150 walks along the coast at the best spots—state beaches, national parks, cool seaside towns. Choose from easy strolls, nature hikes, all-day adventures.

Discover California's Magnificent Coastline!

Explore the Natural World of the California Coast

Including:

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is the Orange County of the 19th century, a lovely diversity of landscapes highlighted by woodlands, grasslands and scenic ridgelines with handsome sandstone outcroppings. The 6,500-acre park also contains Orange County’s only natural lakes, which provide habitat for fish as well as for such waterfowl as geese, grebes, coots, cormorants and kingfishers.

James Irvine and his partners purchased the one-time Rancho San Joaquin in 1865 and the company grazed cattle on it for more than a century. Now, with the Irvine Company’s cooperation, substantial acreage in and around Laguna Canyon is becoming parkland under the stewardship of the Orange County Parks Department.

Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Distance & elevation gain: From Big Basin to Waddell Beach is 12 miles one way with 1,100-foot elevation loss
Estimated time: 7 hours

If you're hiking from Big Basin to the sea, you'll need to arrange a car shuttle. Waddell Beach, at trail's end, is 18 miles up-coast from Santa Cruz on Highway 1.