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Explore nature in and around Orange County via more than 100 hiking trails.
When you think of Orange County in Southern California, you might imagine large cities like Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana. However, just beyond the urban sprawl, the natural world lies within reach. The ocean rolls against jagged cliffs, raptors soar above foothill country, and mammals roam within the region’s mountains and canyons. All told, parks, preserves, designated open spaces, and public lands cover some 200,000 acres—with more than 500 miles of trails and roads for hiking—in and near Orange County.
Discover the best day hikes along the coast, in foothills, and across mountains. In Afoot & Afield: Orange County, David Harris presents virtually every hike worth taking on wild public lands that are conveniently accessible to the area’s residents and tourists. This updated and expanded edition features 128 trips, from serene summits to sparkling seaside strolls. The guidebook covers the beaches and bays, Crystal Cove State Park, the Chino Hills, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, county wilderness parks, the Santa Ana Mountains, and more. From short strolls to challenging adventures, every trail is within a short car trip from the Southland’s cities.
Each trip includes the following:
- Key information such as distance, hiking time, elevation gain/loss, and difficulty
- Complete trip description and hiking directions
- Easy-to-read map with GPS waypoints
- Notes on which trails are most suitable for mountain biking, backpacking, horse riding, dogs, and families
David Harris is a professor of engineering at Harvey Mudd College. He is the author or coauthor of 13 hiking guidebooks and engineering textbooks. Since 1999, he has been exploring the mountains and deserts of Southern California. He lives with his three children in Upland, California, and delights in sharing his love of the outdoors with them.
Overview Map
Acknowledgments
Preface
Overview of Hikes
Introducing Orange County
Health, Safety, and Courtesy
Using This Book
Chapter 1: North Coast
- Trip 1.1 Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
- Trip 1.2 Talbert Nature Preserve
Chapter 2: Upper Newport Bay
- Trip 2.1 Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
- Trip 2.2 Newport Back Bay Loop
- Trip 2.3 San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
- Trip 2.4 Buck Gully
Chapter 3: Crystal Cove State Park
- Trip 3.1 Corona Rock-Hop
- Trip 3.2 Crystal Cove Beach Loop
- Trip 3.3 Emerald Vista Point
- Trip 3.4 Moro Canyon Loop
- Trip 3.5 Deer Canyon Loop
Chapter 4: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
- Trip 4.1 Nix Loop
- Trip 4.2 Dilley Preserve
- Trip 4.3 Laurel Canyon Loop
- Trip 4.4 Emerald Canyon
- Trip 4.5 Big Bend Loop
- Trip 4.6 Laguna Bowl Loop
Chapter 5: Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
- Trip 5.1 Aliso and Woods Canyon Loop
- Trip 5.2 Pecten Reef via Aliso Creek
- Trip 5.3 Hollyleaf Loop
- Trip 5.4 Top of the World Loop
- Trip 5.5 Moulton Meadows Loop
- Trip 5.6 Seaview and Badlands Trail
- Trip 5.7 Seaview Park Overlook and Aliso Peak
- Trip 5.8 Aliso Summit Trail
- Trip 5.9 Sulphur Creek Reservoir
Chapter 6: South Coast
- Trip 6.1 Salt Creek Trail
- Trip 6.2 San Juan Creek Trail
- Trip 6.3 Dana Point Sea Cave
- Trip 6.4 Dana Point Headlands
- Trip 6.5 San Clemente State Beach
- Trip 6.6 San Onofre State Beach
Chapter 7: Chino Hills State Park
- Trip 7.1 Bane Rim Loop
- Trip 7.2 McLean Overlook
- Trip 7.3 Water Canyon
- Trip 7.4 Lower Aliso Canyon Loop
- Trip 7.5 Upper Aliso Canyon
- Trip 7.6 Hills for Everyone Loop
- Trip 7.7 Telegraph Canyon Traverse
- Trip 7.8 Gilman Peak
- Trip 7.9 San Juan Hill
- Trip 7.10 Sonome Canyon
- Trip 7.11 Carbon Canyon Nature Trail
Chapter 8: Santiago Creek and Anaheim Hills
- Trip 8.1 Oak Canyon Nature Center
- Trip 8.2 Deer Canyon Park Preserve
- Trip 8.3 Santiago Oaks Regional Park
- Trip 8.4 Robbers Peak
- Trip 8.5 Weir Canyon Loop
- Trip 8.6 Irvine Regional Park
- Trip 8.7 Irvine to Santiago Loop
- Trip 8.8 El Modena Open Space
- Trip 8.9 Peters Canyon Regional Park
Chapter 9: Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
- Trip 9.1 Borrego and Red Rock Canyons
- Trip 9.2 Vista Lookout
- Trip 9.3 Whiting Ranch Loop
- Trip 9.4 Dreaded Hill
Chapter 10: Irvine Ranch Open Space
- Trip 10.1 Limestone Canyon: The Sinks
- Trip 10.2 Hicks Haul Road
- Trip 10.3 Agua Chinon
- Trip 10.4 Round Canyon
- Trip 10.5 Black Star (Baker) Canyon
- Trip 10.6 Fremont Canyon
- Trip 10.7 Weir Canyon
- Trip 10.8 Saddleback Wilderness
- Trip 10.9 Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
Chapter 11: Irvine Open Space Preserve
- Trip 11.1 Bommer Canyon and Ridge Loop
- Trip 11.2 Big Bommer Loop
- Trip 11.3 Quail Hill Loop
- Trip 11.4 Turtle Ridge Loop
Chapter 12: O’Neill and Riley Regional Parks
- Trip 12.1 Ocean Vista Point
- Trip 12.2 Edna Spaulding Nature Trail
- Trip 12.3 Arroyo Trabuco
- Trip 12.4 Tijeras Creek
- Trip 12.5 Riley Wilderness Park
Chapter 13: Caspers Wilderness Park
- Trip 13.1 Pinhead Peak
- Trip 13.2 West Ridge to Bell Canyon Loop
- Trip 13.3 East Ridge to Bell Canyon Loop
- Trip 13.4 Oso to Juaneno Loop
- Trip 13.5 Hot Springs Loop
- Trip 13.6 Bell View Trail
Chapter 14: Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve
- Trip 14.1 Granite Loop
- Trip 14.2 Punta Mesa Loop
- Trip 14.3 Sylvan Meadows
- Trip 14.4 Oak Tree Loop
- Trip 14.5 Los Santos to Trans Preserve Loop
- Trip 14.6 Vernal Pool Trail
Chapter 15: Santa Ana Mountains: Main Divide
- Trip 15.1 Tecate Cypress Preserve
- Trip 15.2 Tin Mine Canyon
- Trip 15.3 Sierra Peak via Skyline Drive
- Trip 15.4 North Main Divide Traverse
- Trip 15.5 Black Star Canyon Falls
- Trip 15.6 Silverado Trail to Bedford Peak
- Trip 15.7 Silverado to Modjeska Peak Loop
- Trip 15.8 Harding Road to Main Divide
- Trip 15.9 Harding Falls
- Trip 15.10 Santiago Trail
- Trip 15.11 Falls Canyon
- Trip 15.12 Holy Jim Falls
- Trip 15.13 Santiago Peak via Holy Jim Trail
- Trip 15.14 Indian Truck Trail
- Trip 15.15 Trabuco Canyon
- Trip 15.16 West Horsethief to Trabuco Canyon Loop
- Trip 15.17 Bell Peak
- Trip 15.18 East Horsethief Trail
Chapter 16: Santa Ana Mountains: Ortega Corridor
- Trip 16.1 El Cariso Nature Trail
- Trip 16.2 Ortega Falls
- Trip 16.3 San Juan Loop Trail
- Trip 16.4 San Juan Trail
- Trip 16.5 Chiquito Basin
- Trip 16.6 Viejo Tie Loop
- Trip 16.7 Chiquito Trail
- Trip 16.8 Los Pinos Ridge
- Trip 16.9 Upper Hot Spring Canyon
- Trip 16.10 Lower Hot Spring Canyon
- Trip 16.11 Morgan Trail
- Trip 16.12 Sitton Peak
- Trip 16.13 Lucas Canyon Loop
Chapter 17: Santa Ana Mountains: San Mateo Canyon Wilderness
- Trip 17.1 Tenaja Falls
- Trip 17.2 Tenaja Falls Traverse
- Trip 17.3 San Mateo Peak
- Trip 17.4 Tenaja Canyon
- Trip 17.5 Fisherman’s Camp Loop
- Trip 17.6 San Mateo Canyon
- Trip 17.7 Bluewater Traverse
- Trip 17.8 Indian Potrero Loop
Chapter 18: Long-Distance Trails
- Trip 18.1 Santa Ana River Trail
- Trip 18.2 Mountains to Sea Trail
- Trip 18.3 Aliso Creek Trail
Appendix A: Best Hikes
Appendix B: Recommended Reading
Appendix C: Local Organizations
Appendix D: Information Sources
Index
About the Author