THERE ARE GREAT NATURE WALKS ALONG THE COAST. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve come to mind. Elevation gain: near zero. Difficulty: Easiest. ¶ You could spend all day slogging up Santiago Peak, aka Saddleback Mountain, the county’s high point at 5,689 feet. Elevation gain: 4,000 feet. Difficulty: Difficult. ¶ Then there are the county’s ideal hikes. ¶ All in or near Laguna Beach, these offer elevation gain and points of interest, can be done in a morning and, given their proximity to the coast, are also the coolest—figuratively and literally.
Laurel Canyon in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
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