Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

This park is nestled in between Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel. I know of three different places to park and hit the trails. One is off Alicia Parkway at the main pay to park area. Here there is limited parking where you must pay $3. A few street spots are available for free, but I have seen people get tickets for parking illegally…so be careful if you decide to do this. From here you take the paved trail which parallels Aliso Creek until you reach Wood Canyon Trail(a right hand turn). This dirt trail takes you to all the options offered here in this park. You can hit up one of the most popular hikes in all of Orange County, Dripping Caves. It is a really cool random short off-trail everybody should check out or add it to your hike if you have extra time. A little further past this will be Mathis Canyon which takes you up to the top of the canyon. This is a decent elevation gain of almost 900 feet. From here you could head left to the “Top of the World” or head right to make a big loop(multiple trail options). From West Ridge the loop options are; Rock It, Lynx, Cholla or the unnamed trail which connects to Wood Canyon. This is actually where option #2 is to park.

Option #2 is parking near or at Canyon View Park which is free and in a local neighborhood. My favorite hike from here is to go to the “Top of the World” and back, which is about 5-miles. This should take you about 90-minutes not including time spent looking at the ocean. “Top of the World” has great views overlooking Laguna Beach and the Pacific Ocean. A few benches and picnic tables where you can hangout, take a break and soak in the gorgeous ocean view. The possibilities are similar to the first parking spot, except its reverse order. So Mathis Canyon and Dripping Cave would be the furthest from here and Cholla would be the closest. Although you are able to skip the paved Aliso Creek Trail if you want less miles, or just less “paved” trail.

Option #3 is to park at the “Top of the World” and hike down into the canyon trails. The parking at the park is paid parking, but there is plenty of free street parking here. My only issue with this is the fact you must hike down to start and then come back up to finish. This is the opposite of what I prefer for my hikes. As for which hikes…the same options I’ve mentioned are doable and more. Canyon Acres, on the ocean facing side is somewhere I haven’t been yet. So I cannot say whether it is worth it or not. But going down Mathis or Car Wreck would be fairly close and then heading right back up for a nice butt kicker. Also accessible from here is Meadows and Mentally Sensitive, also which I have not done. I do know they lead to Aliso Creek Trail, so you could make a loop out of one or both of them.

I have not covered the whole park, which would take FOREVER if attempted in one day. West Ridge is dog-friendly, which connects “Top of the World” to Canyon View Park. But all of the other lower trails I’ve mentioned are NOT. All of the trails are clearly labeled with plenty of trail maps/markers throughout the park. Basically impossible to get lost as long as you remember where you parked!

Be cautious of mountain bikers as its used for both hiking and biking due to the cool single tracks. I have also seen rattlesnakes here, so keep an eye out in the warmer months. Don’t be fooled by location, as it gets really warm here and water is needed for most. I even had to help a hiker call 911 because her friend was having heat exhaustion in the middle of January. We all know it stays fairly warm year round in SoCal, but don’t underestimate how dry/desert like it can feel here. Hydrate before and bring plenty of water during your hike. Essentially NO shade offered here so have your sun protective gear and lotion.

As always pack it in and pack it out!

Tag me @likes.to.hike