Done at a brisk pace (3.5 miles per hour) hiking the Las Ramblas trail makes a great early morning workout. There are some steep hills and sweeping vistas of the coastline from Dana Point to Oceanside, and Santiago Peak and the Santa Anas to the east. The trail follows dirt double track, but the junctions are not all well marked. You can hike this year-round, though avoid it in (and immediately after) heavy rain, unless you enjoy carrying an extra 10 pounds of mud on your shoes.
Time: ~1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 900 ft
Dogs: OK
When to go: Year round
This trail is shared by horses and mountain bikers, and dogs are okay. I have spotted deer, rattlesnakes and even one bobcat on previous hikes in these hills.
The best times to hike these hills are early morning and early evening, mainly because there is no shade and the views are all the more spectacular at sunrise and sunset.
Trail Map and Elevation Profile
Looking to hike this trail with others? There are two groups that post early morning 6am hikes on this trail pretty regularly, often on Tuesday and Thursday mornings: Crystal Cove Cardio and Hiking OC (both on Meetup.com). Both groups are free to join, and provide a great way to experience the trail for the first time.
I have hike Las Ramblas at sunrise more times than anywhere else at sunrise!! I love sunrise hikes and they are super way to start the day. The best thing about this hike are the views both east and west!
You nailed it, Traci! It’s a perfect spot for sunrise hikes… if you live nearby. It was awesome when I lived down that way but now? I’ll stick to the occasional after-work sunset hike (during daylight savings time). 🙂
This has been my backyard since I was born!!! Ive hiked back here for almost the past 18 years haha. I feel lucky to have my house basically right up against this trail, and have explored this place extensively! Although in the last few years, it has become very crowded it still remains one of my go to hikes.