|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
        
 Reporter |
Summary: Rapacious development comes up to the very fringes of this natural area, but dip into El Moro Canyon and you will find near solitude. The hike is best in the spring when wildflowers break out like a blush on a pretty girl's face. This is open, mostly treeless country, so a hat and sun screen are a must. Bring your own water. You can take the loop either clockwise or counter-clockwise. If you travel counter clockwise the gentler "West Cut Across" is a better choice for the trip up the hill than the Poles trail. Those who go the other way can save about a mile by entering El Moro Canyon via the Poles Trail. The Ocean View trail (1.6 miles round trip) may be worth it for spring wild flowers, but in other seasons may prove a disappointment with its view of trailer parks and luxury developments. Trailhead: From Interstate 5, Southbound: Take the Laguna Beach exit. Head south to Laguna Beach. At the Pacific Coast Highway, turn right. Proceed 2.85 miles to the El Moro Canyon turnoff (just past El Moro School.) From Interstate 5, Northbound: Take the El Toro Road exit. Head south on El Toro until it ends at Laguna Canyon. Turn left on Laguna Canyon. Continue to Pacific Coast Highway where you will turn right. Proceed 2.85 miles to the El Moro Canyon turnoff (just past El Moro School.) (Lat:33.566 Lon:-117.82) Trail Guides for El Moro Canyon, Short Loop, Crystal Cove SP: Afoot & Afield in Orange County by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Bikes, Ranger Contact: Crystal Cove State Park, 949-494-3539 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Joel Sax, who has posted 51 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Travis on 8/30/2009 Hiked it 8/30/09... early to avoid the heat. Hit the trail at 9 am and did the green loop in 70 minutes - much less than the estimated 2 hrs. We are not terribly fit but kept a constant pace. Along the way we upset a rather large rattlesnake right by our feet on the edge of the Lower Moro Trail on our way down. He was all coiled up and ready to strike when we heard/saw him - yikes! Thankfully, they rattle before they strike. The Tunnel to the beach is closed so we had to return to the parking lot and drive up the coast to another lot in order to go for a swim at the end of our hike as planned. Very nice hike for exercise with a cool, wet reward at the end. Will do it again for sure! 
Reviewed by Sue on 8/22/2009 Live nearby, so I enjoy this convenient nature hike with cool, clean ocean breezes, birds, bunnys and occasionally more (deer). Day pass is up to $15, so better value to get Annual State Park Day Permit for $125.
Reviewed by Milena on 1/20/2008 I loved this hike. You get the best of two worlds as the ocean and Catalina Island sit on one side of view and the hills and mountains sat on the other. I went on Saturday and didnt have to pay . . .i dont know if that was usual. Lots of people biking on the trails, but i must say it is a beautiful walk/hike. Lots of hills but nothing too crazy on foot (on bike, it seemed a little difficult). Beautiful hike, lots of green, and right off of PCH. On of my favs.
Reviewed by e on 1/16/2008 very nice
Reviewed by Matthew on 10/8/2007 Great hike for a California Autumn day. The ocean views are amazing. Most of the trails were fairly easy, so advanced hikers and those seeking exercise may want to make up for the difficulty by adding some distance and going deeper into the canyon. The trails were a bit confusing, as some of the signs were missing, so bring a map provided at the ranger station at the trail head. The staff was super helpful, and they are open on Sundays, which is nice. Parking is a little steep at $10, but the pass is good that day at any of the state beaches in the area.
Reviewed by Corey on 6/7/2007 Hiked it on Sunday, June 3, 2007. Photos at: http://flickr.com/photos/redjazz/sets/72157600306088808/ Parking at $10 was pretty steep but the ocean views coming back to the car were just about worth it. Bring correct change if you can - the ranger lady scolded me for having her break a $20.
Reviewed by AJA on 5/28/2007 I tried to bike this, and had a hard time. I think I ended up walking half of it. I'm not an extreme mountain biker, maybe somewhere between a rookie and moderate. It was too steep for me to bike up. Going down was a lot of fun and worth the hike up. The views are also nice on a clear day. I will go back, but first I need to get into some serious shape to be able to bike up the mountain. I will go back to hike. Very nice coastal hike.
Reviewed by Mischelle on 4/16/2007 Great hike, beautiful view of the Pacific. This hike is in a State Park with a number of different trails and trail intersections. At most intersections, there is a map with a "You are Here." The problem is that the "You are Here" symbol covers some important parts of the map that show that there may be three trails near one point. We went in the wrong direction twice because of this. BRING YOUR OWN MAP!!!! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Orange County Hiking, Orange County Trails, Orange County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||