OCLB – El Moro Canyon to Moro Ridge Loop

El Moro Canyon to Moro Ridge Loop!

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Beginning at 8:00 AM

Great Day for a Hike!

Time 8:00 AM Meet at trail head

Length: 8.2 miles 

Elevation gain: 1,067 ft

Duration: 4 to 4.5 hours

Difficulty level: Moderate

Join me for a hike in beautiful and historic Cystal Cove State Park. The most famous part of the park are the 24 historic cottages on the beach. They were built starting in the 1920s and have been lovingly restored by the Crystal Cove Conservancy. They are now available for rent but it can be difficult to get a reservation because of high demand.

So, Where Do We Begin?

Crystal Cove State Park is located off Pacific Coast Highway, about 2 miles south of Corona Del Mar or 1 mile north of Laguna Beach. Turn inland on the park road, signed “El Moro Canyon.” We will meet in front of the ranger station.

Restrooms and water are available. Parking is normally $15 but could be $20 for summer weekends. There are automated kiosks in the parking lots. Please be on time so we can start promptly at 8am.

Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas and parking costs.

Link to Google maps:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Moro+Visitor+Center/@33.5610059,-117.8240852,15.28z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x80dce6b0388e28af:0x848bbf436ccfe9f1!8m2!3d33.5663354!4d-117.8214065!16s%252Fg%252F11cjnnl1nh?entry=ttu

The Hike:

We will be going uphill while we are fresher, and while the weather is cooler. Some sections can be steep and will get your heart pumping! There is no shade along the way, so bring plenty of water and sun protection. Once we get up to the ridge we will loop around and go by two primitive campgrounds. There should be some nice ocean views on the way back (depending on the weather). There are reports of poison oak on the trail so we will try to avoid it and detour around it as needed.

What to Bring:

You should bring your ten essentials (Click here for the list.),

A day pack, water (2 to 3 liters), trekking poles, sunscreen, hat, lunch and trail snacks are all advised to bring along for the hike.  Bring a towel if you want to sunbathe at the beach afterwards.

BRING PLENTY OF WATER!!!!

Post Hike:

If anyone is interested, we could drop our packs off at the cars and go down to the beach.  We can check out the historic cottages and the 'Bootlegger Bar' is an option for the adult beverages.

If you have any questions about this hike, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Trip Leader.

Trip Leader: Richard Norman