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Salt Creek Trail

March 25, 2011 By Jeff Hester 12 Comments

hiking-the-salt-creek-trail

One of the challenges of winter is that during the week, it’s already dark outside when I leave the office. I don’t mind hiking in the dark, but many people aren’t comfortable hiking in the wilderness at night, and most of the regional trails are officially closed from sundown to sunrise.

Trail Details
Distance: 6.8 miles
Time: ~2 hours
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Elevation gain: 500 ft
Dogs: OK
When to go: Year-round
The Salt Creek Trail provides a nice mid-week alternative. It follows Salt Creek from near Golden Lantern in Laguna Niguel all the way down to Salt Creek beach and back, all on a paved path that makes it an excellent choice even in rainy weather. It’s a moderate hike that takes about two hours and has gently rolling inclines. And it’s nice to stop for a few minutes and enjoy the sound of the ocean at Salt Creek beach.

The trail begins at the end of the sports park parking lot on Chapparosa. You follow the paved trail as it parallels Salt Creek. Keep your eyes open for rabbits and the occasional snake, and listen for the croaking frogs.

Views stretching out to the ocean

There are three major arteries that the trail passes under, Niguel Road, Camino del Avion and Pacific Coast Highway. There are tunnels under all three, and the trails can get a little confusing as you get intersecting paths from those streets joining the main trail. Remember to head down and through the tunnel, then keep paralleling the creek through the valley.

When you pass under Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll see the golf course and homes for a short distance before you reach the beach. As you can see in this photo, there are several paths that seem to merge together. The main trail is marked with a dashed yellow divider line — a reminder to keep to the right as this trail is shared by road bikers.

Once you reach the beach, you can stop and enjoy the views, or extend your hike with a beach walk. Your best bet is to head south, and you can walk all the way to the Dana Point.

When you’re ready to head back, retrace your steps back to your car.

Even though this trail is suburban and paved, it has beautiful scenery and doesn’t feel like you’re walking through a park. The creek is left in a natural state to support the native wildlife.

Trailhead

Parking is at the end of Chapparosa off Golden Lantern. Follow Chaparossa all the way to the sports park at the end, and park as far into the park as you can. The trail begins at the far southwest end of the parking lot.

Trail Map and Elevation Profile

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download

Photo Gallery

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Tunnel under PCH
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Salt Creek Beach
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The Strand
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Views stretching out to the ocean
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Additional Salt Creek Trail Resources and Tips

  • City of Laguna Niguel’s trail description
  • There is ample free parking at trailhead, but avoid parking near the baseball field in season, or risk a dent from a stray fly ball!
  • There are restroom facilities both at the trailhead and Salt Creek beach.
  • Keep to the right. This paved trail is wide, but shared by road bikers and runners.
  • This is a family-friendly hike. You can easily bring a stroller (with big wheels, hopefully) or modify the length to suit your child’s endurance.

Related

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 6-8 miles, beach, coastal, Dana Point, dog-friendly, family-friendly, Laguna Niguel, night, Orange County, paved, rain-friendly

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Jeff H

About Jeff Hester

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. David says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    What a beautiful beach – despite being close to the burbs it looks pretty secluded from the pics.

    Reply
    • Jeff Hester says

      April 2, 2011 at 6:04 pm

      It is a pretty secluded beach. There are homes lining the bluff, but the beach is broad. It’s a bit of an effort to get to, and that dissuades many people.

      Reply
  2. SedonaHiking says

    March 31, 2011 at 3:36 am

    Suburban hiking! Quite an interesting concept. At least for me. Anyway, I think it’s a real neat alternative to a wilderness hike when the shadows set in. =)

    Reply
    • Jeff Hester says

      April 2, 2011 at 6:06 pm

      Yes, we take our “wilderness” where we can find it. During the weeknights, hikes like this help fill the gap, while still providing fresh air and that “attitude adjustment” that a good hike gives.

      Reply
      • Jeff says

        April 12, 2011 at 4:55 pm

        Agreed. It’s always amazing what just a few miles can do to your stress level. Like hitting the Reset button.

        Reply
  3. David V says

    September 9, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    The OC Hiking Club does a weekly hike on this path from the fall to the spring. The hike is generally on Tuesday evenings at 6:00. http://oc-hiking.com.

    Reply
    • Jeff Hester says

      September 26, 2011 at 3:12 pm

      David, you know I don’t see it on their calendar. Maybe they discontinued it?

      Reply
      • David V says

        January 19, 2012 at 6:17 pm

        We do it in the winter on Tuesday evening. I took over organizing the hike in November. We’ll run it until some time in April, and switch over to Colinas Bluff for our Tuesday evening hike in the summer.

        Reply
  4. Spencer Maughan says

    September 15, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    So. Cal hiking rocks. Spencer Maughan is the owner of of ruggedhiker.com where we specialize in affordable hiking backpacks.

    Reply
  5. Freddy Gumin says

    March 18, 2013 at 9:19 am

    is that 6.8 miles one way? or there and back

    Reply
  6. Jeff Hester says

    March 18, 2013 at 9:22 am

    Freddy, that’s 6.8 miles total (out AND back), at least based on my GPS recording.

    Reply

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About Jeff Hester

I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking trails throughout Southern California--and occasionally beyond. I personally hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more...

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