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Ridgeline Loop to Barbara’s Lake

December 6, 2013 By Jeff H 14 Comments

Barbara's Lake

Few people know that Orange County is actually home to several natural lakes. Most “lakes” are actually man-made reservoirs, but the Laguna Lakes in Laguna Canyon are the real deal, and Barbara’s Lake is the largest in the chain.

This moderate hike in Laguna Canyon’s James Dilley Preserve gives you a glimpse into a rare wilderness island in a sea of suburbia. In the canyon, you step back in time where the hills, lakes and landscape hasn’t changed much over the years.

img
Trail Details
Distance: 3.12 miles
Time: ~90 min.
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 679 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Year-round
As you climb to the ridge line, you see just how tenuous this balance is, as just across the ridge begins the suburban sprawl. It’s a great trail that gets overlooked by most people, and worth a hike even if just to catch a glimpse at Orange County’s largest natural lake.

Getting to the James Dilley Preserve

The James Dilley Preserve is a part of the Laguna Canyon Wilderness, and is located off of Laguna Canyon Road just north of Highway 73. There is a small gravel parking lot with a $3 parking fee. You can lookup turn-by-turn directions here on Google Maps.

The Trail

There are a number of trails that criss-cross the preserve. We wanted a decent climb with some views. That meant only one thing. Heading up the steep Blackjack Trail to the ridge line.

Splashes of fall color in the James Dilley Preserve

We started out on the gentle Canyon Trail. This follows the bottom of the canyon all the way to the end, but we would not be taking that route for long. About 0.25 miles in we reached the Blackjack Trail heading nearly straight up the hill to our right. That was our route.

Blackjack Trail Marker

The Blackjack Trail is steep, but not long. Once you reach the top, you’ve already covered most of the elevation gain for this loop.

Looking back down the Blackjack Trail

Looking back down the Blackjack Trail, the views of Laguna Canyon begin to open up.

On the ridge line

The next mile you follow the ridge line toward the north. You are traveling along the eastern border of the preserve. To your left is Laguna Canyon. To your right, you have the suburban sprawl known as Aliso Viejo.

At the 0.92 mile mark, you reach a junction with the Woods End Trail. This climbs up the hill from El Toro Road, and is another entrance point to the park. It’s steep, but convenient for folks living in the area.

At 1.34 miles, the trail splits in two. To the left is the Gravel Trail, which heads directly down to the canyon. Stick to the right, on the Edison Trail — apparently so-named because of the power lines looming above. The Edison Trail also descends into the valley, but takes you right past the largest natural lake in Orange County – Barbara’s Lake.

Barbara's Lake

The trail continues along the east side of Barbara’s Lake, then connects with the Gravel Trail. Turn left here, then an immediate right at the Lake Trail. This trail follows Laguna Canyon for the last mile back to your starting point.

The parking area is open daily from 8am to 5pm.

Ridgeline Loop Trail Map in James Dilley Preserve

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: james-dilley-preserve-loop.gpx

Photo Gallery

Click on any photo to view a larger version. You can also leave comments on any photo.








James Dilley Preserve Resources

  • Barbara’s Lake Hike – WalkSimply
  • Laguna Coast Wilderness Park – official website

Laguna Canyon Weather Forecast

The location could not be found.

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, moderate, Orange County

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Jeff H

About Jeff H

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Comments

  1. socalwalkingphotography says

    October 30, 2014 at 9:11 am

    Great post!

    Reply
  2. Greer says

    January 19, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    Thank you for all your great information, i print out and follow your trial by weekly. It is very helpful direction for me ( i am poor for direction and hiking alone). hope read you more posts !

    Reply
  3. Brad Warbiany says

    September 12, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Just did this trail this morning… Nice little hike.

    The “lake” is just a dry, cracked lake bed right now, with the drought…

    Reply
  4. Bob Houghton says

    January 24, 2016 at 10:12 am

    Lots of water (and many ducks) in Barbara’s lake as of January 20.

    Reply
  5. Mike McNelly says

    October 14, 2016 at 9:18 pm

    Thanks for pointing this trail out, I’ve driven by it hundreds of times, but just got around to doing it today. It’s a nice trail that can be enjoyed without burning up a lot of time.

    As of October 2016, the lake is dry as a bone.

    Reply
  6. Charles CCharles C says

    October 21, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    Lake has been dry since late spring this year. After the first rain, it will be full of life.

    Reply
  7. Steve R says

    July 4, 2017 at 4:14 pm

    Nice little loop. Not too strenuous with some nice views of Orange County and the Canyon. Plenty of water in the lake as of July 4, 2017.

    Reply
  8. Jane Orto says

    January 20, 2018 at 9:51 pm

    Are dogs allowed on the trail?

    Reply
  9. Dovid says

    July 10, 2019 at 2:45 pm

    Can we go swimming in Barbara’s Lake?

    Reply
  10. Rebecca Ellsworth says

    May 16, 2020 at 5:39 pm

    Do you know if this trail is closed due to covid-19?

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 16, 2020 at 11:47 pm

      The trails just opened up today, so you can go starting from 05/16/2020

      Reply
  11. Julie says

    May 16, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    The trails just opened up today, so you can go starting from 05/16/2020. I believe all County regional and wilderness parks in OC are now open.

    Reply
  12. Sumera says

    September 18, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    Does the parking lot open at 8 am or you can get their earlier an park?

    Reply
  13. Marlene says

    June 30, 2022 at 4:56 pm

    Is there any water and/or fish in the lake right now?

    Reply

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