| Laguna Coast Wilderness Park | |
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| Location | Laguna Beach, California |
| Area | 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) |
| Governing body | Orange County Parks |
| Official website | |
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is located in Laguna Beach, California. It is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers. It gains over 1,000 feet (300 m) in elevation.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) and is part of the South Coast Wilderness area in south Orange County, and is a popular destination for locals and tourists.
There are trails that are very popular with the mountain biking community, and are at a wide range of difficulty, from beginners to experts. Most trails gain 300 to 800 feet (91 to 240 m) in elevation, and several lead to downtown Laguna Beach.
Emerald Canyon Trail is a sparsely traveled trail, and is a one-way, very thin trail that leads to the gated residential community of Emerald Bay. However, at the end there is a large fence that prevents access, and the fence continues along the sides of the hill, making it very difficult (also trespassing) to cross, so travelers must go back the way they came from. However, near the end of the trail is the Emerald Canyon Falls, a 30-foot (9.1 m) waterfall. It is well advised to wear jeans or long pants on this trail. Estimated round-trip completion time is 2 - 4 hours. A 4-hour journey on a Sunday afternoon saw no passersby, so be careful on this trail. You may think you are near civilization, but at the bottom of the canyon, you are easily 3 - 6 hours away from the nearest road.
There are many friendly people that say "Hello" and "Good Morning" to fellow adventurers, and are open to helping others with directions or assistance.
There are many activities to do in the park. Many volunteer organizations meet here and enjoy hikes in nature, and nature societies frequently visit and document the plants and animals living there.