Barbara's Lake Hike (Laguna Beach)

2.9 miles - Easy Effort
Or: 2.4 to Lake and Back
1-2 Hours (Total)
370 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 610 feet
No Dogs Allowed

This easy hike to Barbara's Lake, one of Orange County's only naturally occurring lakes, is well worth a go. While close to suburbia, the lake lies within the James Dilley Greenbelt Preserve, an island of natural beauty where the land looks as it did hundreds of years ago. This guide will show you a pleasant loop that takes you to the lake, up a small climb, and then back along a ridge offering expansive views. You can also hike to Barbara's Lake and turn around for a shorter experience.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions to Barbara's Lake
Insider Tips & Recommendations for the Hike
Who Is Barbara?

Quick Links: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Where is Barbara's Lake?

The parking lot for the Barbara's Lake hike can be found here, between Laguna Beach and I-405:
James Dilley Greenbelt Preserve, 350 Artisan Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 1 — The parking lot is for the Dilley Greenbelt, part of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 5 — There's a medium-sized parking lot here.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 6 — You can pay for parking at the kiosk with a credit card.

This hike is best done in the winter and spring when the landscape is green. In the summer and fall it can get dry and brown.

Gear For the Hike

This is a very easy hike and you can do it in fitness or even casual clothing. It is exposed and can get hot in the warmer months. Bring 1L of water and some sun protection.

My Latest Gear Picks

Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Barbara's Lake Trail Maps

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 2 — The trails are well marked with these trail signs.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 3 — There are also interpretive displays that you can view with your phone scattered along the route.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

3D Map

Hike Brief

Who is Barbara? This is Barbara, or more specifically, Barbara Stuart Rabinowitsh. Barbara was a classically trained ballet dancer for the New York City Ballet who once performed at Radio City Music Hall. Later in life, she settled in Laguna Beach and became a force, along with James Dilley, to protect the wilderness around Laguna Beach, called the Greenbelt. When she passed, she left $500,000 to preserve that wilderness. The lake (formerly "Lake #3") was named after her. You can read more about this conservation effort in my "Best of Laguna Coast Wilderness" hike guide.

There are three lakes here, collectively called the Laguna Lakes. They are the only naturally occurring lakes in Orange County and are fed by groundwater. The lakes are only 5 feet deep but are still an essential area for migrating birds. Barbara's Lake is usually the only lake that holds water year-round and occasionally goes dry when there is extreme drought.
When the Laguna Greenbelt first purchased the lakes, they were in a sad state and relatively unknown. Cattle from Irvine Ranch had trampled the banks by using them as a watering hole. The storm-water drainage from a nearby development spilled into Barbara's Lake, filling it with soap, fertilizer, and pesticides. It's only through the work of the local conservation groups that these lakes have become healthy again.
Why is the other lake called "Bubble Lake?" In 1970 a drive-through animal park called "Lion Country Safari" opened by where the Los Olivios apartments are today. In 1978, a hippo named Bubbles escaped, making its way first to Lake #1 and then settling in the lake now known as "Bubbles Lake." It became a media circus, and Bubbles even made it onto the Tonight Show. After 19 days, Bubbles was shot with a tranquilizer dart and then died. After her death, it was discovered that Bubbles was pregnant and looking for a safe place to give birth.
Here's Bubbles feeding on the banks of the lake.

Barbara's Lake Hike Directions

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Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 8 — Occasionally you'll see volunteers here at the start of the hike.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 9 — Once past the volunteer shelter, look for a quick left onto the Lake Trail.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 10 — The sign will confirm that you are on the Lake Trail.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 11 — And now start hiking up the flat and pleasant Lake Trail.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 13 — Keep straight at the junction with the Mariposa Trail. If you do the loop, we'll be coming back on that trail.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 14 — Keep straight on the main trail.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 15 — Now you have about 0.6 miles of gentle walking through the scenic landscape.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 16 — When you get to the junction with the Gravel Trail, go straight through.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 17 — And then Barbara's Lake will be on your left.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 18 — Keep going straight for some open viewpoints of the lake.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 19 — There's also a nice fan palm across the lake, which is native to Southern California.

If you want to do the shorter out-and-back hike, just turn around here. Otherwise continue straight.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 20 — At the end of the lake the trail turns right and starts to climb.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 21 — Keep going up along the power lines.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 22 — Go straight when you see reach the intersecting utility road.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 23 — To your right are great views of Orange County's high point, Santiago Peak.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 25 — At the top, you'll follow the ridge away from the power lines and back into the more natural area of the park.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 24 — To your right are spectacular views into Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. If you want to explore more, try my hike that covers the area you see here.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 26 — At the junction, make the left.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 27 — And then a quick right.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 28 — Hike up the trail to the top of the Jack J. Rimel Reservoir.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 30 — From the top of the reservoir you get nice views of Barbara's Lake.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 29 — There are nice views from the top of the reservoir. The trail continues to the right.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 31 — Start the Mariposa Trail, which we'll be taking back to the start.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 32 — The views from the Mariposa Trail are incredible.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 33 — When you get to the junction with the Sunflower Trail, stay left on the Mariposa Trail.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 34 — And soon you'll start descending and see the parking area in the distance.

Barbaras Lake Hike Directions 35 — At the end of the Mariposa Trail, rejoin the Lake Trail for a second and you're back at the start!

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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