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Ladera Ranch, California

Ladera Ranch, California, is a top spot for outdoor adventures, boasting some of the best trails and outdoor activities. The Ladera Ranch Trail is a must-visit, offering a moderate hike with scenic views of rolling hills, lush greenery, and a sparkling creek. This 4-mile round-trip trail also features a unique rock formation known as 'The Pinnacle'. For water lovers, the nearby Oso Reservoir provides opportunities for fishing and bird watching. For a more relaxed activity, visit the Founders Park, perfect for picnics and leisurely walks. If you're seeking a more challenging hike, head to the Chiquita Ridge Trail. It offers stunning panoramic views of Ladera Ranch and beyond. These outdoor attractions make Ladera Ranch a great destination for those seeking outdoor adventures.

Top Spots in and near Ladera Ranch

  • Laguna Niguel, California

    Kick Back at Laguna Niguel Regional Park

    This is an awesome tucked away little adventure that will have you occupied all day! With plenty of picnic tables you can be sure to have your own privacy tucked into a corner free from other people. Grab a lake side picnic table or even the numerous ones around the grass fields, they are all won...
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  • Trabuco Canyon, California

    Bell Canyon Trail

    3.86 mi / 102 ft gain
    Bell Canyon Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see wildflowers located near San Juan Capistrano, California.
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  • San Juan Capistrano, California

    Hike the Pinhead Peak Trail at Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

    4.0
    2 mi / 220 ft gain
    Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park is the perfect place to getaway from the hubbub of LA. Enjoy the scenic drive north on Ortega Highway before reaching the entrance gate to the park. Parking Fees are currently $3 on Weekdays and $5 on Weekends. Camping Fees vary depending on your group size.  The...
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  • Laguna Niguel, California

    Dripping Cave in the Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness

    4.4
    7.68 mi / 889 ft gain
    Dripping Cave sits tucked away in a corner of Wood Canyon, part of the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, and the trail to the cave, while short, requires *at least* a 2.25 mile hike in from the nearest trailhead (West Ridge Trail to Mathis Canyon), though this is less than ideal as that rou...
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  • Laguna Niguel, California

    Colinas Ridge Trail

    2.01 mi / 131 ft gain
    First, you'll be parking in the parking lot for the dog park. It's free parking and there are roughly 40 spaces, so there is plenty of parking. I've never seen more than 20 cars here at any one time. Once parked you'll find the trail head/ start on the northwest side of the lot (opposite the dog ...
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  • Aliso Viejo, California

    Top of the World via West Ridge Trail

    5.0
    4.76 mi / 443 ft gain
    Directions to get here are pretty straight forward via the map. You park your car in a residential neighborhood along the street, and from there, you can't miss the entrance. The trail is paved for the first 100yds or so and after you make a right turn at the top, you'll be on dirt and sand the r...
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  • Trabuco Canyon, California

    Hike the Bellview to Dove Lake Trail

    2.5 mi / 75 ft gain
    This hike will be about going from the Bellview Trailhead to Dove Lake and back. Note that once you get to Dove Lake there are numerous offshoots that can take you in different directions (you can follow the road into the Dove Canyon housing community, take a paved road back to the Bellview parki...
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  • Laguna Beach, California

    West Ridge to Car Wreck Trail and Mathis Canyon Loop

    4.5
    3.31 mi / 856 ft gain
    There are numerous ways to incorporate the Car Wreck trail into a larger loop through the Laguna Coast Wilderness and Aliso Canyon Park, but a common route is to begin at Alta Laguna Park at "Top of the World" in Laguna Beach. Take the West Ridge Trail .5 miles, bearing right onto the marked Car...
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  • Laguna Beach, California

    Hike the West Ridge Trail

    5.0
    1.5 mi / 150 ft gain
    Beginning at Alta Laguna Park at Top of the World, the West Ridge Trail is a popular starting (and ending) point for adventures into the Laguna Coast Wilderness, leading to trails and areas like Car Wreck, Big Bend, and Willow Canyon. You can also do it in reverse from the north. The ridge itself...
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  • Laguna Beach, California

    Hike Willow Canyon, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

    5.0
    6.7 mi / 1208 ft gain
    This hike has been a must do since I was young. Do you love scenic views of the ocean and wildlife? You'll see plenty of both, from hawks searching for food to squirrels and deer running through the brush. This is my favorite route in this area but there are plenty of other trails to shorten or a...
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  • Laguna Beach, California

    Aliso Peak via the Valido Trail

    5.0
    1.14 mi / 325 ft gain
    The Valido Trail trailhead can be found just off West street off the Pacific Coast Highway, just south of Aliso Beach. Park on West Street past the trailhead. The trail proceeds approximate .5 miles till it intersects with the Aliso Peak Trail. Go left .4 miles to the obvious summit and wooden p...
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  • Lake Forest, California

    Hike Borrego Canyon to Red Rock Canyon Trails

    4.6
    4.2 mi / 500 ft gain
    Just south east of the city of Irvine, on the southern end of Orange County, is the scenic Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Don't let the newly developed shopping centers restaurants fool you, because just beyond the parking lot ($3 Daily Use Fee) of the Borrego Canyon Trailhead, you will find your...
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  • Trabuco Canyon, California

    The Luge: Santiago Truck Trail Loop

    5.0
    7.46 mi / 1371 ft gain
    The Luge: Santiago Truck Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Lake Forest, California.
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  • Laguna Beach, California

    Laguna Beach Caves

    3.8
    Explore some beautiful caves right on the beach in Laguna. The stairs leading down to the beach are just off the side of PCH at 9th st. You can park anywhere along the PCH on both sides near 9th st. Head down the stairs and the main caves are on the left. To the right there are also some small c...
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  • Laguna Beach, California

    Skimboard Table Rock Beach

    Laguna Beach is both the birthplace *and* and the capital of skimboarding, and for good reason: it boasts an impressive array of beaches where (if you know where to look) you can find one where the conditions are right for one of the most difficult but rewarding of water sports. Table Rock is one...
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  • Laguna Beach, California

    Bodysurf at Aliso Beach

    5.0
    This wave is super fun to bodysurf and shoot photos of when there is a swell. It is a shorebreak so be careful of shallow water and little rocks. It usually isn't too crowded especially on weekdays. Bring your fins and a smile and you have a good time.
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Camping and Lodging in Ladera Ranch

Temecula KOA at Vail Lake
Aguanga, California

Temecula KOA at Vail Lake

Dripping Springs Campground (Ca)
Temecula, California

Dripping Springs Campground (Ca)

Observatory Campground
Palomar Mountain, California

Observatory Campground

Fry Creek Campground
Palomar Mountain, California

Fry Creek Campground

Banning Stagecoach KOA Journey
Banning, California

Banning Stagecoach KOA Journey

Guides, Insights and Stories from Ladera Ranch

The Best Views in Laguna Beach

The Best Views in Laguna Beach

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The Top 4 Places to Explore Tide Pools in Laguna Beach

The Top 4 Places to Explore Tide Pools in Laguna Beach

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Why Laguna Beach Is the Ultimate Summer Destination

Why Laguna Beach Is the Ultimate Summer Destination

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Loco Laguna: 7 Videos of Wild Adventure in Laguna Beach

Loco Laguna: 7 Videos of Wild Adventure in Laguna Beach

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Laguna Beach's Top 5 Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Running

Laguna Beach's Top 5 Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Running

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5 Must-Do Adventures in Laguna Beach, CA

5 Must-Do Adventures in Laguna Beach, CA

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