【Hike】Guna Peak in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park - Amazing Costal Views

 

      Last year, my husband and I went hiking Guna Peak near Laguna Beach. It was a short and easy 2-mile hike, yet we really enjoyed beautiful ocean views during this hike. We found this trail in the book, 50 Hikes in Orange County, which I purchased to enjoy Orange County hikes.

 

 

Tips for Walking to Guna Peak.
・Apply sunscreen on entire body.
・Wear sunglasses and hat with high UPF.
・Drink water often.
・You cannot bring your dog.
・It's moderately easy trail.

 

My Guna Peak Walking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

 

My Guna Peak Walking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

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

My Guna Peak Walking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

       Last year, I also started using AllTrails App. It's easy to use and helped me to not get lost.

My Guna Peak Walking Summary (All Trails App)

 

 

 

Parking

     Before the park gate, you can find parking spaces along the street, Dartmoor Street. It was very easy to find a parking space.

The Park Gate

 

You can find a parking space before the park gate.

 

 

 

 

Trail Hour

7:00 a.m. to Sunset

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

 

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

       In Orange County, mountain lions can be found in many cities. For instance, in December 2022, a mountain lion was caught on security cameras and was roaming in patios and backyards in Mission Viejo. In May, it 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

Boat Spur Trail / Dartmoor

Boat Spur Trail

         After parking, we started walking on Boat Spur trail, and we were already amazed at beautiful views from the trail at the beginning of the hike.

Boat Spur Trail

The View from Boat Spur Trail

Boat Spur Trail

Boat Spur Trail

        We thought that we should have brought our new camera, Canon EOS M200, which is compact enough to take around. I took these photos for my blog with my iPhone. 

The View from Boat Spur Trail

     We were able to enjoy the beautiful views of Laguna Beach. You can see this view about 10 minutes after started walking this trail, so if you are not interested in hiking at all, it's still worth to hike 10 minutes to get here for this view. 

Boat Spur Trail

Boat Spur Trail

     Then, we hiked up the hill on the Boat Spur Trail.

Boat Spur Trail

Boat Spur Trail

Dartmoor (Boat Spur) Trail, Boat Trail and Guna Peak (Guna Ridge) Trail

               This is the junction of Dartmoor (Boat Spur) Trail, Boat Trail and Guna Peak (Guna Ridge) Trail. This time, we turned left to go to the lookout point on Guna Peak.

Heat Warning Notice

     We found this warning sign on the trailhead of the Boat Trail. Someday, I would like to hike on Boat Trail to enjoy hiking Emerald Canyon, and it's a long distance, probably 8 to 10 miles hike in total. The warning sign made me think of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. I will bring six bottles of water to hike Emerald Canyon next time.

Heat Warning Notice

Heat Warning Notice

Guna Peak (Guna Ridge) Trail

Guna Ridge Trail

      We started walking on Guna Ridge Trail to go to Guna Peak. We enjoyed the ocean views while hiking on this trail.

Guna Ridge Trail

Guna Peak

Guna Peak

      We finally got to the lookout point on Guna Peak. There are a bench you can sit and take the view.

Guna Peak

Emerald Bay

Crescent Bay

Laguna Beach

Guna Peak

Boat Spur Trail

      After enjoying the views, we went back to the trail.

Boat Spur Trail

       We still enjoyed the beautiful ocean views while going down the hill. What a great hike!

Boat Spur Trail

Boat Spur Trail

Dartmoor Street

     

       We really enjoyed hiking to Guna Peak. I thought that it was one of the most beautiful hikes in Orange County. Someday I would like to try a long distance Emerald Canyon hike!

50 Hikes in Orange County

        I thought this book was great and am looking forward to trying more hikes. These are my entries related to hikes we have tried from the book.

1. San Gabriel River to Turtle Overlook (Long Beach/Seal Beach)

2. Dana Point Headlands (Dana Point)

3. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (Huntington Beach)

4. Bayview Trail (Newport Beach)

5. Crystal Cove Tide Pools (Newport Beach)

6. Aliso Peak (Laguna Niguel)

7. Pecten Reef Loop (Aliso Viejo)

8. Bommer Canyon (Irvine)

9. Laurel Loop (Laguna Beach) 

10. Mariposa Trail Loop (Laguna Beach)

11. Little Sycamore Canyon Loop (Laguna Beach)

12. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (Irvine)

13. Wood Canyon Trail (Aliso Viejo)

14. San Onofre State Beach (San Clemente / Oceanside)

15. Guna Peak (Laguna Beach)

      These are my entries you might like.
■Walking Along Shoreline in Long Beach, Los Angeles CA (October 2019)

■Dana Point Headlands - Dana Point, CA (September 2019)

■Green Sea Turtles in San Gabriel River - Seal Beach / Long Beach (August 2019)

■Quail Hill Loop Trail in Irvine, CA (April 2019) 

■La Jolla Cove in San Diego (March 2019) 

■San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine (February 2019)

■Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach (January 2019)

■Swimming with Wild Dolphins (Big Island, Hawaii, January 2015)

■Dolphin Watching in Dana Point (July 2017)

■Our Whale Watching Trip (Dana Point, August 2013)

■San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine (March 2017)

■La Jolla Cove - Beautiful Spring Wildflowers and Wild Animals (2018)


       My entries related to wild animals can be seen here.

       My entries related to Orange County Hikes can be seen here.

       My entries related to sunset can be seen here.

       My entries related to hiking and walking can be seen here.