Crystal Cove Red Route Hike

9.2 miles - Hard Effort
3-4 Hours (Total)
1,600 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 1,010 feet
No Dogs Allowed

The Crystal Cove red route is the toughest hike that the park recommends, calling it "a strenuous loop hike around the permitter of the park." The hike doesn't include a big mountain climb, but rather is a series of ups and downs through pristine native coastal scrub, a rarity in Southern California. The red route is well marked and easy to follow, there are bathrooms along the way, and it offers lots of opportunities for wildlife spotting and expansive ocean views.

In this Guide:

Video & Turn by Turn Hike Directions
How to Get to the Crystal Cove Red Route Hike
Everything You Need to Know To Prepare for the Hike

Quick Links:
Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

Where is the Crystal Cove Red Route?

The red route starts at the Moro Canyon Ranger Station in Crystal Cove State Park. Crystal Cove is known for its beaches, but they're also 18 miles of trails in over 2,400 acres of protected native habitat.

Use this trailhead address:
Crystal Cove State Park, Ranger Station and Visitor Center, 8471 N Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Crystal Cove Parking Directions — After you turn off of the PCH, finding the lot can be a little tricky. Go straight past the high school, bear right at the turn, and then make your first left into the parking lot.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 2 — The parking lot at the ranger station is big but does fill up. When it's full they will turn people away.

There is a fee to park at Crystal Cove SP. Please pay at the visitor center.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 3 — The ranger station and visitor center is also worth a visit. There are interpretive displays and helpful rangers to answer any questions.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 4 — There are bathrooms and water refill stations right next to the visitor center.

Do this hike as early as possible to avoid the crowds and heat.

Gear for the Hike

This is a long hike with lots of ups and downs, and I recommend proper hiking gear and footwear when you do it. Bring at least 2L of water with you and sun protection. There is no shade and in the summer it can be very hot here.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Crystal Cove Red Route Trail Maps

Overall the trails are easy to follow and vary between wide sandy tracks and smaller single trail. The park is shared with mountain bikers, so keep an eye out, especially on the narrower sections.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 13 — The Crystal Cove trails have this handy trail map at most junctions. Look for the rivit in the sign that tells you where you are.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 22 — I've noted all the important turns in the hike directions below, but you'll also see some of these dead end side trails along the way, used to access utility poles.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 28 — Some areas may be closed for habitat restoration. One of the park's missions is to protect native species and fauna.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Elevation Profile

Crystal Cove Red Route Hike Elevation — You'll roughly climb to the highest point by the middle of the hike, and then hike back to the same elevation. But there are a lot of small ups and downs that add up over the 9 miles of the red route.

Hike Landmarks

Landmark	Distance	Elevation
Trailhead	0	170
Bridge	0.5	50
Viewpoints Start	1	400
Lower Moro (Bathroom)	3	860
Uppe Moro Bathroom)	3.8	840
Deer Canyon (Bathroom)	6	640
Ridge Trail Views	7	690

3D Map

Crystal Cove Red Route Hike Directions

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 5 — Start by following the boardwalk down from the parking lot.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 1 — The boardwalk turns to dirt. Make the first left when you come to the intersection.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 6 — The trail follows the road to the campground. Keep hiking straight.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 7 — Avoid the beach trail to the right and bear left on the bigger trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 8 — You'll start descending into the bigger (lower) parking area. If you need to use a bathroom, you can do it in this parking area too.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 9 — At the bottom of the hill (and at the trail board) make the left onto the Moro Canyon Trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 10 — Right after the turn you'll cross this big bridge.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 11 — Avoid the side trail to the right immediately after the bridge.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 12 — But make the next right after that last turn onto the BFI Trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 14 — Here you can see the trail sign at that junction. You'll have these trail signs along the route. And BFI stands for "Big (fill in the blank) Incline."

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 15 — The trail is narrow and gradually uphill.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 16 — But then you get to the "BFI" part of the trail and it gets steep. Just take your time. This first climb will be the toughest on the entire red route.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 17 — When you reach the pavement, make the left and follow it uphill.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 18 — Now you're on the Moro Ridge Trail, and it's steep going as you climb about 500 vertical feet.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 19 — The nice thing about this steep section is that you have great ocean views when you stop to turn around. On a clear day you'll see from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 20 — Eventually Moro Ridge Trail levels out with some gentle inclines.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 21 — Stay straight as a dead-end trail comes in from the right.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 23 — At about 2.5 miles in, you'll reach the junction with the East Cut Across Trail. Go straight.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 24 — There are some ups and downs as you continue on the Moro Ridge Trail, but it's mainly easy going.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 25 — At around 3 miles in you'll reach Lower Moro Campground. Bear to the right; the trails to the left go into the camping area.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 26 — If you want to do some primitive camping at Crystal Cove, this is one of your options. You can make a reservation here.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 27 — There are primitive toilets just off the trail in the campground.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 29 — About a half mile after Lower Moro, you'll reach Upper Moro Campground.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 30 — Upper Moro also has a primitive toilet.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 31 — Continue hiking on Moro Ridge as it does a few short, steep climbs.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 32 — At the top of one of the climbs, look for the left turnoff for Missing Link Trail, which you will follow for about 0.5 miles.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 33 — Right after you start Missing Link, there's a nice overlook, which on the day I did this guide, was covered in fog.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 34 — The Missing Link Trail is small with lots of twists and turns.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 35 — When you come to the junction with the Moro Canyon Trail, go straight through. On the right side of this fence is Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, an Orange County Park.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 36 — After a very short stretch, bear right onto the Slow N Easy Trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 37 — Just past the trail board, make the left onto the Fenceline Trail, which we'll follow for about 0.5 miles.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 38 — The Fenceline Trail is small like our last trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 39 — At the end of the Fenceline Trail, make the left turn onto the Red Tail Trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 41 — The trail is wide and meanders downhill.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 42 — At the intersection with the Rattlesnake Trail, stay right on the wide Tickerton Trail and continue downhill.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 43 — The downhill is steep, so watch your footing.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 44 — At the bottom of the hill you'll reach the Deer Canyon Campground, which has the last toilet before the end of the hike.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 45 — The Red Route continues on the Tickerton Trail through the other side of Deer Canyon Campground.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 46 — This part of the red route is quiet and peaceful.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 47 — After a flat stretch you'll have to do an uphill to climb out of Deer Canyon. It's not nearly as tough as the first climb you did.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 48 — When Tickerton ends, make the left onto No Name Ridge Trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 50 — There are some ups and downs on this stretch.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 51 — Keep going straight on No Name Ridge, avoiding the West Cut Across Trail to the left.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 52 — More ups and downs. When it's not foggy, you'll start getting some good views from here.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 53 — Stay right as the Poles Trail joins.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 54 — And then joins again.... stay right.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 55 — You'll be able to see other hikers and trails as you continue down along the ridge, which is now called the No Dogs Trail.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 56 — And you'll also get sweeping views of the ocean once again.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 57 — At the bottom of the hill you'll reach a gate. Bear to the left.

Crystal Cove Red Route Directions 58 — And a second later you're back at the parking lot where you started!

Need More Info?

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

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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!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.