Leader: Steven Castañeda

Location: We will park at the Coastal Peak Park at the top of Ridge Park Road in Newport Coast, starting at the Pacific Ridge trailhead. If you are coming from Irvine, take Culver Drive south until it turns into Bonita Canyon Drive (when you pass University); turn left on Newport Coast Road up the hill past the 73 on ramp, go one signal past San Joaquin Hills Road and you'll turn left up Ridge Park Road. Keep ascending the hill until you reach the park at the top to either park at the curb or the small parking lot on the right near the baseball field. Arrive as early as you can to grab a decent parking spot (free parking).

About the Run:
This will be an all dirt trail run with some hills, mainly on a wide fire road, so be aware of hikers and mountain bikers coming from behind and ahead. If you have trail specific shoes to wear, they would not be a bad idea but the trails aren't too daunting, road shoes will do in a pinch. It is a good idea to bring your own water, as the only water is at the trailhead/parking lot!

There is a longer, hilly 6.8 mile loop that will take you East through El Moro all the way down to the 133 highway/Laguna Canyon and back up to Ridge Park. The climb up Willow trail is over a mile but you are rewarded with some great views of El Moro area. See Strava route here:
https://www.strava.com/routes/2879258012837777252

A shorter version 4.4 mile loop is posted here where instead of taking Laurel trail all the way down to the 133 and up Willow trail, we traverse up Laurel Spur/Bommer spur back to Bommer Ridge Trail to return to the parking lot:
https://www.strava.com/routes/2880621959477527304

After the Run: There is a nearby shopping plaza (with the Pavilions) off San Joaquin Hills Road and Newport Coast Road that has a Starbucks, Menchies, and a Mustard
Cafe.