Crystal Cove State Park is nestled in the coastal hills between Newport and Laguna Beach. The Blue Route is a hiking trail that traces the boundaries of the inland section of the park, climbing up and down ridge and valley through coastal scrub. I love this park, not only because it’s so well located for Orange County, but because you really do feel like you’ve been transported to another place and time. As you enter the wilderness here, you soon forget that you are only a mile away from a sea of suburban tract homes. A hike through Crystal Cove is like a mini-vacation from suburbia.
Time: 3-5 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 1,800 ft
Dogs: No
Hours: 6am-10pm daily
Parking: $15
The so-called Blue Route is sometimes referred to as the Perimeter of the Park hike. The trails form a loop surrounding the backcountry of Crystal Cove State Park, and provides a grand tour of its features.
The route begins at the top of the El Moro Visitor Center parking lot. Pass around the gate and head up the double-track trail known affectionately as No Dogs. (Odd only because dogs are not allowed on ANY of the trails in Crystal Cove’s backcountry). Note that the sign calls this No Name Ridge, but the maps all call it No Dogs here.
As you head up the ridge, you’ll come to a couple of junctions heading right at the power poles (the aptly named “Poles” trail). Stay left and continue up and down the roller coaster hills of No Name Ridge.
At mile 2.25 you will reach the junction with Ticketron. This single-track trail veers to the right, winding down to the Deer Canyon trail. Turn left at Deer Canyon, watching for the campground on your left.
The Deer Canyon campground is one of three backcountry campgrounds at Crystal Cove. All have picnic tables, but do not allow open flames. There are a few chemical toilets, but no water; if you want to camp here, you’ll have to backpack in with everything you need!
I wondered who would go backpacking so close to civilization, but a friend pointed out that the backcountry campgrounds at Crystal Cove makes a great location to do an equipment check. It’s close by, so you could even hike in on a Friday afternoon. And if things go awry, you’re not far from the comforts of civilization.
Follow the Deer Canyon trail all the way up to the back of the park, passing through the gate to the Bommer Ridge trail. Technically, Bommer Ridge is part of neighboring Laguna Wilderness, but this trail is preferable to the parallel Fences trail that gets a lot of mountain bikers.
At about mile 4.75 you’ll reach Moro Ridge. Turn right through the gate and follow this ridge back towards the coastline. Along the way, you’ll pass two campgrounds on your right (Upper and Lower El Moro).
This ridge gives you great views of the ocean, Moro Canyon to you right and Emerald Canyon to your left. If you’re alert, you may also see artifacts from the days when this land was used for cattle and sheep herding.
Eventually you’ll turn right on to the affectionately titled BFI (Big F-ing Incline) trail, descending to Moro Canyon and the final hill back to the visitor center.
Reward yourself with a milkshake at the Shake Shack about a mile north on Coast Highway.
Trail Map
Photo Gallery
Glenn Jones says
December 12, 2010 at 11:43 pmThis is my backyard! I live less than 5 mile away and enjoy the park all the time.
You’re right about the camping here. My preferred campsite are the ones on El Moro ridge. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets up there. Once the sun goes down you would never know that you ae only a couple miles from civilization
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! (BTW – next time you make a day trip of it, drop me a line. I’ll tellyou where the free parking is)
Jeff Hester says
December 13, 2010 at 6:53 amThanks Glenn!
I think I’ll give the campsite a try soon.
And thanks for the reminder about the free parking. I’ve got an annual pass, but you’re right about that spot. I’ve met up with my mountain biking buddies to ride from up there at the end of Ridge Park Road.
joyce says
June 16, 2014 at 3:52 pmthank you for this. I am considering this trail this Saturday. This provided good information with your elevation and miles posted.
It looks like a loop with an uphill climb out and downhill back. Would you estimate the total elevation gains to be about 2000 feet?
Jeff Hester says
June 16, 2014 at 4:10 pmJoyce, if you examine the elevation profile, you’ll see that the top elevation tops out just shy of 1000 feet above sea level. There’s also some up-and-down along the way. My GPS tracked 1800′ of total vertical gain, but it’s probably closer to 1500′.
Joe Daark says
October 7, 2018 at 10:48 pmGreat review!
The best advice I would give about hiking Crystal Cove/Laguna Wilderness would be to park for free on the street around Coastal Peak Park. There is also a restroom with running water at Coastal Peak, as well as restrooms with water at the State Park parking lots/RV park.
I would not park in the actual parking lot of Coastal Peak, as I’ve seen police monitor that lot (I guess you’re technically not allowed to park there if you’re going into Crystal Cove.)
I usually go down No Name Ridge/No Dogs and loop back up to Moro Ridge, via the BFI. From there, you can take Bommer Ridge.
It is the coolest day hike in Orange County, because of the ocean views, and a killer workout because of the incline on the way back up. Besides that incline on the way back, it’s relatively tame. The majority of Moro Ridge is flat.
It takes me about four hours to complete.