Thanks to Brian Flynn for the photograph!
We all belong in the parks, people and animals alike. The South Coast Wilderness is your open space, and we encourage you to explore it, to enjoy it, and to make it your own.
As you visit the parks and hike or ride the trails, remember that the open space is the home to many creatures: deer, bobcat, coyotes, foxes, snakes, hawks, rabbits, woodrats, insects and native plants. When we venture off trail or allow our dogs in areas preserved for wildlife, we upset a delicate balance of plant and animal life. In addition, it’s dangerous for us and our dogs.
Just as we humans are required to stay on the trails, our furry friends must do the same. Here’s why:
- Dogs are predators. Wild animals will avoid place that a dog has marked. This reduces the wildlife’s habitat and makes it more difficult to find food.
- Domestic dog scent disrupts the lives of gray foxes and coyotes, who also mark their territories.
- Dogs scare native birds, like quail, from their nests. This can cause the death of their young.
- It’s dangerous for our dogs to be off leash, off trail and where they aren’t allowed.
- Dogs can pick up poison oak.
- Dogs can be bitten by rattlesnakes.
- Dogs get ticks which carry Lyme and other diseases.
When visiting the parks, it’s important to keep dogs on-leash and bring them only on dog-friendly trails. A six-foot leash is required at all times, and dog waste must be picked up. Dogs are not allowed in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. In Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, dogs are allowed on the following trails:
- Aliso Creek Bike Trail
- Aliso Peak Trail
- Aliso Summit Trail
- Aswut Trail
- Canyon Acres Trail
- Pecten Reef Loop Trail
- Toovet Trail
- West Ridge Trail
You can download a trail map of Aliso and Wood Canyons here.
In addition, there are many other dog-friendly options near the South Coast Wilderness, including:
Laguna Beach Dog Park
www.lagunabeachdogpark.com
20612 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach
949-497-0706
A Place for Paws
Ridge Route Drive and Peralta Drive
Laguna Woods
949-639-0500
Costa Mesa Bark Park
www.costamesabarkpark.com
890 Arlington Drive
Costa Mesa
949-733-4101
Laguna Niguel Pooch Park
www.cityoflagunaniguel.org
31461 Golden Lantern
Laguna Niguel
949-362-4300
San Clemente Dog Park
www.san-clemente.org
301 Avenida La Pata
San Clemente
949-361-8264
Thank you for your help in protecting our parks!