Oops my secret is out! This is probably one of my most favorite spot to go for a walk or a mini…read morehike! Even better, if you're there when it's sunny because the ocean views are breathtaking!! This is also dog friendly since there are poop bags provided at intermittent part of the trail. Please keep in mind that this is in a neighborhood so there will be houses really close to the trail (almost like we're in their backyard) and private property that you can't enter. There are signs to guide you so just stick to the signs and you'll be ok.

Hidden gem in LN. Quick hike around the area to the park area to see the interesting…read moregeology/history. Hike also wraps around the mountain side, giving you a view of the ocean.

Loved this walk thru the Laguna beaches…read more I came here for my birthday weekend. The weather was perfect. There was tons of families on the beach this day.

Fun hike, but not the best place to swim/dive. There is however a lot to see from the shore, so…read morethat's nice. :)

This was the highlight of my visit in Dana Point. Priceless beautiful views of the ocean, beaches,…read moreDana Point Harbor, and lushes landscapes. There's four conservation parks which makes the nearly 64 acres of the headlands. Will take approximately about an hour to two hours of completion to walk the trails. You'll come across scenic overlooks, beach access, and the Nature Interpretive Center. Glad we came on a breezy day and not have the sun beaming on us. We took lots of pictures with ocean and beach background setting. Beware of rattlesnakes and mice as signs are posted up along the trails, but we didn't encounter them. If you are in Dana Point, put this on your list of sights to see.

The educational center wasn't open yet, but there were open bathrooms in the back. The path is soft…read moredirt and would need to walk single file. There are a few benches and beautiful views. Just keep in mind it ends in a different gate area and it's a longer walk back if you don't reverse and go back to where you started. The gate does close at sunset, so don't get stuck in there!!

My hiking friends told me about this route that they affectionately call "Bigfoot". It's because…read moreif you look at the route on Strava, it looks like Bigfoot. Bigfoot runs through Irvine, Crystal Cove and the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. It was about 33 miles long. Well, we extended it to include the Shake Shack at Crystal Cove and I renamed the route, "Bigfoot dragging toilet paper." We passed through the Laguna Wilderness Park and it was nice terrain to navigate. We were running out of water and the parking areas did not have water but there was the Nix nature reserve that had full facilities and what we needed to finish this massive route. Please come and create your own adventure.

Yelp directions took me to a gated residential area down the way…read more I was glad to see I wasn't too far off. 3 dollars to park and several trails. I get lost easily, but here I felt safe. This is a perfect place to hike solo. I saw a bunny cross the hwy wish I would've seen some on the hiking trail. Much needed lovely hike.

Amazing views and easy trails may be a bother for some with stairs but worth the effort added plus…read morewalking distance to san Clemente outlets for shopping and food.

There are two small parking lots, so parking is convenient. The hiking route is relatively short,…read moremaking it perfect for a relaxing walk. From here you can overlook the Pacific Ocean and Highway 1. If you come around sunset, the view should be especially beautiful.

Today I drove down from Los Angeles to visit these beautiful trails. I wanted something peaceful…read more The trail was quite sunny at 9 AM so I was a little bit disappointed at that. Make sure you wear a hat. The weather was lovely though overall because there was a breeze coming in from the ocean. The biggest disappointment was that there were several E bike riders and not only were they loud but very fast and disruptive. There is a sign that says no E bikes, but nobody was enforcing that.

Excellent hiking trails with vast ocean views, great birding opportunities, and access to the…read morelovely Crystal Cove beach after your hike - very nice place to enjoy nature and get some fresh air! I could even see all the way to Catalina last time I visited. The El Moro Canyon trails are found inside Crystal Cove State Park and there are quite a few of them. They're well maintained with lots of info signs so they're easy to follow - but they're also all on AllTrails. I did the Short Loop Trail on my last visit which ended up being just over 3 miles long with 500 feet elevation gain. Most of the gain is in the first part as you take the "Poles" cut through and it's a real butt burner - but fun and worth it! A great workout. The birding is excellent here - you get a nice mix of riparian habitat and coastal birds as well. After my hike, I relaxed at the beach a bit and it was a lovely way to wind down. There are some tide pools at the north end and plenty of space to relax on the sand as well. There's a pedestrian underpass to get to the beach so you don't have to cross busy Hwy 1 - and this is the most unpleasant part of the park - you have to wade through some pretty icky standing water to get to the beach. It's ankle to calf deep and the ground is very uneven so I highly recommend water shoes - who knows what's submerged in there :P But everything else about the park is great - lots of clean bathrooms, outdoor showers to rinse off the salt and sand, shaded picnic tables, a huge amphitheater, and plenty of paved parking. Day use fee is $15 and you can pay by QR code or at the entrance.

Viewpoint plus! Worth the stair stepper to heaven. Amazing pano view no matter what the weather is…read morelike. We caught the sunset with bonus of the Green Flash on this particularly beautiful and brisk day. What an artist God is. Mind you, my knees did not love the climb to Hilltop Conversation Point. But I had to see the sea from there. Harbor Point was a breeze. Lovely spot with easy parking. Close to the Chart House.

This is a short trail with a viewpoint that offers up a great view of Dana Point harbor…read more This trail is part of the Headlands Conservation trail system. Most people miss it because they only hike the trail from the interpretive center. Because of the smazing views of the harbor. I sawrecommend this over the interpretive center trail. There are two access points for this trail, right behind the Chart House restaurant, and the other one is right next to the entrance gate of the "The Strand" mansion development. - Dirt trail, not sand trail - Perfect hike during sunset - No dogs allowed

Red Rock Canyon is located in the City of Lake Forest. Who knew one could view glimpses of red rock…read moreformations and plateaus in Orange County? When we arrived around 8:30 on a Saturday morning, the paid parking lot was already full. There are very few parking spaces overall in the paid $3 lot. We ended up as Ralph's customers that morning and found a couple of last-minute items that we needed before starting our hike. It was a nice and cool morning with a slight breeze, which was perfect to kick off our hike. We opted to take the easy trail, Borrego Canyon Trail. There is a lot of soft sand through out parts of the trail, similar to a beach like sensation for your walking pleasure. It also felt like a magical forest during some areas with trickling streams. We also experienced some parts full of various sized rocks. This is NOT a child- friendly trail for little ones. As we approached parts that were more desert like, we got closer to the red rocks. There was much anticipation to the end and the trail concludes with what feels like a small dead end as you gaze into the view of the towering red rocks. Going downhill was much quicker and fun. It was an easy trail with some sections that forced me to go slower as I didn't want to slip on some small rocks. There was so much positivity coming from other hikers and bicyclists. So many good mornings shared, it was contagious. Bicyclists are one-way so they are only coming from behind you and so many were thankful for us moving out of their way. I've never experienced such polite and friendly trail enthusiasts. I'd love to return to experience this beautiful trail again.

What a great hike! The shade was wonderful, and everyone on the trail was so respectful of space…read more(thank you, bikers). It gets a little narrow as you get closer to the rock formations, but still highly recommend either way.