Colinas Bluff Trail has become one of my favorite medium-length trails (6 miles) to do in OC. It's not going to take you deep into nature because it's a trail that is easily accessible by multiple neighborhoods, so there will always be houses in sight. I understand that some go hiking to escape the modern world and want to be fully immersed in nature, but the great thing about this particular hike is that it takes you by some really REALLY nice houses. So if you're into looking at architecture and dreaming about owning a multi-million dollar house in your next life, this is the hike for you! On a clear day, you will also get great views of the ocean and the San Gabriel mountain range! Start by parking at the Starbucks in the plaza at the intersection of Golden Lantern and Marina Hills in Laguna Niguel. The trailhead will be located across the street. The trail itself is moderate; I like that it has uphill and downhill throughout the hike to keep things interesting. Beware of animal poop on this trail... not sure if people aren't picking up after their pets or if its from wild animals. Another thing to watch out for is not to accidentally get off of the trail. For some reason, I always choose the wrong path at a fork and have to double back to get on the right path. So, I'd definitely recommend screenshotting the map ahead of time! read more

Only if you're in the area, a good view of the hills but not much shade but a workout if you move at a good pace

Pretty cool & safe trail First timer. It has residential homes all around and is overlooking the freeway by San Juan Capistrano & Mission Viejo. The trail starts right across from the Albertsons plaza on Golden Lantern. There is a sign there so just look for it! read more

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This is a great hike. I wouldn't think you'd have ocean views this far away from the water, but you do. Good up and down hills with a couple opportunities for heavy breathing with some steep slopes. This is not a good hike when it's muddy, as it's all dirt, FYI. A decent amount of dogs are walked here, and unfortunately a lot of owners don't pick up after them, so watch your feet. read more

At the intersection of Golden Lantern and Marina Hills in Laguna Niguel is the trailhead; directly across the street from Starbucks. The trail starts off fairly easy. Slight inclines. Once you are on the backside of the houses the view opens up. Beautiful view of Saddleback Valley. After a couple more miles and a very steep hill you are rewarded with an amazing 360 degree view. We were lucky enough to have gone in a very clear day. This hike can be intense. Bring lots of water and sunscreen. read more

Colinas Bluff Trail - Hiking Near Me - Laguna Niguel, California

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A nice trail for a short little walk. Context: Came here before going to the gym. Mid-June, around 7:50 pm before it got super dark. Just wanted a nice stroll after work Location: Across the street from McDonalds, there's a sign with an arrow. Trail: Very much paved, your typical Laguna trail with fences and gates everywhere. It's still really nice and great for families and to catch up with someone. Not much incline. You get to see the gorgeous lights of the 5 freeway along with parts of San Juan and Laguna housing 6 miles I believe from another Yelper Overall: I'll be back if I'm bored or want something light. Good for taking a quick breather read more

My friends and I parked in the Marina Hills Shopping Center across the street from the trail head and started our hike from there. The trail starts across from Starbucks and the full hike is roughly 6-7 miles. Because it isalong a ridge, there are a lot of inclines and can be a challenge for a beginner hiker. The hike had some traffic near the beginning because the trail is a part-suburban part-nature hike which caters to the nearby residents and also because there are different trails that cross Colinas Bluff. This trail is also an equestrian trail and although we didn't see any horses, we knew of their presence every now and then. This hike gave us awesome views of the Pacific and kept us guessing as to whether we were in San Juan Capistrano or Laguna Niguel. For a part suburban hike, the trail was not labeled well. Thus my friends and I got lost and instead of making it to the Mercedes Benz dealership where the trail supposedly ends, we ended up walking around the Bear Brand mansions (not that it was a bad thing) before finding our way back. read more

Such a beautiful trail especially during the winter and spring. In the summer the views are nice but it's very hot if you go after 8am and more rattlesnakes during the summer. Runs parallel to the 5freeway. Just a great trail. Pretty hilly but good for beginners! read more

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Took this "hike" yesterday. I say hike in quotes because quite a lot of this trail is behind residential areas which makes me feel less like an authentic hike. I would consider this to be more of a trail where you can get a great cardio workout. I took my pup and we ended up going 5 miles. I burned over 900 calories. I'd recommend this trail if you want a local hike with good hills and a pretty cool view of the surrounding area! read more

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Great neighborhood trail. Clean trails, nice up and down hills that evens out your hike. For residents only :) read more

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6 mile loop with a nice scenery. We had a 10 year old and she did just fine. No shade. Moderate incline with enough decline for resting. Dogs are allowed. Not too many people. Visited March and May 2016. read more

Summer is probably not a good time for a hike here. We went an hour before sunset and it was still extremely hot there. The worst part was there were kids getting high on the trail. Plain site with a big bong. I was with my children so we turned around and left. I won't be going back again. read more

This trail starts near the intersection of Golden Lantern and Marina Hills. You'll find a sign with an arrow pointing to the entrance. I've been using this trail for 9 years now. Essentially, it is a maintained fire road that follows behind all the homes on Golden Lantern from Marina Hills to St Christopher across from the fire station and the back end of Chapparosa Park. Dogs are allowed, many people unleash them, but be courteous to folks that are intimidated by dogs off leash. We don't want a complaint to exempt dogs back there. It is safe and wide enough for kids, yet there are a few spots where there are some steep drop-off areas with very little fencing up, so beware if you have small kids that want to run ahead. It is a gradual incline at first that levels off a bit at the top, and continues with rolling hills and some steep areas as well. After St Christopher, it continues on, just not well maintained, and quite rutted and overgrown at certain times of year. Overall, a great neighborhood hike-quick to get to and get home from. If you want an actual hike where you can get lost from civilization for awhile, check into Modjeska Ridge Rd, Santiago Truck Trail or any trails going up to Saddleback Peak. read more

This trail is easily accessible but the signage could use some work. We parked at the shopping center across the street from the trailhead (ample parking!), crossed the street and started the hike. The trail has some nice inclines and passes behind a few residential neighborhoods so it felt like more of an urban hike. There were a few places where the path split but we weren't sure which way to go. We hiked 4.75 miles round trip so we didn't do the full trail, partially because we weren't sure we were going the right way! read more

It would have been nice for someone to say this trail is for residents only and in order to embark upon it you have to break the law!! I came to hike with kids, so it was a bit disappointing. The starbucks across the street was a nice respite from the heat today. read more

Colinas Bluff Trail - start of trail... - Hiking Near Me - Laguna Niguel, California

This trail is right next to where I live, so I will continue to use it. However, the signage needs serious work! I have walked this trail multiple times, but have not yet made it to the end because I come across so many different paths that turn out to be dead ends. There are seriously NO SIGNS. It's really frustrating! Anyhow, I still like this trail because it isn't too busy, and it's a nice, clean, safe trail that I feel comfortable walking alone. I've been warned of rattlesnakes many times while on it, but I still have yet to see one. Also, I don't think it's for residents only; I've never seen any signs that say that. read more

Love running here! Early morning runs to the beach and back. Epic way to start the day