Visit Laguna Beach Visitors Guide 2020 - 35

But be forewarned: Its name is well
deserved and you're sure to get
your heart rate up.
Crystal Cove State Park has over
2,400 acres of coastal canyons,
woodlands, beaches and mountains that feature breathtaking
views up and down the California
coast. The BFI Trail leads directly up
Moro Ridge from the beach, giving
the quickest (and best) views by the
most strenuous route.
To get to the trailhead, enter
Crystal Cove State Park through the
Crystal Cove El Moro Campground
entrance. Follow the road behind
the school which leads to the main
gate where you will need to pay
a day-use parking fee of $15. The
trailhead is on the northeast side of
the parking lot, opposite the tunnel
under PCH that provides beach
access. The trail goes partially into El

Moro Canyon and then immediately
begins a steep ascent up El Moro
Ridge. After about 0.5 miles it intersects with the El Moro Ridge Trail,
leading deeper into the Park and
connecting with the trail system of
the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Car Wreck
Trail through
Aliso Canyon
Laguna Beach and the surrounding coastal mountains and canyons feature some of the finest
mountain biking trails in the world,
including the (in)famous Volvo "Car
Wreck" trail, with 1,000 of elevation
gain (or loss) and an overall rating
of 8. The trail is equally suited for
trail running and hiking. There are
numerous ways to incorporate
the Car Wreck Trail into a larger
loop through the Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park and Aliso Canyon
Park, but a common route is to
begin at Alta Laguna Park at Top
of the World in Laguna Beach.
Take the West Ridge Trail .5 miles,
bearing right onto the marked Car
Wreck Trail. Here the route increases
significantly in technical difficulty.
Eventually you'll pass the famous
car wreck.

Dripping Cave in
Wood Canyon
Hike through a tourist-free coastal
canyon, just a mile from Laguna
Beach, to a hidden cave that Juan
Flores and his outlaw gang used
as a hideout during the 1850s.

Dripping Cave sits tucked away
in a corner of Wood Canyon, part
of the Aliso and Wood Canyons
Wilderness Park. The trail to the
cave, while short, requires at least
a 2.25 mile hike in from the nearest
trailhead (West Ridge Trail to Mathis
Canyon). The most straightforward
approach is to begin at the vehicle
parking area just off Alicia Parkway
and to take Aliso Creek Trail 1.5
miles to Wood Canyon Trail. From
there go 0.3 miles to Dripping Cave
trail. Follow the clear signs about
0.4 miles to the cave. There are
also numerous side trails and other
loops you can do through the Aliso
and Wood Canyons Wilderness.

COURTESY OF CRYSTAL COVE CONSERVANCY

Laguna's Legendary Landscape
Locals and visitors alike understand that Laguna Beach is a
special city, but that notion has now officially been confirmed
by the Historic American Landscapes Survey. A collaboration
among the American Society of Landscape Architects, National
Park Service and Library of Congress, the survey added Laguna
Beach to its list of Historic American Landscapes in December of 2017. The survey highlights key areas around the United
States that serve as evidence of the country's development
and heritage. These historic locations range from small urban
gardens to national parks and cities. (asla.org)

VISITLAGUNABEACH.COM I DESTINATION GUIDE 2020

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Visit Laguna Beach Visitors Guide 2020

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