Beach Hikes in Orange County

With year-round average temperatures of 75 degrees, it's no wonder that the residents of Orange County spend most of their time at the beach. Every weekend you'll find them riding the waves, swimming in the ocean, or catching some rays on the sand. However, Orange County also offers some great hiking trails just a stone's throw from the shore. So lace up your hiking boots and discover these fantastic Orange County hiking trails.

Top of the World, Laguna Beach

Image via Flickr by Chris Kuga

You'll need to be in good shape to handle the steep ascent on this hike, but once you're 1,020 feet above sea level you'll feel, as the name suggests, on top of the world. Leave your car at the end of Canyon Acres Drive, then hike through the coastal scrub of Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park. Follow the 1.2-mile main trail to the summit where you can catch your breath and admire the views of Saddleback Mountain, Mount Baldy, and Catalina Island before heading back down.

There are no shade trees or drinking fountains on the trail, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. The trail is wide enough for hikers, bikers, and leashed dogs to share the path easily.

Crystal Cove Trails, Laguna Beach

Image via Flickr by Judy Gallagher

Another Laguna Beach gem, the Crystal Cove hike, in Crystal Cove State Park, gives you a great insight into the area. Start on the El Moro Canyon Trail, which winds through the coastal scrub wilderness. This ecosystem helps you imagine what the area might look like if developers had never made Laguna Beach a bustling tourist town. As the park features several endangered plants, make sure you stick to the path and keep your dog at home.

All the trails are well-marked and well-kept, so feel free to explore paths like the No Name Ridge trail, Slow N' Easy trail, and Bommer Ridge trail. So many options keep local hikers coming back time and time again.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach

Image via Flickr by tracie7779

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve hike is the ideal choice for nature lovers. This 4.5-mile loop trail winds through protected wetlands just minutes from Huntington Beach. With seabird nesting islands, mudflats, and marshlands, the area is a haven for more than 200 bird species, including herons, egrets, hawks, owls, and migrating birds. You might even see some lizards and rabbits as you explore the trail.

The park opens from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. We recommend getting there early, as the wildlife often goes into hiding once the crowds arrive. It's an easy hike, but you should bring plenty of water as there are no drinking fountains or shade trees along the path.

Dana Point Headlands Trail, Dana Point

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Image via Flickr by juliejordanscott

Dana Point Headlands trail is one of the easiest hikes in the OC, but also one of the most beautiful. When you're not huffing and puffing, admiring the ocean, spring wildflowers, and the boats at Dana Point Marina also becomes easier! Watching people relaxing on the water as music plays from their marine audio systems may even convince you to buy your own boat and accessories.

Park at Strand Vista Park and walk up Dana Strand Road to access the trailhead. The trail is a 3-mile loop with natural dirt and paved sections and a few stairs. There's no shade on this trail either, but the sea breezes should help you keep you cool. Stop by the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, which sits at the halfway mark, to learn more about conservation efforts in the local area. Extend your hike by visiting Dana Point Sea Cave's 1.5 miles of trail. Visit during low tide, when you can sit inside with a few friends.

San Clemente Beach Trail, San Clemente

Image via Flickr by sergei.gussev

Most beach trails around the OC only offer ocean views now and again, but San Clemente Beach Trail isn't like most beach trails. The entire 4.6-mile out and back trail borders the beach, so you can watch the waves and surfers as you walk. A train track also runs alongside the trail, so while it can get noisy, you can never accuse this trail of being boring!

Leave your car at San Clemente Metrolink Station or Calafia State Park. The path isn't shaded, but it's so flat you could take a stroller or bicycle with you. Grab a well-deserved ice cream at San Clemente Pier to give you the energy boost you need to walk back to your vehicle.

Sea Summit Trail, San Clemente

Another find in San Clemente, the Sea Summit trail offers another perspective on San Clemente Beach. You'll enjoy a bird's eye view of the ocean as you follow the 4-mile path through the San Clemente hills. Convenient benches along the path give you somewhere to catch your breath and take in the views. The trail is dog-friendly and gentle enough to suit people of any fitness level. There are stairs near the end, but you could skip those and turn around early if you were exploring with a stroller or wheelchair.

Badlands Park Trail, Laguna Niguel

The Badlands Park trail doesn't get you as close to the water's edge as the rest of these trails, but its beach views are so breathtaking we couldn't resist including it. Isle Vista offers convenient parking close to Badlands Park. Head left once you enter the park, take the wooden stairs, and another left to the trail. The path is well marked, so simply follow it and enjoy the scenery around you.

This is an easy hike that should take most people roughly 45 minutes. That makes it ideal for beginners, but the terrain doesn't suit strollers. Dogs are welcome though. They'll love keeping you company as you take in the views of Table Rock and Thousand Steps. Scale the small hill at the end of the trail for a panoramic view of Dana Point.

Whether you're a local or visiting the OC, we're confident you'll love these hiking trails. Make sure you stop to admire the scenery and have some fun along the way, because the journey is always more important than the destination.