Remember when you were a kid and saw images in the clouds – hippos, whales or castles, perhaps? Maybe you still take pleasure in doing so. There’s a name for that, I’ve learned. It’s called pareidolia – the tendency to find patterns in random visual stimuli.
If you like that sort of thing, I have the perfect hike for you.
Before I continue, a confession. I blithely assumed that Irvine residents taking the Quail Hill Trail starting behind the community center would get to Lizard Trail in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park in no time at all. But no. I had been mistakenly thinking of the Pacific Ridge Trailhead as a starting point.
However, expert hikers can certainly take the 7.5-mile route to Lizard from Quail Hill and then go out and back on Lizard for another few miles. It’s a great way to build stamina – but the route with steep climbs would be a challenge for most of us.
A geologist’s delight
Those looking for a milder experience might want to take advantage of Irvine’s proximity to the Willow/Laurel Trailhead on Highway 133/Laguna Canyon Road, just past El Toro Road, and zip down there by car. That’s the start of one of my favorite loops – Laurel to Lizard to Bommer Ridge to Willow – and it’s also a geologist’s delight.
Turn right onto Laurel from the parking area and enjoy the sight of rabbits and ground squirrels skittering around a pleasant meadow shadowed by tall sandstone rocks wind-pocked with small caves.
Listen for red-tailed hawks that soar above, and breathe in the scent of coastal sage scrub.
Lynette Brasfield
Soon you’ll step down an exposed earthquake fault, where the ground shifted more than 6 inches on a shuddery day a long time ago. Then you’ll pass a large, truck-size boulder that toppled down just a few years ago during heavy rain and wind.
After about three-quarters of a mile, look to your right, where you’ll see a rock that resembles – depending on your generation – Casper the Ghost, Pac-Man or an emoji. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, right?
The rocky revelations don’t end there. Shell-shaped fossils, barely visible on the banks of a streambed, remind us that once upon a time an inland sea covered this entire area. You’re walking where fish once swam.
Enjoy the shade
The trail then winds up to a seasonal waterfall, which is dry much of the year. In 10 years of hiking, last winter was the first time I’d seen water there. It’s a great place to stop, hydrate and snack.
Continue upward until you emerge from the single-track trail. Take the second trail to your right. That’s Lizard. You’ll wend your way in the shade of sycamore and oak. Listen for red-tailed hawks that soar above, and breathe in the scent of coastal sage scrub.
Do watch out for mountain bikers, who love the twisty, rocky experience. At one point, on your right, you’ll find a large rock that resembles an elephant’s head – ears, trunk and all.
The last uphill section is a challenge, but you’ll emerge onto Bommer Ridge and the reward of expansive views of the canyon and the ocean. In spring, this is the place to find a host of California poppies.
When you arrive at Willow, turn left for an easy hike back down to the parking lot. To your left, catch another glimpse of Ghost Rock’s distinctive eyes and mouth.
Keep an eye out for this trail’s full moon hikes. I’ve done it, and it was spectacular: the sun sinking over the ocean, turning the clouds pink and purple; the tinted-orange moon bobbing up as I headed downhill, exhilarated in the early evening chill.
I strongly recommend taking an OC Parks guided native plant, geology or full moon hike along this route. And not far off, consider hiking James Dilley Preserve to Barbara’s Lake, Orange County’s only natural lake.
Are we lucky to live in this corner of the world or what?
GO OUT AND FIND THESE FLOWERS
Colorful blossoms can be found throughout The Irvine Ranch. They attract a variety of pollinators, from bees to butterflies to hummingbirds.
