General Rating/Difficulty: All Levels: Slow to Fast/Beginning to Advance: for distance, elevation and pace.
Link to Hike Rating Table: https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Please keep in mind: Hikers will join for a workout together; there is no leader or sweeper on this hike

Slow pace/new hikers or beginners can turn around and walk back to trailhead if you can't keep up with the group

Route: We will start at Eucalyptus trail and going up hill (optional to the lake) and hike back. Click on the links to see Trails Map (https://ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2023-03/Peters%20Canyon%20Regional%20Park%202023_03_06%20%281%29%20%281%29.pdf) and to read more about Peters Canyon Regional Park (http://ocparks.com/parks/peters)

Duration/Distance/Elevation: 1.5-2 hours, 5-7 miles and gain 500ft-1000ft

The most important: 10 Hiking Essentials (https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/9535234)

Click to read more about HIKING SKILL LEVELS (https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/10328308) that some other organizers may use

Suggestions :

1. Everybody should have good tracking shoes or traction running shoes
2. loose clothes- shorts would be fine since its warm out there
3. Plenty of water

DIRECTIONS :
Sometimes you may get a ticket if you park in the zone "NO PARKING anytime" Try to come early or park at Cedar Grove Park parking

1. From the 5 Freeway- exit Tustin Ranch Road and head towards the foothills and drive approx. 3 miles. Get in the left hand lane and take a left on Pioneer WAY (signal). Now get into the right lane and take the next right on Pioneer ROAD (signal). This road will wind around Cedar Grove Park. Continue to the first stop sign and take a left on Peters Canyon Road (stop sign). Take this road down around a little curve and park on the right side of the curb at the end of the road. We will meet at the sign for Peter's Canyon Trail
2. Another location for parking: Park in North Tustin. Address: 2158 Lower Lake Dr. , Santa Ana, CA 92705 Parking is on the parking lot or on the street. You'll be ahead of the group, so we'll meet with you at the portable potties 10-15 minutes after.

From North or Central OC, take the 55 Frwy exit Chapman Ave in Orange, go toward the mountains for 2.2 miles, then turn right on S. Crawford Canyon Rd for about 1 mile, then left onto Newport Blvd, then right onto Cowen Heights Dr, right onto Skyline Dr, then left onto Lemon Heights and continue to Lower Lake Dr.

REMINDER By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***

General Rating/Difficulty: Levels 2 to 3+: moderate or fast pace for elevation, distance and pace. CLICK RATING TABLE to read more about skill levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

ROUTE : We will meet at Gate 14 of Laguna Coast Wilderness. Since this is a residential area, we'll limit number of participants, only RSVP if you are sure to go. Boat Canyon is a ridge above Laguna Beach, after a mile uphill, we'll stop the lookout or continue on Boat Canyon Rd to Boomer Ridge Rd and time to 1.5 hours before turning back or complete the full route with a lollipop loop (down Laguna Ridge and up Big Bend before coming back Boat Canyon Rd to the trailhead).

ESSENTIALS : wear good traction hiking shoes, bring water. There is no shade on this hike, but a great view at sunset if it's clear. Bring wind breaker or a jacket as it's still cool near the ocean.

DIRECTIONS : We meet at Gate 14 LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS TRAIL MAP (http://ocparks.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=8204)
Yahoo Map or Google to Dunnegan Dr and Dartmoor St, Laguna Beach. Please map your direction before hand and don't rely on your GPS alone as the trailhead is a bit tricky to find. Dartmoor St and Hillcrest Dr signs are under the tree branches, so it's tough for first time driving here. From Pacific Coast Hwy going south (pass Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Crystal Cove before reach to Laguna Beach), turn left on San Joaquin St (Viejo is the next light street), right on HILLCREST DR, Turn Left on DARTMOOR ST drive to the end.
From PCH going North pass Laguna Beach turn right on San Joaquin St (right after you pass Viejo, the street with light), right on HILLCREST DR, Turn Left on DARTMOOR ST drive to the end

REMINDER:
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, mountain lions, coyote, snake bites or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike

This hike is rated level 2 for pace and elevation. Please see the RATING TABLE for more info about difficulty levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Duration: ~1.5 to 2 hours
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation: 1100ft

ESSENTIALS: Bring water, and shoes that will provide grip on dirt trails/hills (like hiking shoes or trail runners)

DIRECTIONS: Address: 1 Concordia, Irvine

ABOUT THIS HIKE:

(No restrooms) This is a workout conditioning hike composed of a looped route with a mix of trails and sidewalk/bike paths, along with some not too long but fairly steep hills. The two popular hills: French Hill and Suicide Hill at Turtle Rock. This loop, which uses city streets, single-track trails and a little bit of climbing, is one of several possible routes that visit the two summits. This hike requires regular hikers or those who have exercise experience stair stepper or treadmill on 5-7 degree incline. The trail is dog friendly.

Route:

The hike begins with a steep climb up French Hill, gaining 200 feet in about 0.3 miles. At the top, you get a nice view of the Santa Ana Mountains and you can also see the other destination, Turtle Rock, to the left.

At the top, bear right, pass by a small summit marker, and begin heading downhill, toward a residential neighborhood. The trail swings around the back side of the houses and begins to curve south, making a moderate ascent to a ridge. Here, you get nice views of the Laguna Canyon area and the San Joaquin Hills.

At 1.2 miles, you begin a sharp descent toward Ridgeline Drive. Head right and follow a trail that’s been beaten on the side of the road. Soon you cross Hillsborough, where you can follow a proper sidewalk up to the intersection with Turtle Rock Drive.

Cross the street and continue following Ridgeline, looking for a paved walkway heading downhill 1.9 miles. At the bottom of a hill, where the walkway makes a hairpin turn, continue straight on a dirt trail. Never getting too far from the residential area on the right, you climb to another ridge. Head right at a junction, where you’ll see Turtle Rock ahead of you, with its geological outcrops that resemble turtles. You descend into a pleasant wooded area, reaching a paved walkway at about 2.6 miles.

Head left, and almost immediately take a hard right and begin climbing a staircase. At the top, head right and continue your ascent. A little bit of scrambling, though nothing too difficult, is required to reach the top of Turtle Rock 2.9 miles, where you enjoy a nice view of almost all of Orange County, and on clear days, beyond.

Continuing north, you descend steeply from Turtle Rock. Turn left at the next junction and head through a meadow, toward the intersection of San Rufino and Via Novella 3.4 miles. Follow Via Novella to Amalfi Drive, head right and turn right again on Turtle Rock Drive. Heading slightly uphill, follow Turtle Rock 0.4 miles back to the starting point.

REMINDER:
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***