Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

This hike kicked my ass. It was beautiful, challenging, and fun.

It’s a really nice place to hike. There’s a beautiful view, and it’s a great trail for a nice and easy hike. The hikes do not really get too difficult, it doesn’t have much incline. Parking is fairly easy to find, you can just park in some of the nearby neighborhoods.

Great trails for all levels and distances. Nix Nature Center has amazing volunteers and a lot of informational resources.
Always love coming here.
Oh and the nicest park restrooms ever at Nix!

this is a big place and a couple of trails to hike. we chose the one with a ghost rock off to the right. I had the baby with me and went around ten in the morning. big mistake. it was hot. Definitely recommend going earlier and bringing water. sometimes there is a lazy selling water for a donation passing out maps of the area. I enjoyed about five minutes into the hike the trail moves we away from the highway so the city sounds cease to exist. it feels good. it is a therapeutic type of silence that is really just replaced by the natural sounds of the earth.

One of my favorite hike in Laguna! I love seeing the big rocks around the mountains. The train is really peaceful. I highly recommend it.

This was my very first hiking place and I really loved this place! This place offers some really nice views of its surroundings. It wasn’t that hot when I hiked and what made this place better was there were some breeze blowing and so it helps you cool down as you hike. This place helped me realize that SoCal is definitely for me. This is a great place to hike with someone you like :).

Came here last Saturday for a hike. We parked in lot by gate #7 off of Laguna Canyon Road. There was plenty of parking available just make sure you leave by 5 or you may get locked it. It costs $ 3 to park, cash or credit card. We started off taking Big Bend Trail then took Boomer Ridge and ended by taking Boat Road. Let me warn you, this is a strenuous hike and with the heat, it was very difficult. Luckily there is a nice ocean breeze to help. The trail isn’t anything special. No trees or cool things along the way but the view point of the coast at the end is amazing! You can see all of Laguna and Newport. I think this would be a great place to watch the sunset. I will definitely be back for the sunset!

I started off at the Nix nature center, which btw is a must visit. The bathrooms are so clean! lol Maybe they cleaned them that morning, but everything looked great. I started my hike behind Nix on Little Sycamore trail, which is all uphill. It’s not too bad even for someone extremely out of shape like me, but it’s at the very start of the hike so it just feels weird to start sweating so soon. lol
I next got on the Serrano Ridge trail which offers some good views and is a very nice and easy trail so you can leisurely walk along after climbing up from Little Sycamore trail.
Next I hiked under the 73 and onto Laurel Canyon trail which so far is my favorite trail I’ve been on. It follows a now dry stream and offers some decent shade. It’s a nice change from the previous trails which is in full sun. After that trail I got on the Stage coach trail and proceeded to make my way back to Nix nature center. There were some cool rock formations and caves along the way. I might have tried climbing a few, but I was pressed for time as the park says they close at 5pm & the gate will be locked.
Once you get past the cool rock formations the Stage Coach trail starts getting really annoying with all of its switch backs. Coming down from the hill takes forever because of them and of course they have signs everywhere to not go off trail. They really should make an additional official trail just going directly up/​down this area because it’s kinda ridiculous. It would probably make things better for everyone as right now it looks like there’s 20 different unofficial trails along the way to make up for the lack of an official trail.
And while I was literally within 100 feet of my car, I see some guy put something on my windshield. Yep, they close at 5pm alright! I thought maybe they might close a little later since the sunset is hours away, but nope, 5pm it is!
No big deal though, it just said, «We hope you enjoyed your visit to LCWP. To avoid a future fine, please exit the lot by 5pm» Then on the reverse it said, «The gate is not currently locked. If you are the last vehicle out, lock the gate.»
So I didn’t get a fine. at least I think I didn’t. LOL. I saw the guy and he didn’t do anything but put the paper on all the cars. (there were 5 others I saw besides mine)
All in all a nice place to visit & worth checking out.

I love hiking here! Be carful when it’s too hot! I love it either way! Very relaxing and a way to let go and calm your mind!

It’s so nice here. While it does get a little bit busy, that doesn’t matter. It’s really well maintained so that the rains don’t wash out the trails, very beautiful views and when it’s clear, you can see all the way to Catalina Island from some of the peaks.
Highly recommended. Not very technical.

This is a most enjoyable hiking, biking, activity area. Plenty of trails and views, clean and simple. A six mile trek takes us about 2 hours, can go as far or as short a you wish. Very exhilarating. Bring water, maybe snacks.

First time here and absolutely loved it! I read the reviews and glad I did because the check in area opens at 8AM. It’s not recommended to start any earlier. I love the fact that you sign in so they can account for you and your party in case of an emergency. Paying $ 3 for parking is worth it because it’s right there. 2 lots so if the first one is full keep driving ahead and there is signage for additional parking.
The trail varies. There are some steep hills and then it balances out with time to rest before you hit more steep areas. It’s not too rocky but for the few areas that are filled with rocks, it’s a short distance and be prepared to use your hands to balance.
Very clean trails and even though I have pets, it make a difference not allowing dogs on the trails. We did the moderate trail and will return to challenge ourselves with the others. I love the fact that the park ranger asked which we were interested in and since unfamiliar he drew out the map and advised on the differences in intensity. Very helpful!
We were told it can get pretty crowded so arriving shortly within the hour of 8AM is recommended. Awesome trails, awesome scenery.

Please someone update your Unilocal website. I Drove out from LA with my girlfriend and our puppy because it said dogs are allowed but when we arrived this morning we saw signs that dogs are not allowed.
Sorry to leave a bad review but I was very flustered about this issue.
The hike looks beautiful though!

Another reason why Orange County is the best place to live!
We pass this gem of a place all the time when we are on the 133. We finally made it a plan to make 2015 «twothousandFITeen,» and hike at least once a weekend. We got here pretty early. The Nix center was still closed so we were pretty much just winged it on which trail to start off with. Parking was easy, it was about 8:30 and there were a few open spots… I am sure the later it is the worse it gets so be prepared for that. They have a very small lot.
There is a pay station where it is $ 3.00 or if you have one of those handy dandy OCPark annual passes you just stick your card in there and you get a ticket for the whole day. :) The hikes can take a very long time depending on what path you choose.
This particular time we chose to go up Little Sycamore to Serrano to West canyon to Stagecoach North and made a Right at post 34 to lead us back to the Nix Center where the parking lot is.
We were able to take a look inside the center which was very cool! They had a few pamphlets and some interactive stuff you can go through and learn more about the area. They are also very helpful there. They are there to answer any question you have whether it be what’s around the area or what trail to take for beautiful scenery, or easy kid trails to very vigorous trails. There is also a sign in sheet in case of emergency they know you checked in… Just in case!
There are so many places you can go for free or just a couple dollars to get out and move around. So nice to be outside and be able to smell the fresh air and not be inside a gym. Such a great change of pace.
So go out, make it count… Happy Hiking!

I love this park! It’s one of the best hiking parks I’ve been to. I highly recommend it to hikers of all level!
My lovely friend introduced me to this place — we met up on Sunday at 10am and we hiked for about 3 hours… some of the trails were easy and some were moderate and there are of course hard ones too. But I love how they have a map that tells you which trail is easy, moderate or hard.
Some of the hiking paths are pretty narrow and some reminds me of being in a jungle… I also love how they have multiple routes so it’s not super busy on one.
The only complaint is the parking — not because I have to pay $ 3 dollars for it but it’s a pretty small parking lot — they have like two small parking lots but it’s pretty narrow and in my opinion if it does get busy — perhaps Saturdays — parking would be an issue.
Another thing I like about this place is that they have a small nature center — which has clean restrooms and tells you a bit about the area plus you can sign in so they know who is on the hiking trails just in case someone gets lost or missing… this was a first for me but I think it’s a good thing.
Overall this is definitely a great place to hike — or bike — but some trails do not allow bikes since it’s really narrow.

I wish I was more prepared like other things I usually get myself into. The drive there isn’t too complicated and there is plenty of parking. You need to pay for parking by the machine ($ 3). Even at the bottom of the trail, the weather here is HOT. As I wasn’t completely unprepared, I brought a water bottle with me and my wallet/​keys. The noob mistake was forgetting to bring a backpack to store my things so I had to hold them in my two hands. This was pretty annoying because I like to walk with free hands.
I went on this hike alone and it was scary at first because I kept hearing noises in the bushes which crept me up. I got used to the noises after a while that it didn’t bother me anymore. Prior to walking, I read reviews saying the trails could get steep and slippery. I took the Little Sycamore Trail which I believe is the trail people were talking about.
The trails were steep and it was quite a workout. There’s a couple of trails to overcome. Sadly, I didn’t finish the trail. I turned around when the trail got VERY VERY narrow and trees and bushes were sticking into the trail. I didn’t really feel comfortable as I was doing this alone so I turned back. Be careful going down the steep because it is very slippery. I found going down harder than going up because of the lack of traction and control. I didn’t realize how hot it was until I got to the car and was constantly sweating even with the AC.
I really enjoyed the scenery of this park. It was very nature and wilderness like. There’s many little creatures and random plants around for you to look. I wish I could’ve went further and explored more.
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Wild. Shit was crazy. Not the hardest hike for most but if you’re a beginner like myself, there are lots of extremely steep up and downs in the skinny walk ways and bushes and you’ll fall and eat shit if you don’t watch every step! It was hot as hell too at 930 when we arrived. Stay hydrated and eat a light healthy breakfast!

I love hiking and have gone on absolutely fantastic trails in both Canada and Washington. Laguna Coast pales in comparison to those trails, but given the fact that SoCal in general doesn’t have lush forests, waterfalls, etc. etc., it wasn’t too bad.
I went on the Barbara Lake Loop. The trail is really easy and it took a little less than an hour. Saw eagles, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Lake wasn’t too impressive, but it was pretty cool to see the only (?) natural lake in the OC.
I want to make it back sometime to try a more strenuous trail.

Now THIS is a great place to get a good workout for a hike. I’ve been all over Orange County, and this is by far one of the more difficult hikes, which I loved! To find the parking lot next to the Nix Nature Center, hang right on the main road and watch for the signs — the lot sneaks up quick and if you miss it, you’ll have to loop around to get back to it. Also, parking is $ 3 — not too bad to maintain the trails! Also, be sure to check in at the Nature Center — you can pick up maps of the trails, see recent sightings, speak with the staff, and put down a phone number and indicate the amount of people you came with so they have that on file. The parking lot closes at 5pm.
The trail that we took was Little Sycamore Canyon — Serrano Ridge — Camarillo Canyon — Stagecoach South (about a 10mi loop). It was a pretty strenuous hike up the mountain — not gonna lie. The trails themselves don’t have that much width to them, so be sure to watch for bikers and wear shoes with good grip to avoid sliding down the mountain.
The trail that we took was pretty secluded — throughout the entire loop we only saw two groups of bikers and like 5 other hikers. There’s a great view at the top of both cities and nature, and the landscape itself seems to change as the trails progress, going from rocky and more mountainous to a more plain-​like landscape, then back to more mountainous terrain before looping back to the parking lot.
Great views, good workout, and a rush to get back to the car before 5pm — made for an excellent post-​Thanksgiving calorie burn!

— — — -REVIEW FOR THE BIG BEND TRAILS — — — -
(Laguna Wilderness Parks encompass a very large area including five different trail-​heads: Nix /​Little Sycamore, James Dilley Greenbelt Preserve, Willow Canyon, Big Bend, and Top of the World. It is my goal to hike them all and bring you trail reviews to help plan your future hikes!)
«The the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.» — Ralph Waldo Emerson (taken from trail sign)
Big Bend is not for the faint of heart. Literally. This series of trails boasts some of the most difficult climbs and terrain of ALL Orange and LA County hikes I have visited to date… and I have visited a bunch! According to my phone hiking app, we ascended 963 feet in the first 1.3 miles alone. There are two killer hills that you arrive at pretty much from the start of the Big Bend Trailhead.
Come and take a walk with me:
Foot of the first incline:
At the top of where the last photo was taken:
Whew! Time to rest? Haha. No.
YAY! A break!
Then I walked a few feet. D’oh!
I figured it would be more relaxing to look back from where I came from:
Because Holy Mother of God, this is the view from where I currently stood:
We met an awesome couple who were going very fast and smoking us:
So I thought to myself, «FINALLY! We’re at the top!» Oh but no… no we were not:
If Big Bend had a middle finger, this would be it:
So ok… I get to the top in once piece… albeit panting, wheezing and sweating puddles. We are so high up, however, that we are rewarded with stunning views. We even saw clear out to Catalina Island:
The Bommer Ridge trail skirts the mountain ridge and an awesome sea breeze whisks all the prior suffering away.
A vast network of trails lead all the way to the ocean:
Time to head back:
What goes up, must come down:
Now I know why that couple who passed us earlier had walking sticks. I took quite a spill and landed square on my rump here:
At the end of the trail, I saw this interesting structure. My guess is it is to protect the very nearby Laguna Canyon Hwy from rock-​slides:
Anyway, what I loved:
1. Amazingly challenging trails
2. Stunning views at the summit
3. Relaxing sea breeze
4. Different terrains make it interesting
5. Views of ocean, valleys, and more peaks
TIPS and ADVICE:
– This is not your «normal» easy hike. A walking stick definitely helps.
– Water and lots of it. In a backpack. You’ll need free hands.
– Shoes with traction. For real. Don’t attempt otherwise.
– A Camera! For amazing photos!