Willow Canyon and Laurel Canyon Trails

January 18, 2013

Again, I am in Laguna Canyon. And again, it costs $3.00 to park. I realized that you can hike at any of these parks in a day and only pay once. You are not limited to the one park. 

Once I have signed in on the clipboard (next time I will take a picture of that),

 I decide to take the Willow Trail.

It looked flat enough to warm up. 

But, it didn't last long.

As I am climbing up, I keep telling myself it's a good thing I took this trail up, because I definitely would not want to walk down this steep of a hill. 

The view was getting better the higher I climbed on this warm day. I would have liked for the temp to have been a little cooler. Southern California doesn't offer the cooler weather very often. We had just come out of highs in the 50's. 
It was great.

Another self portrait. I tried to get Laguna Canyon behind me. Now I realize I had the camera in the wrong hand. The beach is only 5-6 miles behind me.

My view as I get close to the top of the hill of the 

Great Park Balloon Ride.

The sign to the left gives me the option to head down to Laurel (which is the trail I actually came to hike). And the sign underneath sends me over the ridge to Bommer Ridge Trail. 

 I choose the Laurel Spur. I'm glad I did because I like smaller trails. Then I come to a fork in the road. Do I go on down to meet the Laurel Trail or do I take this even smaller trail. Curiosity got the better of me. Small trail it is.

I'm on a mountain bike trail. I came upon these caves. When I went through the bushes to investigate I heard two cyclists ride by, oblivious to me being there. 

 I finally come out of the bike trail and I find myself way up on Bommer Ridge. Now I have to back track. I keep finding signs that will take me over into Crystal Cove and the next thing I know I am looking at the ocean, and Catalina Island.

I've made my way back to the Laurel Canyon Trail. It is exactly what I was hoping it to be. 
It's woodsy and whenever the rainy season comes there will be some great waterfalls and a stream that crosses back and forth over the trail.

I will go back and hike Laurel Canyon trail by itself, and maybe another day I'll head up to Bommer Ridge again and check out the ocean view. All in all, I hiked approximately 8 miles today. 

Oh, and one last tidbit this trail offers a guided tour on your cell phone.

Barbara's Lake Loop Trail

December 30, 2012

This was was my first time on this trail. It's a good thing I brought money, it cost $3.00 to park. After I signed the clipboard, I decided to take the lake trail. It started out flat and I figured that would be a good warm up.

The only natural lake in Orange County. It was very pretty and full of wildlife on this beautiful, chilly day.

A self portrait on the hill above the lake. I tried to angle myself with only nature behind me. It wasn't easy. The view behind the camera is homes, and far behind me is Laguna Canyon Road. That is the only thing I didn't care for, the constant sound of the cars on the highway.

To finish my hike, I walked on the Canyon Trail for a little bit. 

The trail led back to a meadow and some woods.

God's beauty.

The perfect way to end my hike.