Home › California › Laguna Beach › El Moro Canyon Trail
El Moro Canyon Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 336 Google reviews · Running trail in Laguna Beach, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- 3 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from El Moro Canyon Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Network of trails, most graded for easy to moderate difficulty, for hiking or biking.
What runners say about El Moro Canyon Trail
“Clean, well organized, and just serene impactful and 💯 nature!”
“Along the hike, a little steepness here and there With a great view overlooking the ocean, good trail.”
“On a Monday afternoon, it’s pretty quiet and I would see small groups sometimes and go without seeing anyone for 20-30 minutes.”
The hike here is challenging, has a huge variety of trails, and provides great views. Great area if you plan to spend the day as parking is $15. If you drive to the north end of the loop, about 15 mins from the state park, there is free street parking.
An overall well maintained and moderate difficulty trail. I did it on a Saturday morning at 7:30am and it took me around 1h45m. It was not crowded and easy to find parking, which was $15. The first part is a pretty steep climb up but pretty short, the rest of the trail is easy.
I did the easy one hour trail which I would rate a medium difficulty trail. Especially the Poles trail is pretty steep. I really liked the trail. It has some great ocean views and yellow mustard flowers are scattered here and there in the entire valley. I also happened to catch a glimpse of a rattlesnake on the trail.
It's definitely a 4.5 trail rating. Multiple access points, the beach access has 3 main entrances and two main parking lots. One of which has a beach access tunnel. Clean, well organized, and just serene impactful and 💯 nature! It's one of few areas in the OC that contains miles and miles of trails.
Trail conditions & character
“Overall far from the nicest hike/best views I’ve experienced but it is great for what it is and a good getaway from the chaos of the cities below”
“I visited again today and did the 5 mile El Moro Canyon Loop trail alone starting at the parking lot just behind the restrooms and south along PCH then looping around.”
“Poles was tough and is absolutely called that for a reason, steep and can be done without poles but be sure to take lots of breaks to rest if you need it.”
“I visited again today and did the 5 mile El Moro Canyon Loop trail alone starting at the parking lot just behind the restrooms and south along PCH then looping around.”
“On a Monday afternoon, it’s pretty quiet and I would see small groups sometimes and go without seeing anyone for 20-30 minutes.”
“I visited again today and did the 5 mile El Moro Canyon Loop trail alone starting at the parking lot just behind the restrooms and south along PCH then looping around.”
Plan your run at El Moro Canyon Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- Loop distance3 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitecrystalcovestatepark.org
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–4:45 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–4:45 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–4:45 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–4:45 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–4:45 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–4:45 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–4:45 PM |
Running trails near Laguna Beach
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Crystal Cove State Park Tunnel
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Bluff Top Multiuse Trail
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Zone 205 Trail
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Dartmoor/Dunagan (Gate 14)
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Park featuring a hiking trail with ocean views and hills.
Crystal Cove Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 413 reviews
Scenic backcountry area of Crystal Cove State Park offering 18 miles & 2,400 acres of trails.