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 Reporter |
Summary: When summer temperatures forbid excursions into foothill canyons, the short Valido Trail offers a breezy and, sometimes, fog-kissed alternative. From short Valido Canyon, hikers scramble up a series of stairs, check dams, and sandstone outcrops to the Aliso Peak Trail which leads to a 683 foot headland overlooking Aliso Beach. When you are finished enjoying the view of the Orange Coast and lower Aliso Canyon, backtrack to the Toovet trail which takes you through a magical coastal sage community to a lower overlook. If you need to tire out a pack of youngsters and have limited time, the steep approach to Aliso Peak can finish them off in less than an hour. You can tell the little ones that you're taking them for a hike on "the bunny trail" (Toovet means "brush rabbit" in Acajchemem). There are no restrooms or water on this trail. Trailhead: Guidebooks suggest that you take Laguna Canyon Road (State Highway 133) south to Pacific Coast Highway and then turn left on Pacific Coast Highway. Take another left on West Street. Due to traffic congestion at Laguna Beach, however, I recommend this alternate route: From Interstate 5, take Crown Valley Parkway. Go west on Crown Valley. Crown Valley arcs into Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right on Pacific Coast Highway and right on West Street. Turn left on Valido Drive. The trailhead (which resembles a dirt driveway) is at the top of the first slope, just past Toto Loma. Park on the downhill side of the street. When you are finished with the trail, you can drive back to Pacific Coast Highway and enjoy coastal access at the foot of West Street. (Lat:33.5061 Lon:-117.7425) Trail Guides for Valido Trail, Aliso & Wood Cyns WP: Best Easy Day Hikes Orange County by Randy Vogel (Falcon Publishing Company) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, 949-923-2200 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 Meera on 11/14/2011 Beautiful easy hike! My husband carried our infant and our two-year-old made it to the top and back down all by himself. Lovely views, pretty steep uphill at times, but even a toddler can do it! We will definitely be back since we live just a few miles away. Wish there were more like it nearby.
Reviewed by DCS on 10/7/2010 Cool little hike. Pretty much uphill from bottom of hike to the lookout, then downhill on the way home. Lookout is amazing. Then you can continue upward on a separate trail to lengthen out your trip. Great day hike, especially if you can time your view and hope for no clouds over the ocean
Reviewed by Rob on 5/22/2010 Just went there earlier this afternoon. We live in Aliso Viejo so it was a short drive from us. I would advice to take Crown Valley down to avoid 133 traffic during the spring/summer time. Spectacular view. The hike was relatively short and easy. About 30 min to the top and 20 min back down. Definitely worth the hike, million dollars view. 
Reviewed by Julie on 5/10/2010 I was here a few weeks ago and there were no wildflowers, but yesterday, wildflowers were everywhere! Pretty, pretty, pretty. Take the kids with you on this one!
Reviewed by Erica on 1/30/2010 Great ocean views! Physically satisfying without ruining me for the rest of the day. Fantastic beginners hike.
Reviewed by Nico on 1/1/2010 Good little hike. Short but steep and gets the heart pumping. Great view when you get to the top!
Reviewed by AJA on 5/28/2007 Nice trail with a great spot that overlooks the coast. If you can catch a sunset, this is the spot to do it at. Its a quick hike to the top. Not that easy, kinda steep, but doable for anyone I would assume. Pretty easy to get too, and not very crowded. Great trail to bring your dog. The view on the trail is alright, but it all about the look out point on top.
Reviewed by nb on 4/21/2005 I hit this trail a couple times a week. The Valido Canyon Trail is technically "closed" due to extreme rain runoff causing part of the trail to collapse by the stream, however, it is still passable and you can still reach the top with no problems. 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
