- 203-Salt Creek Trail FLIP! Start @ Ritz Carlton, 5-6 Mi, Asphalt Trail, 9AMSalt Creek Beach Parking, Dana Point, CA
SALT CREEK TRAIL from the Park Near Ritz Carlton, 5-6 Miles RT, 9:00 AM
PARKING LOT, 33333 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, CA 92629*** ALL ASPHALT TRAIL - STROLLER FRIENDLY :) ! ***
DIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)
This is a 5-6 mile Out and Back hike on the paved Salt Creek trail from Salt Creek Beach Park to the new Antonia's restaurant in Clubhouse Plaza, Laguna Niguel. It's a FLIP from what we have previously done.
PARKING
SALT CREEK BEACH PARKING LOT has $1/hr parking (free for those with an OC County Parks and Beaches annual pass). Make sure you place the parking receipt on your dashboard before starting the hike. We will meet in the parking lot near the parking kiosk and the restroom.
PLEASE BRING:
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Shoes or hiking boots with good tread
- Headlamp or Flashlight recommended for evenings OR hat and sunscreen for mornings.Feature photo from Fun OC parks:
https://funorangecountyparks.com/salt-creek-trail.html - 205-Shady Canyon Trail, Stroller & Dog Friendly, Aprx 5-6 Miles, 4PMQuail Hill Community Center, Irvine, CA
SHADY CANYON TRAIL - Stroller & Dog Friendly, Aprx 5-6 Miles, 4PM
MEET AT QUAIL HILL COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT
39 Shady Canyon Dr 路 Irvine, CA*** NOTE earlier start time :) ! ***
Meet near the community center steps.DIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)
This is an out and back so turning point is optional, however we usually go about 5 -6 miles total. I have a wagon to assist in bringing smaller children (or small dogs, lol) the entire distance.
Shady Canyon is a popular, scenic and slightly hilly trail filled with beautiful views, meadows, wildlife and charming bridges (some residential). The trail is part of Irvine Ranch, and meanders through the Quail Hill Preserve.
I'D LIKE TO WALK FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT TO BOMMER CANYON TRAILHEAD or TURTLE ROCK PARK, GROUP'S CHOICE, approximately 2-2 1/2 hours. There are restrooms at Turtle Rock Park Nature Center and at Bommer Trailhead.
HIKER'S CHECKLIST:
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Wear shoes or hiking boots with good tread
- Hat and Bug Repellent recommendedTrail Link
https://www.traillink.com/trail/shady-canyon-trail/Feature photo from JACQUELINE THOMPSON GROUP
- 206-Colinas Bluff with Ocean View option, 5-7 miles, 9:00 AM30211 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, CA
COLINAS BLUFF - to Big Hill and back with option to extend to the ocean view, 5-7 Mi, 2.5-3 HRS, 9:00 AM
REPEATS
THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTHPeppertree option to the Rock Snake
MEET: 30211 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(Marina Hills Drive and Golden Lantern)
ADULTS, TEENS, DOG FRIENDLY
DIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)PARK IN LAGUNA HEIGHTS MARKETPLACE PARKING LOT, MEET AT STARBUCKS AND WE'LL WALK TO THE TRAILHEAD TOGETHER.
The hike is 2 to 3 hours, (750-1000 feet elevation gain) Group's Choice.
On the Bluff Trail, the first 2 miles~ish the trail has slight gain and is alongside residential. It's a beautiful dirt trail with epic views of the surrounding area, Santiago Peak and I-5 (lol). We鈥檒l go to the BIG HILL and perhaps extend to the ocean view, out and back.
PLEASE BRING:
- 1-2 LITERS OF WATER
- HAT AND SUNSCREEN
- WEAR SHOES OR BOOTS WITH GOOD TREADColinas Bluff Trail (Ridge)
Jeff Hester of SocCalHiker has a great review:
https://socalhiker.net/hiking-colinas-bluff-trail/Colinas Bluff Trail (Ridge) - AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/colinas-ridge-trailLaguna Heights Marketplace (Meet at Starbucks!)
https://www.facebook.com/LagunaHeightsMarketplace/ - 207-Turtle Rock, French Hill Loop, 4.5 Miles, Adults & Teens, 9AM1 Concordia, Irvine, CA
TURTLE ROCK FRENCH HILL LOOP, 4.5 MILES, 9:00 AM
MEET AT 1 CONCORDIA, IRVINE, CA
Meet on Concordia street across from Turtle Rock Preschool
About 4.5 Miles, 900 feet of elevation gainTIME CHANGE
NOTE: My Saturday hikes are usually at 9 AM. I had to change this hike to 5 PM because I have a very important commitment in the morning.This hike can be completed in 2-2.5 hours depending on the pace we keep and how long we admire the views on top of Turtle Rock :) !!!
DIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)
This is one of my favorite conditioning hikes suitable for adults and teens, but a challenge for young children, except perhaps two I am thinking of who surprise and impress me (you know who you are). There are a few steep places, but they are not too long, and one technical hill where one needs to choose a path, use hands and watch footing. I've seen children climb it safely.
I finish this in 2 hours, sometimes less. We will probably be at the last big hill "Turtle Rock" by 10:15~ish. *See my YouTube video below with highlights of the trail.
We'll start at the trailhead off Concordia across the street from Turtle Rock Preschool. Here is the first big hill, a second hill comes within the next mile, but both of these hills are not long. From there it's lower "rolling hills" not too steep. In the spring there is very tall mustard on either side of the trail, it's very beautiful and exhilarating to hike through. By about mile 2 the trail passes behind residential for less than a mile, then up narrow, slightly steep hill.
The fourth and most challenging hill comes next, steep and wide, but it's a slow and steady climb with plenty of places to navigate and get your foothold. At the top of this hill you can see all of downtown Irvine and Catalina Island out yonder. The last mile~ish is the end of the dirt trail, and back to residential which closes the loop at Concordia.
CHECKLIST:
- SHOES W/GOOD TREAD, PREFERABLY HIKING BOOTS
- 2 LITERS OF WATER
- HAT, GLOVES, LAYERS
- SNACKS ? 馃榿More specific stats and Feature Image from All Trails, see link:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/turtle-rock-french-hill-loop-irvine*MY YOUTUBE VIDEO from when I hiked April 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK_chjwdy3Y - 208-Bommer Canyon from Turtle Rock Park, 6 Mi, 9:00AMTurtle Rock Community Park, Irvine, CA
BOMMER CANYON FROM TURTLE ROCK PARK, 6 MI, apprx 700 gain, 9:00AM
MEET AT 1 Sunnyhill, Irvine, CA 92603 PARKING LOT
Near the Tennis Courts, Playground and Community CenterDIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)
We will hike to Bommer Canyon from Turtle Rock Park. From the trailhead: Bommer Meadow Trail to the Nature Loop, to Bommer Canyon, to East Fork to Ridge Route, then back to Bommer Meadow to then trailhead, and finally to Turtle Rock Park. Approximately 6 miles and 500-700 feet of elevation gain.
See YouTube video from The Hiking Guy - Give him a LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!
-Great hike for adults and teens (not stroller friendly unless you normally take stroller on trails with gain/loss).
-Sorry, Dogs are not permitted on trails in the Bommer Canyon Preserve.
HIKERS CHECKLIST
-1-2 LITERS OF WATER
-HIKING BOOTS WITH GOOD TREAD
-HAT, GLOVES, LAYERSFeatured image from the City of Irvine
- 209-Arroyo Trabuco Trail Oso Pkwy, Creeks & Historical Ruins, 5 Mi, 9:00AM28532 Oso Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
ARROYO TRABUCO TRAIL: OSO PKWY TO HISTORICAL RUINS! 9:00 AM
PLAZA DE LAS FLORES SHOPPING CENTER
28532 Oso Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
MEET/PARK NEAR TACO BELLDIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)
PARK, THEN WE'LL WALK TO THE TRAILHEAD TOGETHER
I LOVE THIS TRAIL! It's wide, narrow, canopies of trees, open meadows, shallow CREEK CROSSINGS and historical ruins! 5 miles, approx 350 feet of elevation gain. THE WAGON IS DOABLE ON THIS TRAIL :) !!!PLEASE BRING:
- 1-2 LITERS OF WATER
- HIKING BOOTS WITH GOOD TREAD, WATER RESISTANT or WATER SHOES if you don鈥檛 like your socks wet 馃槅
- Hiking Poles are good for creek crossings
- HAT AND SUNSCREENSee OC History - this dates back to 1700s!!!
See link with more details and images from Nobody Hikes in LA.
Text and photography copyright 2017 by David W. Lockeretz:
https://nobodyhikesinla.com/2017/06/29/arroyo-trabuco-trail-oso-parkway-to-portola-monument/ - 211-Shady Canyon Trail, Stroller & Dog Friendly, Aprx 5-6 Miles, 4PM39 Shady Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA
SHADY CANYON TRAIL - Stroller & Dog Friendly, Aprx 5-6 Miles, 4PM
MEET AT QUAIL HILL COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT
39 Shady Canyon Dr 路 Irvine, CA*** NOTE earlier start time :) ! ***
Meet near the community center steps.DIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)
This is an out and back so turning point is optional, however we usually go about 5 -6 miles total. I have a wagon to assist in bringing smaller children (or small dogs, lol) the entire distance.
Shady Canyon is a popular, scenic and slightly hilly trail filled with beautiful views, meadows, wildlife and charming bridges (some residential). The trail is part of Irvine Ranch, and meanders through the Quail Hill Preserve.
I'D LIKE TO WALK FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT TO BOMMER CANYON TRAILHEAD or TURTLE ROCK PARK, GROUP'S CHOICE, approximately 2-2 1/2 hours. There are restrooms at Turtle Rock Park Nature Center and at Bommer Trailhead.
HIKER'S CHECKLIST:
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Wear shoes or hiking boots with good tread
- Hat and Bug Repellent recommendedTrail Link
https://www.traillink.com/trail/shady-canyon-trail/Feature photo from JACQUELINE THOMPSON GROUP
- 212-Colinas Bluff with Ocean View option, 5-7 miles, 9:00 AM30211 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, CA
COLINAS BLUFF - to Big Hill and back with option to extend to the ocean view, 5-7 Mi, 2.5-3 HRS, 9:00 AM
REPEATS
THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTHPeppertree option to the Rock Snake
MEET: 30211 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(Marina Hills Drive and Golden Lantern)
ADULTS, TEENS, DOG FRIENDLY
DIRECT MESSAGE ON THE MEETUP SITE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE, WE'LL WAIT 10 MINUTES or whatever :) I ALWAYS CHECK THE MEETUP SITE BEFORE WE START THE HIKE :)PARK IN LAGUNA HEIGHTS MARKETPLACE PARKING LOT, MEET AT STARBUCKS AND WE'LL WALK TO THE TRAILHEAD TOGETHER.
The hike is 2 to 3 hours, (750-1000 feet elevation gain) Group's Choice.
On the Bluff Trail, the first 2 miles~ish the trail has slight gain and is alongside residential. It's a beautiful dirt trail with epic views of the surrounding area, Santiago Peak and I-5 (lol). We鈥檒l go to the BIG HILL and perhaps extend to the ocean view, out and back.
PLEASE BRING:
- 1-2 LITERS OF WATER
- HAT AND SUNSCREEN
- WEAR SHOES OR BOOTS WITH GOOD TREADColinas Bluff Trail (Ridge)
Jeff Hester of SocCalHiker has a great review:
https://socalhiker.net/hiking-colinas-bluff-trail/Colinas Bluff Trail (Ridge) - AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/colinas-ridge-trailLaguna Heights Marketplace (Meet at Starbucks!)
https://www.facebook.com/LagunaHeightsMarketplace/