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trip 4.3 Emerald Canyon

Distance 8 miles (out-and-back)

Hiking Time 4 hours

Elevation Gain 1,400’

Difficulty Moderately strenuous

Trail Use Cyclists, equestrians

Best Times November–May

Agency OC Parks: LCWP

Permit OC Parks parking fee required

DIRECTIONS Park at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park’s Willow Canyon staging area on the west side of Laguna Canyon Road, 3 miles north of Laguna Beach. This point is 5 miles south of the 405 Freeway, 0.7 mile south of the 73 Toll Road, and 0.2 mile south of the intersection of El Toro and Laguna Canyon Roads.

Equally as beautiful as El Moro Canyon in neighboring Crystal Cove State Park, Emerald Canyon receives much less visitation. Entry to the lower end of the canyon by way of Laguna Beach’s city streets is blocked by a formidable fence, so it’s only accessible from above.

Both hikers and mountain bikers can follow the route as described here. Hikers and gonzo mountain bikers, either on the way out or the way back if they choose, can also follow a somewhat longer variant of the route by utilizing the singletrack Old Emerald Trail.

Sandstone caves, Emerald Canyon

Follow Willow Canyon Road 1.5 miles to the Laurel Canyon turnoff, but stay straight (south) and climb 0.1 mile to an intersection with Bommer Ridge Road. Turn right, proceed 0.1 mile to a dip in the road, and turn left onto Emerald Canyon Road. That “road”—essentially a wide trail—descends along the top of the ridge for a mile, through growths of sage, encelia, and monkeyflower blooming in shades from orange to yellow.

After a mile on the descending ridge, you arrive on the canyon bottom, at a signed junction where the narrow Old Emerald Trail branches left. The next 1.5 miles of travel down-canyon is along a more moderate grade, and the scenery is simply gorgeous. Gnarled oaks and sycamores (survivors of repeated firestorms) line the trail, and dense willows flank the canyon’s seasonal stream. Take care not to brush against the luxuriant poison oak lining the trail. About halfway down this easy stretch, note the spacious cave pocking a large sandstone outcrop on the left, across the canyon bottom.

At 4.2 miles from the start, you arrive at a place where the trail curls sharply downward and a 20-foot-tall waterfall lies to the right. More like a “dry” fall in most years, it comes alive only with sustained heavy rains. This is a good spot to take a break, and afterward return the way you came. The remaining half-mile down to and back from the secure fence at the edge of Laguna Beach is worth exploring only if you have energy to spare.