views of Laguna Canyon far below. Several false trails branch off, although the main route is pretty obvious.

After a steep descent, the trail levels out for a little while and begins another descent. Look for some sandstone caves on the right (and possibly some people climbing inside them). At 0.8 miles, the trail splits again. Head right, around a horseshoe-shaped curve that takes in some great ocean views. As you round the side of a knoll and head back into the canyon, you get a nice look at some more geology, including an outcrop that may remind some of Griffith Park’s famous Bee Rock.

The lower end of the trail is pleasantly quiet, protected from the nearby street noise. At 1.3 miles, you reach a bridge that connects the trail to the end of Canyon Acres Drive. There’s a nice wooded area where you can sit for a little bit and catch your breath before making the steep climb back to Alta Laguna. The silver lining is that whenever you have to stop and catch your breath, you’ll have some great views to enjoy. If you really want to burn a few extra calories, try returning via the Park Avenue Nature Trail.

Text and photography copyright 2011 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. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from hiking on this trail. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.

Park Avenue Nature Trail (Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park)

Posted on by dlockeretz

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Hillside on the Park Avenue Nature Trail

Ocean view from the Park Avenue Nature Trail

Park Avenue Nature Trail (Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park)

    • Location:  Hills north of Laguna Beach in south Orange County.  From I-405, take the highway 133 exit south for 8.5 miles.  Turn left on Forest, which becomes 3rd St, and after 0.3 miles total take a left onto Park Ave.  Go 1.8 miles on Park to its terminus in Alta Laguna Drive, and head left, and park at the end of the street.
    • Agency:  Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
    • Distance: 1.5 miles
    • Elevation gain: 400 feet
    • Suggested time: 1 hour
    • Difficulty: PG
    • Best season: All year (Hot during the summer)
    • USGS topo map: “San Juan Capistrano”
    • Recommended gear: sun hat;  hiking poles
    • More information: here; Everytrail report here
    • Rating: 6

Readers may notice that this trail’s name spells the word PANT, which is what you’ll be doing a lot of, especially if the day is hot. As short as this trail is, it’s surprisingly challenging.

This trail never gets far away from the nearby residential streets, but it still has a rugged feel, due to its steep descent, interesting sandstone geology and relative lack of foot traffic. The Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park trailhead at Alta Laguna Park is the starting point for this short loop.

From the northwest end of Alta Laguna Drive, follow the fire road, but stay straight as the West Ridge Trail branches off. Another spur to the right leads to the Carolyn Wood knoll, a vista point worth checking out if you have the time.

The Park Avenue Nature Trail descends, staying left as the Canyon Acres Trail branches of to the right. Enjoy the views of the canyon and the ocean in front of you before the trail makes a very steep descent.

After dropping 400 feet in about half a mile, you find yourself pleasantly isolated from the sights and sounds of the nearby residential streets. The trail winds around the side of the hill, passing by some interesting sandstone outcrops, before beginning an ascent back to Park Avenue. You reconnect with Park Avenue a mile from the start. Turn left and continue your climb on the paved street, which brings you to Alta Laguna Drive. Turn left and walk the last quarter mile to the car.

If you have time, you can continue to explore this side of Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park by continuing north along the West Ridge Trail.

Text and photography copyright 2011 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. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from hiking on this trail. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.

Aswut Trail (Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park)

Posted on by dlockeretz

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View from the top of the Aswut Trail

Modjeska, Santiago and goats on the Aswut Trail

Aswut Trail (Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park)

  • Location: Laguna Beach.  From the north, take Pacific Coast Highway south of downtown Laguna Beach and turn left on Bluebird Canyon.  Go 0.3 miles and turn right on Summit Ave.  Go 0.7 miles and make a slight right onto La Mirada.  Go 0.1 miles and turn left on Del Mar.  Park on the corner of Del Mar and Balboa, just north of Moulton Meadows Park.  Alternately, from points south, take P.C.H. to Nyes Place.  Turn right and drive 1.4 miles (Nyes becomes Balboa along the way) and park on the corner of Balboa and Del Mar.
  • Agency:  Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
  • Distance: 2 miles
  • Elevation gain: 350 feet
  • Suggested time: 1 hour
  • Difficulty: PG
  • Best season: All year (Hot during the summer)
  • USGS topo map: “San Juan Capistrano”
  • Recommended gear: sun hat
  • More information: here; Everytrail report here
  • Rating: 5

Located in the southwestern corner of Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, the Aswut Trail makes a short, but vigorous–and scenic–workout, and it can also be used as an access point for other trails for a longer hike.

That the Aswut Trail is really a bike path shouldn’t turn off hiking purists; there aren’t many paved trails that provide both great ocean and mountain views. Keep in mind, however, that the route is completely exposed.

From the end of Balboa, head north along the bike path, taking in great views of the canyons and the Santa Anas on the right and the ocean on the left. At about half a mile, you reach a junction with the Meadows Trail on the right, which leads down into the park. There’s a large pen of friendly goats here, too.

The path continues, heading downhill briefly and then making a steep climb to meet residential Top of the World Drive. The trail branches off to the left, makes a steep dip and then finishes with another steep climb.

On the way back, you can vary your route a little by heading left on the Meadows Trail. Just before the trail dips down into the canyon, head right and walk along a single-track trail that parallels the paved Aswut Trail. Follow this trail back to Moulton Meadows Park, and take a right on a stone walkway to head back down to Balboa.

Text and photography copyright 2011 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. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from hiking on this trail. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.