Hike Laguna Bowl to Water Tank Road, California
Classic Laguna Beach Hike with Great Ocean Views
Oct 26, 2008
This fantastic and somewhat strenuous hike ends by descending a ridge over picturesque North Laguna with bird’s eye views of Two Rock Point, Crescent Bay, and Twin Points. Most of this hike is in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, which is administered by Orange County Parks. The final section descends through a quiet neighborhood above Laguna Beach.
Laguna Bowl to Water Tank Road
The hike begins on a fire road called Laguna Bowl Road. The trail ascends to the east of a deep, canyon that separates the Laguna Bowl Ridge from the Water Tank Road Ridge on which this hike ends. The climb up the Laguna Bowl Road is quite steep at times, and the hiker is encouraged to take a moment to stop and identify the native coastal prickly pear cacti and lemonade sumac shrubs found along this trail.
Water Tank Road Trail
The first major junction is unmarked and serves as a point of access for utility poles. The next junction (about one and one-half miles from the trailhead) is well marked with a wooden signpost (on right) reading “Water Tank”. Turning left onto Water Tank Road, the hiker begins a mostly gradual descent toward the Pacific with absolutely stunning views—this is classic Laguna Beach Hiking.
The canyon to the west is called Boat Canyon, and the ridge on the far side of Boat Canyon is the location of the Boat Road Trail.
As the hiker continues descending Water Tank Road, he or she will come to an obvious but unmarked trail junction near a low point on the ridge. Stay right at this junction and contour around the highpoint of the ridge, eventually reaching the Park Boundary at gate 19.
Stunning Coastline Views
Looking out over the ocean, the hiker sees Catalina Island on a clear day. Below, on the coastline of North Laguna Beach, the hiker can easily spot Two Rocks Point (furthest to the right), which is located at the northwest end of Crescent Bay. Following the coastline to the southeast, the hiker will see Twin Points, which separates Crescent Bay from Shaw’s Cove.
Water Tank Road trends back toward the village and eventually dead-ends at a fenced-in radio tower situated over the buried Moorhead Reservoir a little less than one and one-half miles from the trail junction with Laguna Bowl Road. A trail around the left side leads to the old Lookout Road which joins Popular Street just above the junction of Popular and Lookout at a gate with a sign reading “The William V. Moorhead Reservoir.”
To return to the trailhead, the hiker descends to the village along neighborhood streets and then takes Broadway, which turns into Laguna Canyon Road just before the trailhead.
Getting To the Trailhead
To access the trailhead, the hiker takes Pacific Coast Highway to Laguna Beach and turns onto Broadway (which is Route 133/Laguna Canyon Road). The trailhead is half a mile up on the left just past the tennis courts. Alternatively, the hiker can take the I-5 or the 73 toll road and exit at Route 133. The trailhead is on the right one half mile beyond Canyon Acres.
Wilderness Hiking Preparation
The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset. Trails are closed for 72 hours after rainfall (call 949-923-2235 for trail conditions). Pets are never allowed in the Park. This is a backcountry hike where animals such as rattlesnakes, coyotes and, while exceedingly rare, mountain lions may be encountered. The prepared hiker will travel with a partner and carry water, sunscreen, a map, and other essentials.
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