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El Moro Canyon Trail to Lower Moro Campground

Laguna Beach, California

3.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

6.37 miles

Elevation Gain

997 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Joshua Hernandez

Relatively close if you live in the Orange County. This area and makes you feel secluded once you reach your site. Lower Moro is the highest of the three primitive campgrounds, it offers an amazing sunset view to eat a nice hot meal to :). Once you hike back down to your car, you can then easily walk about a 100 yards under a bridge and catch some nice California waves. Duration: Overnight.

Located off of Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach is Crystal Cove State Park. There are three primitive sites located in Crystal Cove: Deer Canyon, Upper Moro, and Lower Moro.

The site I stayed at was Lower Moro campground. All three of these sites require the backpacker to hike everything in at least three miles each way. The closest site is Lower Moro which took me about an hour and a half to two hours to reach. It is recommended that you reserve a spot before you camp here which starts at 25 dollars a night plus a car fee to enter the park.

After you speak to the ranger at the booth, keep going straight (right is for group camping). You will then hit a stop sign at the bottom of the hill and then make a left where you will see the trailhead, which will be directly in front of you.

Once you start hiking you can either go straight or turn right once you get about 50 yards in. Going right is very strenuous on the body so make sure you have plenty of water and snacks to give you the energy needed for the ascend. If you remain on this trail for about three miles then you will eventually run into Lower Moro site directly in front of you. There are about 25 sites and it is a first-come, first-serve basis but make sure you head to reserveamerica.com to at least guarantee yourself a site within the campground. This place does not allow any type of open fires so you will need a backpacking stove to cook your meals. Also, water is not available at any of the three primitive locations but they do have bathrooms and trashcans for your convenience.

For campground reservations, visit CrystalCoveStatePark.org.

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Features

Chillin
Camping
Photography
Hiking
Bathrooms
Beach
Easy Parking
Romantic
Scenic
Wildlife

El Moro Canyon Trail to Lower Moro Campground Reviews

This was a nice little trip to some secluded spots. However, it never really feels like you have left the city. Cars can still be heard from the campsites and you are pretty close to some residential homes. Overall though, perfect trip for a short weekend!

Good distance in to the spots. Each were secluded enough. You are in direct sunlight all day. I wouldn't recommend this during the summer.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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El Moro Canyon Trail

B.F.I. Trail in Crystal Cove State Park

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Crystal Cove Beach Loop

Photograph the Pacific Coast Highway over Crystal Cove Beach

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Laguna Beach

Hike gorgeous ridgelines, play in the waves, or simply meander through the jaw-dropping coastline, Laguna Beach is a memorable destination for artists and adventurers alike. 

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