Walk from Laguna Niguel to South Laguna Beach?

[Mach50]

On Second thought if you were living in Aliso you could probably just take Laguna Canyon all the way to the beach on a bike.

You could go down Aliso Creek to El Toro to Laguna Canyon along the street and it is pretty flat for ~8 miles

from:Aliso Viejo, CA to:33.598464,-117.745714 to:Broadway St/CA-133 - Google Maps

[KDinAV]

Start at Canyon View Park in Aliso Viejo, walking the ridge to Top of the World and Alta Laguna Park. There you can visit the restroom and fill water bottles at a drinking fountain. From there, walk down the street in the neighborhood at Top of the World, turning right (downhill) on Park Avenue. That will take you all the way down to Laguna's downtown and beach, 1000' below. Enjoy, fuel up there, and hike it back--a tough trek that is at least 10 miles round trip, but very doable if you have the will and lots of water and calories with you. Enjoy!

[BRinSM]

if you decide to take the hike, be prepared for some climbing. I'm a pretty strong cyclist, but I was almost literally brought to my knees trying to climb the hill from PCH up to the top of the world park.

[Scott5280]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

if you decide to take the hike, be prepared for some climbing. I'm a pretty strong cyclist, but I was almost literally brought to my knees trying to climb the hill from PCH up to the top of the world park.

I totally agree with you BRinSM, I actually did some pretty serious damage to my knee cycling up to Top of The World several years back..
I used to be a very strong rider in Boulder Colorado, and was used to much more severe terrain and elevation gains..so I underestimated that climb--over confidence and age taught me a lesson on the one...still can't argue with the amazing views from there though...many trails are not for the novice..

[Kenneth Akita]

It's a healthy hike; I enjoy going to the Aliso Summit Wilderness Park too, off Alicia & Pacific Island in Laguna Niguel.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by BearLaker

I was wondering if it is possible to walk/hike/bike from Aliso Viejo or Laguna Niguel to the Laguna Beach/SouthLaguna Beach area simply as an alternative to driving the in the tedious weekend traffic on Crown Valley & PCH.

This seems akin to someone inquiring about steamship service across the Atlantic to avoid the wait in an airport security line.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by KDinAV

Start at Canyon View Park in Aliso Viejo, walking the ridge to Top of the World and Alta Laguna Park. There you can visit the restroom and fill water bottles at a drinking fountain. From there, walk down the street in the neighborhood at Top of the World, turning right (downhill) on Park Avenue. That will take you all the way down to Laguna's downtown and beach, 1000' below. Enjoy, fuel up there, and hike it back--a tough trek that is at least 10 miles round trip, but very doable if you have the will and lots of water and calories with you. Enjoy!

Better yet, to really save time, do it with a unicycle:


YouTube - Hi-Tech Mountain Cycling at Aliso Woods, CA

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by Mach50

On Second thought if you were living in Aliso you could probably just take Laguna Canyon all the way to the beach on a bike.

You could go down Aliso Creek to El Toro to Laguna Canyon along the street and it is pretty flat for ~8 miles

from:Aliso Viejo, CA to:33.598464,-117.745714 to:Broadway St/CA-133 - Google Maps

Good suggestion except that this map includes the 73 Toll Road which is not exactly bike friendly. A safer way, as you said, would be to bike up Aliso Creek Road in Aliso Viejo, turn left onto El Toro, and then ride South down Laguna Canyon Road. Still, this route is clogged with cars during peak summer vacation times.

Several years ago there was some talk in the City Council about trying to get developers to chip in for a direct (expensive!) bike and pedestrian bridge to the beach, but it never went anywhere.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by BearLaker

too formidable for a weekend jaunt with the dog to Laguna?

Maybe you have a tougher dog than my Springer Spaniel, but I'd be carrying her before we got halfway there.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by Dirk Bonner

I run the Ridge Trail from Aliso Viejo to Top of The World and back 3-4 times a week.

It is about a five mile round trip, and the train is actually a nicely maintained dirt access road. There is about a 1,000 foot elevation gain, so running that trail is a rigorous run, and the hike takes you about and down some serious hillage.

It is a lovely safe area to hike, run, bike, and even walk dogs (please, keep them on a leash). There are many species of animals and birds that live in that area...deer, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions (possibly), rabbits, skunks, raccoons, owls, hawks, buzzards, crows, and in the spring..rattlesnakes.

Take water...it is very wide open, sunny, and hot when the sun is out.

Here's a link to a Aliso-Woods Canyon Regional Park San Diego Reader | Aliso and Wood Canyons

It's pretty impressive that you do this 3-4 times a week.