It has grown on me!: 【Hike】Wood Canyon Trail

In late July this year, my husband and I went hiking Wood Canyon near Aliso Viejo. We found this trail in the book, 50 Hikes in Orange County, which I purchased to enjoy Orange County hikes.

Tips for Walking on Wood Canyon Trail.
・Apply sunscreen on entire body.
・Wear sunglasses and hat with high UPF.

・Apply DEET, a insect repellent, to protect yourself from ticks.
・Drink water often.
・You cannot bring your dog.
・It's moderately easy trail.

Aliso & Wood Canyons Wildness Park

My Wood Canyon Walking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

When I go hiking, I use Under Armour MapMyWalk App to track my walk.

My Wood Canyon Walking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

Recently, I've started using AllTrails App. I was pretty impressed at AllTrails App. It's easy to use and helped me to not get lost.

My Wood Canyon Walking Summary (All Trails App)

Parking

It was very easy to find a parking space along the street, Canyon Vistas.

Canyon Vistas

The street, Canyon Vistas, is located near the Canyon View Park.

Canyon View Park

Canyon View Park

22144 Canyon Vistas

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

U.S.A.

Trail Hour

7:00 a.m. to Sunset

Aliso & Wood Canyons Wildness Park

In Orange County, mountain lions can be found in many cities. For instance, in May this year, a mountain lion was spotted roaming a residential neighborhood in Newport Beach, and it was also spotted on Laguna Beach streets. In March, it was spotted roaming throughout a shopping center in Irvine. Therefore you should know what to do if you encounter a mountain lion before you go hiking in the mountains.

What To Do If You Encounter A Mountain Lion

Wood Canyon Trail

Canyon View Park and Wood Canyon Trail

After parking, we started walking on Wood Canyon Trail, the large paved walkway along Canyon View Park.

Wood Canyon Trail

At the end of the Canyon View Park, the walkway heads downhill.

Wood Canyon Trail

You are at Aliso & Wood Canyons Wildness Park gate.

Wood Canyon Trail

Wood Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail

This is the junction of Wood Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail. We kept walking on Wood Canyon Trail.

Wood Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail

Wood Canyon Trail

It's an easy flat and shady trail.

Wood Canyon Trail and Lynx Trail

Wood Canyon Trail and Wood Creek Trail

This is the junction of Wood Canyon Trail and Wood Creek Trail. We decided to walk on Wood Creek Trail, which rises to a vista point.

Wood Creek Trail

Wood Creek Trail

The View from the Wood Creek Trail

The view from the Wood Creek Trail was beautiful. We looked down the canyon from the trail.

Wood Creek Trail

We walked through the narrow trail descends sharply via steep stairs.

Wood Creek Trail

We walked into a dense forest.

Wood Creek Trail

There was a wooden bridge you cross over.

Wood Creek Trail

We walked in a dense woodland, and I was a little scared of possible wild animal encounter. While walking there, I noticed the sound of a wild animal moving in the forest.

A Mule Deer I Saw from the Wood Creek Trail

It was a mule deer! She was eating something there. I wish that I had brought my Canon SL1 with telephoto zoom lens. I took these photos with my iPhone SE 2020.

A Mule Deer I Saw from the Wood Creek Trail

It was an amazing deer encounter for us. 😊

A Mule Deer I Saw from the Wood Creek Trail

She is beautiful. However, deer might carry ticks. When you hike in wooded areas, you need to protect yourself from ticks, which might carry Lyme disease bacteria. I wear long pants and long sleeves. Then, I apply DEET on my legs. After coming back home from hiking, I check my clothing for ticks and other insects.