Nix Nature Center Loop Hike – Easy to Reach but in the Heart of Nature
Laguna Beach is an oasis of relaxation. It has beautiful beaches and coves, a totally “chill” vibe, charming boutiques, and trendy eateries. What makes it unique in southern Orange County, though, is the vast greenbelt of nature that surrounds it. All visitors to Laguna arrive by way of Pacific Coast Highway or on Laguna Canyon Road. Both routes go through the vast Laguna Coast Wilderness Park that hugs the town like a blanket. Hiking within this park is incredible and varies from easy, paved routes to more difficult trails. Most people drive right through the canyon to get to the pleasant town and beaches. But if you’re planning a day or weekend trip to Laguna Beach, I would highly recommend stopping at the Nix Nature Center on Laguna Canyon Road to pick up a trail map, visit with the amazing volunteers and rangers, fill up your water bottles and explore one of the many hiking trails in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.
After parking at Nix Nature Center on the west side of Highway 133, just north of the Toll Road (SR 73), I chose a loop hike called the Nix Nature Center Loop Hike.
It starts from the parking lot, heading south on the well-marked Stagecoach South Trail. This part of the hike was moderate, with some small rises and descents. Although the Canyon Road and the Toll Road were within view for much of this early part of the hike, the beauty of the canyon meandering through fragrant vegetation and brush was breathtaking!
Some hikers with small children might choose to turn around at the end of the Stagecoach South Trail, where it meets with the Camarillo Canyon Trail. I continued on the new trail, heading north. It is labeled as difficult but was easily navigated with a simple pair of sneakers as it rose in elevation, finally meeting up with the more moderate Serrano Ridge Trail at an elevation of 500 feet. It meanders along the ridge between the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the Irvine Open Space Preserve. Here there is no road noise, only open vistas, and nothing but nature in every direction. I saw a deer in a small meadow and met a ranger who was documenting the deer’s location. During the drier years, she told me most deer moved out of the canyon but have started to return slowly due to the recent wet winters.
Eventually I turned south on the clearly posted Little Sycamore Canyon Trail that brought me down in elevation into the canyon again. Small wooden bridges crossed creeks, and views of blue lakes in the distance made it seem impossible that busy south Orange County towns were only a few miles away.
The hike took me two hours and covered 4.8 miles. Many parts of it allowed mountain biking, but where I encountered cyclists there was plenty of room on the trail for both of us.
The restrooms at the Nix Nature Center were very clean, and the exhibits within were worth the time to stop in and see. The staff suggested more hikes in the Wilderness Park and explained how some of its trails meet up with the trails in nearby Crystal Cove State Park, reaching the beaches north of Laguna and south of Newport Coast.
After a rejuvenating nature hike and a 7-minute drive into Laguna, I found myself sitting at Main Beach enjoying a cup of coffee while watching the waves crash in front of the famous Lifeguard Tower. With the rest of the day to wander the quaint town, I felt great having explored a little bit of the environment around Laguna Beach that keeps it so unique and special. On your next trip to Orange County, leave a couple hours early and stop to take a hike on your way to picturesque Laguna Beach. Then head into town to enjoy the beaches and village for an amazing day.
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