Home › California › Laguna Beach › Willow Staging Area
Willow Staging Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 731 Google reviews · Running trail in Laguna Beach, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Willow Staging Area'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.
Access point for rugged hiking & mountain biking trails, with a parking lot, water & restrooms.
What runners say about Willow Staging Area
“Tucked within the stunning coastal area of Laguna Beach is the Willow Staging area and trail, but be careful, if you blink as you drive down Laguna Canyon Road, you may miss it!”
“There not much shade so bring a hat and plenty of water if you want to stay cool.”
“As avid nature enthusiasts, it was an absolute pleasure to explore this serene area.”
The best spot to access Laurel Canyon Trail in the park. Trails connect easily thru this parking area. One of the best hiking spots in OC.
Tucked within the stunning coastal area of Laguna Beach is the Willow Staging area and trail, but be careful, if you blink as you drive down Laguna Canyon Road, you may miss it! As avid nature enthusiasts, it was an absolute pleasure to explore this serene area.
Absolutely love this hike. Get up there a couple times per week and the views are always spectacular. Long uphill to start but then evens out and is well worth any initial struggle.
Went during a weekend in the morning and there was still parking at around 9. It was sunny that day, but the weather was cool. There's some steep inclines on some areas. Going further down, you get a view of the ocean. Overall, great hike!
Trail conditions & character
“Parking lots are available but they fill up quickly; it’s likely that you’ll need to wait for someone to leave or to try a different lot if you arrive past 9am on a weekend.”
“The trails do have steep climbs at certain parts, but are moderate for the most part.”
“Tucked within the stunning coastal area of Laguna Beach is the Willow Staging area and trail, but be careful, if you blink as you drive down Laguna Canyon Road, you may miss it!”
“There not much shade so bring a hat and plenty of water if you want to stay cool.”
“As avid nature enthusiasts, it was an absolute pleasure to explore this serene area.”
“The ground is very compact, although note that the Laurel Ridge trail coming down can be a bit technical.”
Plan your run at Willow Staging Area
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteocparks.com
- Phone(949) 497-8324
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–5 PM |
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