Santa Rosa Plateau

This week I was able to get out to Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve for an afternoon hike. While it is not located in Orange County, it is close by and definitely worth the trip! During my last visit to the reserve, I overheard a docent telling a group of children that, on warm spring days, the vernal pools boil with activity as the garter snakes hunt pollywogs. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that this was the primary reason I went there this week. I lucked out and saw 2 snakes in the pools in addition to wildflowers, dragonflies and lizards.

The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve is on 39400 Clinton Keith Road and is located at the southern end of the Santa Ana Mountains (off the I-15) between Temecula and Lake Elsinore. The Reserve consists of 8,300 acres and protects unique ecosystems like Engelmann oak woodlands, riparian wetlands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, bunchgrass prairie and vernal pools. Day use is $2.00 per person.

There are many trails to choose from however biking and horseback riding is limited to the Sylvan Meadows Multi-Use Area. I have only been on a few trails on the reserve and they were well-maintained and mildly hilly. I also recommend stopping at the Nature Center that is staffed by knowledgeable docents. There also great exhibits and good bathrooms (which is a huge plus for me!).

Aliso Summit Trail

Lunch Break!



Enjoying Ocean Views and Breezes

The Canyons

Thomas Guide Orange County 951 Aliso and Wood Canyon Park Map

Normally, I tend to avoid all bike trails that contain any of the following descriptors: summit, peak, ridge, view point or any references to planets or stars. Today, however, in the spirit of hoping to complete the last leg of the Mountains to Ocean ride along Aliso Creek Bikeway, I set aside my prejudices and sucked it up to tackle the Aliso Summit Trail. We ‘started’ the ride from the entrance of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness park. There also appears to be some parking along Alicia, across from Laguna Niguel Regional Park.

The trail itself seems separate from the park although it is on the official park map. From the park, ride UP Alicia, turn Right on Highlands (more UP) and, at the ‘second’ Ridgeview, is the trailhead. Be prepared for about a 700 foot climb to get to the trail, even the “boy racers” were whining.

For most of its length, the 3 mile trail borders residential communities to the east and natural open space to the west with expansive views of the Aliso and Wood Canyons and the ocean. The trail primarily consists of natural and decomposed granite surfaces and, in two locations, the continuity of the trail is provided by sidewalk connections. A sidewalk along Talavera Drive and Pacific Island Drive connects Seaview Park with the start/end of the trail on Pacific Island Drive. Once on the trail, it is fairly level (yahoo!).

We may have been able to get to the coast but we were lame and not willing to give up any altitude. After reviewing maps post-ride, it seems as if there should be some way to link up the Aliso Summit Trail to the South Laguna Ridge Trail and get to the beach. That will have to be another day…

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Owl Clover


Trailhead and Pay Station


Enjoying the peek ocean and canyon views after the first climb

Emerald Canyon. Walking waist deep in the grass wasn't too bad until Scott shared his Jurassic Park velociraptor flashback. I started walking a bit faster.

Very fancy trail map-loop noted in pink

Blue-eyed grass in front of sticky monkey flowers

A bug gets quite friendly with the blue-eyed grass.

A lucky ladybird beetle

White lined sphinx moth

A close-up: check out his furry body!

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is located in the San Joaquin Hills between the cities of Newport Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Beach off of Laguna Canyon Road. This park is a testament of how the efforts of concerned citizens and local and state governments can combine to preserve land for public use and more importantly to protect wildlife and their habitat from development. The park spans over 6200 acres and offers wooded canyons, a natural lake and incredible vistas of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas. Most of the area is limited to hiking and horseback riding but there are some mountain biking trails available and are clearly noted on the park map. Hours are 8 am to 4 pm and parking is $3.00.

There are 2 parking entrances off of Laguna Canyon Road. We parked in the lot closest to Laguna Beach and hiked up Big Bend Trail to the Old Emerald Falls Trail and then looped up and back along the Bommer Ridge Trail. It took about 3 hours round trip but that included lots of photo stops and a picnic in Emerald Canyon. The trails are quite steep in places and there were lots of climbs in and out of the canyon. At every peak, however, we were rewarded with ocean views and sea breezes. This is definitely a great quads and glutes work out!

Aliso Creek Bikeway (south west)

In January, we rode the Aliso Creek Bikeway, starting at Muirlands and Los Alisos Blvd, heading towards Trabuco Canyon. Today we 'started' at the same point but rode towards Laguna Hills with the goal to get to Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park via the Aliso Creek Bikeway. In an effort to be “green”, we biked the extra miles from home to the Aliso Creek Bikeway instead of driving. Along with the extra miles and several unintentional hilly and off-road detours, I did not do a very good job measuring miles or jotting down good directions today.

If you are driving, park the car at El Toro Park (Jeronimo and Los Alisos Blvd) or street park along Los Alisos Blvd and Muirlands. The trail is well-marked, paved and appropriate for all ages of walkers, runners, skaters and bikers. The only ‘tricky’ parts are (1) when the path turns into a bike lane for a bit along Laguna Hills Drive and (2) that the trail marker is missing off of Laguna Hills Drive so take the off-shoot (south, under Laguna Hills Drive) to Sheep Hills Park which eventually turns back into the Aliso Creek Bikeway. The Bikeway will run to the entrance of the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.

I did not have any notable wildlife spottings or hitchhiking ticks today.