Great Outdoors
Orange County/Long Beach Chapter presents
Caspers Wilderness
Day Hike
Saturday September 21, 8:00 AM
A Moderate Hike to:
East Ridge Bell Canyon Loop in
Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
Distance: 6.9 miles | Elevation gain: 925 ft
Saturday, September 21 at 8:00 AM
Casper Wilderness Park Entrance Fee $3, unless you have the OC Parks Annual Permit
Allow about 3 to 4 hours depending on our pace and water/snack/lunch breaks.
Are you looking to de-stress in the great outdoors?
Interested in some exercise with like-minded folks? If so, join me for a hike in Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park. At 8,000 acres, Caspers is the largest park in the Orange County park system and is the park most removed from large population centers.
Bell Canyon is arguably the most beautiful part of the park, with coastal live oak and sycamores. We will cross Bell Creek (dry currently) a couple of times.
Its hard to imagine it now but in the 19th century, black bears used to catch spawning steelhead trout there. The bears and trout are long gone but there are still plenty of rabbits, woodpeckers, hawks and even the occasional mountain lion.
Where Do We Begin?
From Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano, take the Highway 74 (Ortega Highway) exit. Drive 8 miles to the entrance to Caspers Wilderness Park.
There is a $3 vehicle entrance fee and dogs are not allowed. Drive about a mile to the trailhead and park on the left by the restrooms. On the other side of the road from the parking area is a trailhead marker that says “East Ridge” and the gate is marked “17.”
Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas and admission costs. In addition, there is limited parking at the trailhead.
If anyone is interested in carpooling, I will in the parking lot in front of LensCrafters at 13662A Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92602 at 7am.
I’ll be leaving from there at 7:15 sharp to be at the trailhead before 8am.
Link to LensCrafters
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jD7kcFHmoqz6YjNV9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
Link to Trailhead in Google Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1kK5j3sWKzkTgBLdA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
The Hike
Nearly all the uphill portion is in the first 1/3 of the hike. We will be going uphill while we are fresher, and while the weather is cooler. Some sections can be steep and will definitely get your heart pumping!
There is no shade along this section, so bring plenty of water and sun protection. Once we get up to the ridge we will loop around, descend into Bell Canyon and get some shade. Its pretty level for most of this section.
We will stop for lunch at a shaded picnic area on the way back to the trailhead.
What to Bring:
You should bring your ten essentials, a day pack, water (2 to 3 liters), LUNCH, trekking poles, sunscreen, hat and trail snacks.
BRING PLENTY OF WATER!!!!
Any Questions:
If you have any questions about this hike, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, your trip leader, Richard Norman.
Email: [email protected]
If there are any last-minute day-of cancellations,
please let me know via text:
626-319- 4740.
Click here for the list of ten essentials.
Wear shoes with good tread, as parts of the trail are steep with loose gravel.
Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas cost and Park Entrance Fees.
If you cannot attend, please cancel your registration, so the next person on the waiting list can have a chance to register.
