Laguna Beach, CA Canyon to Ridge Hiking Loop
A Hike through Laguna, Wood and Aliso Canyons via Top of the World
Mar 15, 2009
Starting at the trailhead at the end of Canyon Acres in Laguna Beach, California, the hiker sets off on a fire road that gains the ridge above the famous landmark of Big Bend en route to the aptly named Top of the World (Temple Peak, 1038 feet). The climb to Top of the World is relatively steep, as the hiker gains around 900 feet in less than a mile, but the views of the Pacific Ocean and inland mountains are well worth the effort.
There are few places to make a wrong turn while making one’s way to Top of the World even though this part of the hike is not well signposted. Staying on the dirt fire road the entire time, the only real area for confusion is at the top of the first climb where the hiker can first see up Laguna Canyon (away from the Ocean). At this T-junction, turn right and continue climbing.
Temple Peak and West Ridge Trail
The Canyon Acres trail eventually intersects another dirt fire road near the top of Temple Peak. Turn left on this fire road and follow it as it contours around the north-northwest side of Temple Peak and then intersects the popular West Ridge Trail. Turn left on West Ridge Trail, which is another dirt fire road, and begin descending the ridge to the obvious intersection with Mathis Canyon Trail on the right.
Mathis Canyon Trail
Descending Mathis Canyon Trail takes the hiker down into Wood Canyon along a fairly steep (though not as steep as the climb from Canyon Acres) fire road with no switch backs. After losing about 600 feet in elevation, the Mathis Canyon Trail flattens out into the beautiful Wood Canyon. The hiker can either turn right onto a single track trail signposted as Dripping Cave Trail or continue along Mathis Canyon Trail to the Wood Canyon Trail. If the hiker elects to follow Dripping Cave Trail, he or she will intersect Wood Canyon Trail further down the canyon.
Wood Canyon Trail
The Wood Canyon Trail is a wide sandy trail shared by family hikers and bikers and those people who use it to access the Park’s more remote trails. It generally follows the streambed that drains Wood Canyon. After following it for about a mile, the hiker comes to a gate at the junction of Wood and Aliso Canyons. Just before this junction, a well signposted trail called Meadows Trail turns off to the right.
Meadows Trail
Meadows Trail is a largely single track trail that first parallels the paved road owned by the Aliso Water Management Agency (AWWA) before setting out across a meadow where it begins its climb to Aswut Trail, a paved road at the top of the ridge. The Meadows Trail gains the approximately 800 feet through a series of steep switchbacks. Views looking back down over Aliso Canyon are tremendous, as is the view looking down over Laguna Beach and the Ocean from the top of the trail.
Top of the World and Alta Laguna Park
At the top of the Meadows Trail, the hiker can turn right on the paved road and follow it until a “Private Road” sign. Just before the sign, there is a public trail on the left that skirts the private property, and returns to Temple Hills Drive. Turn left on this quiet neighborhood street, and follow it to Alta Laguna Boulevard, which will, in a little over a mile, return the hiker to Alta Laguna Park at Top of the World (Temple Hill). From here, the hiker descends to the Canyon Acres Trail and returns to the Canyon Acres Trailhead where he or she started this 7.5 mile loop hike.
For more hikes in Laguna Beach, visit Laguna Trails.
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