Hiking in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Area
@DeborahDiane (40848)
Laguna Woods, California
May 25, 2017 6:05pm CST
This morning, my walking pal and I decided to skip our normal beach walk and explore the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park which borders our retirement community.
It consists of 17,000 acres of land which is maintained in its natural state. There is a nature center where you can learn more about the wilderness area, lovely trails and a natural, spring-fed lake which provides water to the local animals, even during our California droughts.
While we did see quail, rabbits, squirrels, and a few other small animals scurrying about, we did not see any of the more dangerous animals which live in the park, such as coyotes, bob cats, mountain lions, and rattle snakes.
We arrived very early in the morning and there was only one young couple who were also hiking in the area while we were there. It was so peaceful and quiet!
Lovely way to spend the morning.
Do you enjoy hiking?
8 people like this
8 responses
@LadyDuck (502657)
• Italy
27 May 17
@DeborahDiane I have a serious phobia of snakes, may be because on our northern Italian Alps and here in Switzerland most snakes you encounter are poisonous vipers. I would never walk barefoot in the woods.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 May 17
@LadyDuck - I was about 12 or 13 when I stepped on the snake. I have never gone barefoot in the woods since then! 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@LadyDuck - I don't mind encountering snakes, as long as I see them coming. When I was a child, running barefoot in the woods, I stepped on a snake one time. It didn't bite me and I probably scared it as much as it scared me, but I didn't like the sudden shock and I still remember running home as fast as I could to get a pair of shoes!
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
26 May 17
Beautiful pic! If your weather was like ours today (gray and cool), then that was so perfect for the hike . . . not too hot! Oh yes, we love to hike whenever possible . . . I love the change of scenery from the "burbs". We get so excited seeing a critter or two and getting to water is just lovely (oh the rains did such a favor to our creeks this year!). We'll have to go hiking out your way someday - that place looks like a wonderful place to hike!
2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
26 May 17
@DeborahDiane Oh, I'm taking notes on the names of these places . . . I'd really like to go there sometime - I think we'd love it! 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@much2say - We are lucky here in California to have so many national, state and local parks. We'll never be able to walk all the available trails!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@much2say - Yes, it was overcast here today, which is why we decided to check out the Laguna Wilderness area as a place to hike. We were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed our adventure. It was a lovely day. If you think you might hike here, you'll be pleased to know that most of the paths were very easy to travel. There are steep hills in other parts of the wildlife area, but not near the Nix Nature Center.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
26 May 17
@DeborahDiane It must help to have someone to walk with. When I go out it's on my own. It was different when I had a dog as there was a purpose to it and I enjoyed it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@jaboUK - Yes, I really appreciate having a friend who enjoys walking as much as I do. We both have flexible schedules, too, so we can work our daily walks around doctor appointments, guests, grandchildren, etc. It works out.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@jaboUK - I belong to a "1000 Mile Club" in our community, which means we try to walk an average of at least 3 miles a day. I intend to stick with it as long as I can, although I know the time will come when I have to cut back. It is nice to have a wide variety of places where we can walk. If the weather is bad (which doesn't happen often in Southern California) we walk in a local shopping mall.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
26 May 17
Love the photo! I don't call it hiking, but do walk the trails in our backyard. My main mission is not to run into snakes, foxes, or coyotes. I always head straight to the waterfall which is my favorite place. Sometimes we picnic there, too.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@DianneN - How lovely! That sounds like hiking to me. We have some waterfalls in our area, but most of them are a pretty long, uphill hike. Our daughter and two local grandchildren have hiked to most of them, and I have enjoyed her photos. One of these days, I'll join them! My friends and I have never taken a picnic, but we often go to Starbucks after our hikes and walks.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@DianneN - It sounds like my walking friends. I have one who walks with me virtually every day; another one walks with us once or twice a week; sometimes we bring other friends or family along; my husband walks with me at other times of day or when my friends are not available. I nearly always have someone to walk with ... and coffee afterwards is pretty common, as long as we have time.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
26 May 17
@DeborahDiane I stop before climbing the hill, which isn't very high, I'm sure they love hiking with you. I only picnic with my husband or the kids. After my walks with my friends on other trails, we go for coffee or breakfast if we have time.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@JudyEv - On other days, I have seen coyotes, snakes and bob cats while I was out walking. I'm OK with any of those animals, because they tend to leave us alone. It is the unexpected snake or the mountain lions which I fear the most. So far, I haven't had a problem with either!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382329)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May 17
@DeborahDiane I hope you continue to have no problems with either!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 May 17
@JudyEv - Ha Ha! Me, too!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
26 May 17
Looks like a lovely quiet scene.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@JohnRoberts - If you ever drive down to Laguna Beach from Los Angeles, you'll find this wildlife preserve along the 133, the road into Laguna Beach. It is a wonderful place to hike!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 May 17
@KristenH - If you enjoy being outdoors in nature, then hiking is a wonderful way to spend time. I'm sure there are some great hiking trails in Ohio.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
26 May 17
@DeborahDiane I consider it. But it has to be within walking distance from home.
1 person likes this
@magnumopus (1644)
• Singapore
29 May 17
Yes I enjoy hiking. Wow the picture is so fantastic.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 May 17
@magnumopus - If you are ever in California, there are many state, national and local parks with wonderful hiking trails. It is a popular activity here.
