hikespeak

Crystal Cove State Park has two main draws, the beach and the backcountry, so why not get a bit of both? The El Moro Visitor Center is the main trailhead for hikes into the backcountry (like Geology Discovery Trail), and it can also be the starting point of a 2-mile round trip hike to Moro Beach. This distance can easily be extended by exploring more of Moro Canyon and the surrounding ridges. ...Read more.

Crystal Cove State Park is one of Orange County's finest places to enjoy the outdoors. The park preserves 3.2 miles of coastline between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar and 2,400 acres of backcountry wilderness (bordering Laguna Coast Wilderness Park). An excellent way to explore the coastal canyons and ridges in the backcountry of Crystal Cove State Park is to set out on Geology Discovery Trail, a 9-mile loop incorporating a few trails to highlight the park's rocky past. ...Read more.

Placerita Canyon Natural Area is an interesting park on the west end of the San Gabriel Mountains near Newhall Pass. Gold was discovered in Placerita Canyon in 1842, and a century later the canyon rushed onto the silver screen as a backdrop for westerns. Today, the park is home to the Placerita Canyon Nature Center where you can learn about local plants and animals. ...Read more.

Located on the west end of the San Gabriel Mountains, Placerita Canyon Natural Area (also know as Placerita Canyon State Park) is an interesting park that has something for everyone. There are easy canyon trails and tougher backcountry tracks, along with a nature center and an Ecology Trail that offers an easy loop for those interested in local plants. ...Read more.

Located on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains in Tarzana, Caballero Canyon Trail is a straightforward dirt single track that ascends 625 feet over 1.7 miles to an unpaved section of Mulholland Drive. Caballero Canyon Trail makes a satisfying 3.4-mile round trip hike (or ride if you take your mountain bike), and extensions are available to places like San Vicente Mountain. ...Read more.

Ever wonder what happened when settlers first set eyes on giant sequoia trees? Relive the excitement of that discovery and see the enormous trees for yourself at Calaveras Big Tree State Park. The 10-square mile park has two groves of sequoias, two campgrounds, picnic areas, and a number of hiking trails. You could easily spend a couple days exploring the park, but if you only have one afternoon, hike through the storied North Grove on a 1. ...Read more.

The hike up and down Hazard Peak Trail delivers a heavy dose of ocean views. While it could be argued that this 6-mile round trip hike is the finest trek to the summit of Hazard Peak, you may wish to consider elongating that hike to a 9.2-mile loop that returns to the coast via Islay Creek Trail in the adjacent Islay Creek Canyon. Sacrificing a second helping of ocean views, the loop explores the secluded interior of Montaña de Oro State Park and finishes with a cool down on a wide, gradual trail in a canyon flanked by thousand foot peaks (including the 1,076-foot Hazard Peak). ...Read more.

Montaña de Oro State Park is packed with so many picturesque places that it can be difficult to settle on just one day hike. However, if you are looking for broad, unobstructed view over Morro Bay, you should feel compelled to set out for the top of Hazard Peak. Looking north from this coastal 1,076-foot summit, you won't see anything even half as tall as Hazard Peak for about 15 miles, giving you a full view of the dune-lined coast backed by the iconic Morro Rock. ...Read more.

Montaña de Oro State Park has a couple lengthy level hikes. If you desire ocean views, you can't do any better than the Bluff Trail. If you would rather hike up a canyon flanked by thousand foot peaks along a creek that even has a small waterfall, the fitting trail is Islay Creek Trail. The rolling 3-mile long dirt road has 300-feet of easy elevation change. ...Read more.

At 1,347 feet, Valencia Peak is one of the highest summit in Montaña de Oro State Park and may provide the best panorama of the park's stunning shoreline and inviting inland peaks. The views are epic and the hike is 4.5-miles round trip with 1,275 feet of elevation. An older version of Valencia Peak Trail was 0.4 miles shorter each way, and the new route uses more switchbacks to ease the ascent. ...Read more.