Loop Hike: Bell Canyon – Quail Run – East Ridge – Sun Rise – Star Rise – Oak Trail – Bell Canyon
3.8 miles
400 foot elevation gain/loss
Moderately Easy
During the winter months, it is difficult to not call my
relatives and friends living in places with proper four-season weather and
complain about the local temperatures dropping to the high 50’s. Observations
that I may need to wear long trousers or socks because of the obvious frigid
Southern California conditions are often met with telephonic silence or
low-toned curses as they relate the daily slogs through hip-high snow drifts,
black ice, freezing fog (a real thing) or at best, gray skies accompanying
temperatures in single digits.
But along with the ever-present threat of earthquakes,
autumnal raging wild fires and freeways that generally resemble parking lots,
Southern California hosts the mildest winter weather I’ve ever encountered.
This includes the Florida Keys, Hawaii, and Central Arizona. If you’re reading
this from someplace other than Southern California, don’t hate us because we’re
beautiful in the winter, just make it a point to experience it yourself. While
here, you’ll also find that despite the millions of people who have decided to
call this place home, there is a lot of open space.
Orange County, California is one such place. In addition to renowned coastal destinations,
the county adorns itself with regional and wilderness parks within a short
drive of Disneyland, high-end shopping plazas and historical landmarks such as
Mission San Juan Capistrano. Just 15 minutes east of the Mission (truly a
worthy destination in and of itself) along the Ortega Highway rests Caspers
Wilderness Park. As I’ve mentioned in
earlier posts, Caspers is probably my favorite local hiking location in the OC
Park system.
The trails are well marked and maintained, the Nature Center
is nicely put together and staffed by the friendliest rangers and volunteers,
informative programs occur most weekends and it’s close. It is the go-to
wilderness park to take out of town visitors who have grown weary of wearing
mouse ears and never ending highway construction delays. To a person, they’re taken aback by the
beauty and solace held within the 8,000-acre park. Most of the hikes here aren’t very lengthy.
While it is possible to create a 14+ mile trek by combining a few trails
together, most of them are about 3-6 miles long. For me, that’s the sweet spot
for a weekend day hike.
So it was, on a late December, post-solstice weekend that the
temperatures hovered in the mid-70’s. After a leisurely morning of coffee,
baked frittata and catching up with the Sunday funnies the decision to head to
Caspers was made. Since the park is so close, there was time to pack a
post-hike picnic of chicken salad, good cheeses and fruit. Today would offer a chance to further
distance oneself from the Holiday stressors, get some quiet time with some
trees and dirt paths.
But rather than returning to a well remembered, but favored
loop hike, a new one was sought. After a quick visit to the OC Park website to
review their online and printable trail map, the day’s short hike was decided
upon.
The best way to describe the almost 4-mile loop is to list
the various trails from which it is composed: Bell Canyon – Quail Run – East
Ridge – Sun Rise – Star Rise – Oak Trail – Bell Canyon.
After entering the park, head north to the Old Corral parking
area. Giant oaks shade a number of picnic benches; this is where you’ll have
your picnic afterwards. The Bell Canyon trailhead is just a few hundred yards
north of there, at the end of the paved roadway. Continue north for a few more
hundred feet until you come to the Quail Run trail.
Quail Run heads southeasterly (a right turn off of Bell
Canyon trail) and begins a moderate climb to the East Ridge trail. After little
over one-half of a mile and about a 300+/- elevation gain, turn left (north) on
the East Ridge trail. The views along the undulating ridge are sweet to savor
as you look 360 degrees into mostly unspoiled inland foothill territory.
Due west lies the white sandstone and kaolin
clay bluffs that skirt the edge of the West Ridge trail, north one sees
Santiago Peak, eastern views reveal the Ortega Highway corridor and the rolling
Santa Ana foothills and behind you to the south it is easy to spy the alluvial
courses leading to the ocean. The ridge
is relatively exposed and on a warm, sunny day you’ll be glad you’re wearing
sunscreen and a hat. Short scrub and prickly pear cactus festoon either side of
the trail that drops off sharply on either side.
The wide ridge trail borders the eastern edge of Bell Canyon
below in which there are spreading oaks and broad meadows. In the spring and
early summer, these meadows are lush and green. In the winter, they appear to
be softly gray but not unappealing to the eye.
Continue along the ridge until 1.5 miles when the trail
intersects with the Sun Rise trail. Turn west (left) onto this short but very
steeply descending trail as it places you right in the middle of Bell
Canyon. At the 2-mile tick, Sun Rise
meets up with Bell Canyon trail. Follow this trail south (left) as you begin
the return portion of this loop hike.
What’s nice about Caspers is that the interconnecting trails
provide multiple route options and soon you’ll be faced with one. At 2.25 miles, you’re given the choice of
continuing along Bell Canyon or veer off a bit on the Star Rise trail. The hike
is shortened a bit if you continue along Bell Canyon, but I highly suggest
taking Star Rise so you can hike upon what is arguably the most beautiful trail
section in Orange County: The Oak Trail.
The Oak Trail is aptly named as you walk beneath the cool
shade of wildly twisting branches of centuries-old oaks. This section of trail
(approximately 1 mile) is peacefully calming and embracive. A handful of inviting benches allow you to
take it all in and if you have the notion, accept the invitation gratefully.
The trail emerges from the shade as you cross a dry stream
bed and onto the Nature Trail. Soon you’re provided another option to follow it
back to the Old Corral parking area or rejoin the Bell Canyon trail as it takes
you directly to the original trail head.
Depending on how many side tracks you take, the entire loop
is a little under 4 miles with an overall elevation gain and loss of almost 400
feet. Not a difficult hike but a pleasing one that reminds you of why you chose
to live in the OC.