^^--^^ The Mudslingers ^^--^^

Signal Hill to Temple Hill 13.4

2011-07-25T17:21:00.001-07:00

Location: Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Wilderness, and Aliso Woods

Trail Head: Ridge Park, Newport Beach

Mileage: 13.38 Elevation: 2,460

Highlights: This route offers two tough climbs, a sweet view, two sources of water and bathrooms.

Description: Take Bommer (SE) to Willow and head down to Laguna Canyon Road. To your right, just across the road is a small hidden road called Phillip's Road. Go up this steep paved street and ignore the no trespassing sign. The paved path will lead you to a marked singletrack called Stair Steps. Have fun. It will hurt. This leads you to the top of the ridge and to a trail called West Ridge. Go right. This ridge will take you to Temple Hill (aka Top of the World). From here it is a bit tricky. You will head right (north west) down a trail called Canyon Acres. The trail splinters out to a few unofficial trails and could lead you off course so check the provided map at Temple Hill to oreint your way down into Canyon Acres. Confused? Canyon Acres trail will turn into a road through a housing community. It will throw you back out to Laguna Canyon Road. Cross it and head left. Less than a 1/2 mile down Laguna Canyon, you will see an access gate(#10) and a trail called Laguna Bowl heading up to your right. Go up this steep hell (hill) and it will put you back on Bommer. Take back to the trail head.

Cougar Ambush

2010-09-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Location: Crystal Cove / Laguna Wilderness

Trail Head: Ridge Park Road, Newport Hills

Mileage: 7.5 Elevation Gain: +1115

Description: Super fun adventurous course, just bring a friend or two. It starts as a windy technical trail with blind turns. I have ran into plenty of snakes on this trail. Basically you start on Bommer parallel to the 73 Toll Road. The trail drops instantly down and a 1/4 miles further it heads steeply up. Right there at the top of the climb there is a rarely seen trail to the left. Take that. That's where the adventure begins. You'll see caves, run across exposed rock, and scramble down some hell sections. It will pop you out onto a fire road 1.75 miles later. My friend and I ran into a non threatening Cougar at dusk in September of 2010. Follow the fire road until you see a single track heading left. This is where the second part of the journey begins. It drops steep and technical into a valley. Rock cliffs to the right makes you feel that you're being watched. At the Laguna Canyon trail head you head back up Willow to Bommer and back. Good fun.

Boat Canyon Out & Back

2010-09-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Location: Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Wilderness

Trail Head: End of Ridge Park, Newport Hills

Mileage: 10.2 Elevation Gain: +1441

Description: Runs along Bommer Trail until it forks into 3 different directions. One is Boat Canyon. The course, though on a ridge, has a lot of climbing. The view at the end of Boat Canyon is the best view of the Pacific. You can see all the way from Dana Point to Palos Verdes. The view also has an engraved map of the coastline naming all the coves and beaches in view.

The Great Urban Adventure

2010-09-07T22:30:00.000-07:00

Location: Back Bay, Newport

Trail Head: Irvine and University (YMCA)

Mileage: 9.15 Elevation Gain: +605

Description: A surprisingly entertaining run. You'll see the bay, horses, a jungle, a waterfall, a creek, mountain lion warning signs, a Big Canyon, and a Little Canyon. Within this urban environment, you will remain off major roads for the most part.

The Mudslinger Peet's Loop

2010-09-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

Location: Newport Beach

Trail Head: Peet's Coffee in Newport Beach (PCH and MacArthur)

Mileage: 5 Elevation Gain: +246

Description: Scenic Newport / coastal run. Awesome loop for those recovery days, late afternoon, rainy weather, etc. It's better to run clockwise up Avocado Street to get the hills done with and then run down the tree covered Poppy Street to the coast and then along the bluff and back.

Emerald Crossing

2010-09-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Location: Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Wilderness

Trailhead: End of Ridge Park in the Newport Hills

Mileage: 6.5 Miles Elevation Gain: +1157

Description: A fun, short, but technical course, through the beautiful Emerald Canyon

El Moro Perimeter

2010-09-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

Location: Crystal Cove State Park (San Joaquin Hills)

Trail Access (2 trail heads):
1st off of PCH just South of Reef Point
2nd at the end of Ridge Park high in the Newport Hills

Mileage: 9.4 Elevation Gain: +1274

Description: Runs along the ridges surrounding El Moro Canyon. Beautiful views of the ocean, Laguna Wilderness, and of our distant mountain ranges the San Gabriels and Cleveland National Forest.