Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Wild Mustard in bloom during early spring

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is one of the last remaining coastal canyons in Southern California.    

     
        

It encompasses distinct aspects of plant life, animal life, and natural wild life habitats. Laguna Coast Trails feature Rocky bluffs above the canyon trails with magnificent scenic vistas.  All native habitat and wildlife is becoming rare in southern California and the coast wilderness sustains some endangered vegetation types such as coastal sage scrub and native perennial grassland; are some of the native habitats  found no where else in the world.

Vegetation at this park is typical of lower elevational southern California: mosaics of open Grassland, Oak woodland, Coastal sage scrub & Chaparral. Below is the list of native and non native plants that you would encounter while exploring the trails. Categorized in three different plant habitats as follows:

Coastal sage scrub: Sage brush, Buck wheat, Manzanita, Lilac, Monkey flowers, Coast sunflower, Black sage, and Coyote brush.

Chaparral Woodland: Coast live oak, Scrub Oak, Mahogany, Willow, Sycamore and Cottonwood trees.

Grassland: California meadow barley, Purple/Red brome, Wild rye, Wild mustard, Splendid mariposa lilly, Sweet liquorice and California Poppy (Image above)

Red Tailed Hawk

Wildlife species that dwell here includes interesting Reptiles, Birds and Mammals. Below are just a few of many animal species and you are likely to see at least a few of the following on a typical sunny day hike.

Reptiles:  Fence lizard, Gopher snake, Western diamond-back and Pacific rattle snakes.
Mammals: Audubon's rabbit, Coyote, Red fox, Bobcat Gopher, Pocket mice, Skunk and Raccoon.
Birds: Various humming birds, Finch, Black phoebe, Towhee, Shrike, Red-tailed Hawk  etc.

     Laguna Coast is a great way to experience Southern California’s diminishing coastal upland ecology. I visit the park once or twice a month. The trails here offer the best variety of scenic views, a lot of tough ups and downs. Most part of the trails offer no shade, so early mornings are best on hot days. Best time to explore this park is in spring but i would say its any time of the year since it is located right off the coast, air is humid and elevation brings cold breeze. This is also a prime rattlesnake terrain so please use caution. Wear hiking boots, a hat & carry minimum half a gallon of water with you to stay hydrated.

     The trail begins at the Information center at the bottom of the lot (At the junction of El Toro Rd and Laguna Canyon Rd). It follows an easy flat path for about quarter of a mile and begins a gentle ascent towards the hilly grassland meadow. What happens next is for you to discover! 

Below are the address and contact: 
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
18751 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949)923-2235 or (949)923-3702  

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog post and gained some valuable information from it. Please revisit and share your experience under comments. 

So are you ready to hike? I know I am!