Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

What the park is

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park covers about 4,500 acres of wilderness and open space, according to OC Parks, with more than 30 miles of official trails and two streams that run all year. OC Parks designates it a wildlife sanctuary. It adjoins Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, and together with other open space the two form what OC Parks calls the South Coast Wilderness.

Which part is in Laguna Beach

• The main entrance is not in Laguna Beach. OC Parks lists the park’s address as 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, and says the Awma Road parking lot is reached via Alicia Parkway only.
• The city of Laguna Beach says many trails in town are part of the park, and calls the open space near Alta Laguna Park part of it. That ridge entrance, at Top of the World, has a public access gate on OC Parks’ map.
• OC Parks also lists park entrances at Alta Laguna Park, Moulton Meadows Park and Canyon View Park, each with portable restrooms.

From Laguna Beach, the ridge entrance is in town. If you want the visitor center and the main lot, drive to Alicia Parkway.

Hours, parking and the visitor center

• Park: 7 a.m. to sunset. The lot closes at sunset.
• Parking: $3 daily as of October 2026. The machine takes $1 bills, quarters and Visa or Mastercard.
• Annual passes: sold at the park office. OC Parks says to call ahead for staff availability, at (949) 923-2200.
• Visitor center: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

OC Parks says trails may close for three days or more after rain, and the rules say the park is subject to closure in rainy weather.

Trails by name

OC Parks’ trail map, revised August 2023, rates each trail and says whether it is hiking only or multi-use. A few examples:

• West Ridge Trail: easy, 2.5 miles, multi-use. Its south end holds the point the map labels “Top of the World,” at 1,036 feet.
• Wood Canyon Trail: easy, 3 miles, multi-use.
• Aliso Creek Bike Trail: easy, 3 miles, multi-use.
• Canyon Acres Trail: difficult, 1 mile, multi-use.
• Nature Trail: easy, 0.5 mile, hiking only.

The map’s high points are Aliso Peak at 683 feet, Top of Meadows Trail at 817 feet, Top of Moulton Peak at 890 feet and Top of the World at 1,036 feet. All authorized trails are marked with posts, and the map treats any other trail as unauthorized.

The same map lists more trails, among them:

• Aliso Creek Trail: easy, 1.5 miles, multi-use.
• Coyote Run Trail: easy, 1.25 miles, multi-use.
• Mathis Canyon Trail: difficult, 1.5 miles, multi-use.
• Car Wreck Trail: difficult, 1 mile, marked for hikers and bikes.
• Rock-it Trail: difficult, 1.25 miles, multi-use.

Two short routes have their own pages. Dripping Cave Trail is a spur the map rates easy at 0.20 mile, and Aliso Peak Trail is rated easy at 0.5 mile, hiking only.

Rules

OC Parks’ rules page says:

• No pets, with horses exempt. The current trail map marks nine trails dogs allowed, including West Ridge, Aliso Summit and Canyon Acres, so ask the park before you bring a dog.
• E-bikes are prohibited on unpaved trails, including types 1 to 3.
• The speed limit is 10 mph at all times.
• No fires, smoking or alcohol. No fishing, and no swimming or wading in the creek or lake.
• Anyone under 18 must be under direct adult supervision.
• Park only in designated areas.

OC Parks also says this is a wilderness area with mountain lions, rattlesnakes, poison oak and rugged terrain, and that your safety cannot be guaranteed.

Guided hikes

As of October 27, 2026, OC Parks lists a Discovery Hike in Wood Canyon, an advanced fitness hike, a Top of the World fitness hike and trail stewardship days. The Laguna Canyon Foundation lists more, including hikes from Canyon View, with RSVP. For interpretive walks and talks, OC Parks says to contact a park ranger at (949) 923-2200. The hiking guide compares this park with the other trail areas, and biking covers wheels.

Planning a visit

Start by choosing which entrance you want, then check the day’s trail status with the park at (949) 923-2200. If you are coming from town, remember that the lot at the Alicia Parkway entrance closes at sunset, and OC Parks closes the park then as well. The park’s pages list picnic areas, restrooms, a scenic overlook, bird watching and interpretive programs among its amenities. The history section on the park page says the land was once Juaneno or Acajchemem tribal land and later belonged to Don Juan Avila, Louis Moulton and the Mission Viejo Company before OC Parks took it on.