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…

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.