How To Hike Big Laguna Trail

Are you looking for a beautiful, tranquil trail loop? In this article, HIking Big Laguna Trail, I’ll tell you anything you need to know about this fantastic trail, and tips to make your hiking trip a success. If there is one thing that I’ve learned since Coronavirus quarantine and social distancing is that I love being in nature, and I have such a deep appreciation for the great outdoors. I love to hike because I’m a girl who likes to be away from the rest of the world. There is nothing better than listening to the wind blow through the trees or watch the hawks glide through the sky.

Big Laguna Trailhead Location

The Big Laguna Trails located in the Clevland National Forest off of Sunset Highway. Take Sunset Highway eighteen miles east and park on the side of the road. The first thing that I noticed was the number of cars that were parked on the side of the road. It was evident that this trail gets a lot of foot traffic than the paths that we’ve been on recently.

The trail is marked and has a marquee with information about the path and things to look out for. My friend Alyssa and I were going to Mount Laguna over the past two months to explore all the different trails in the mountains. I used the Alltrails app to find an easy walk that we could do before sunset and found the Big Laguna trail loop that was a four-mile loop. We arrived at 5:30 p.m. to avoid the crowds. Our goal was to do the 4-mile loop and be off the trail before we lost daylight.

Trail Amenities

The trail is well-maintained and a soft sandy path that anyone can do. This is the perfect path to take your kids on our to go on a date. We saw plenty of families mountain biking and hiking together, and it was really lovely to see. If there is one take away from Coronavirus social distancing is that families have been forced to spend time together, and many families have embrace nature as a way to spend time with their kids and get them active.

Another benefit of this path is that there is plenty of shade. Shade makes a significant difference on a hot day and will give you an excellent place to stop and rest.

Trail Pros

What I loved most about the Big Laguna trail is the beautiful scenery. At the beginning of the trail, you walk through the forest and smell the alluring fragrance of the pine trees. When we were on the trail, it was mostly shaded, which kept us cool on an 80-degree day.

The Wildlife: I especially enjoyed walking by the lake and seeing the cows in the meadow. We stopped several times to watch the cows graze and give them a little love on how beautiful they are. I’ll admit that I stopped and I talked to the cows! I almost stepped on a gofer when we first started up the trail. It was pocking its head up, and I saw its little eyes looking at me. We also saw a beautiful red and black bird while walking near the lake.

We also saw tons of cool looking bugs along the path. This would be a great nature hike for kids to explore and find insects and climb rocks. Kids would also enjoy seeing the dairy cows in the meadows and an excellent opportunity to teach kids about the importance of taking care of the environment and what they can do to help.

Trail Cons

Big Crowds: Big Laguna Trail is popular, so expect to run into a lot of hikers. We didn’t expect to run into so many people on the trail. Our goal is to hike in areas away from other hikers so we can appreciate the scenery and sounds in silence. We didn’t get that same experience on this trail because there was always someone coming up the path or a family on mountain bikes will ride by. I will not be using this trail again, but if you’re okay with running into a lot of hikers, then you might be okay with it.

Hiking Tips

Social Distancing:

The whole point of us hiking was to social distance, and we did not accomplish on this hike. We went out on the trail hoping to avoid people, so we didn’t have to wear a mask. I wouldn’t suggest doing this hike if you are high-risk or concerned with coming into contact with other people. There are other trails all along Sunset Highway that you can try that are less traveled.

Water: Bring plenty of water, so you stay hydrated and drink plenty of water at least a day before a hike. I learned a valuable lesson from hiking the Noble Canyon trail last week. I didn’t drink enough water the night before, and I also didn’t drink water or eat enough food before leaving. After the hike, my blood sugar dropped, and I was in bad shape, and I didn’t bring anything to eat with me, which was a mistake. The hike to Big Lagoon trail was much better because I drunk plenty of water the day before and when we started to hike the trail.  

Snacks: Bring a few snacks to keep your energy up as you hike. Make sure to pick up your trash and take it out with you when you leave.

Comfortable shoes: Make sure to wear comfortable shoes on your hike. I took a 5-mile walk earlier in the week, and it helped to break in my new shoes. I still got blisters on my toes, but my feet felt much better having shoes with support. I’ll probably put vaseline on my feet before the next hike or put bandaids on my toes so they won’t rub together as much.

If you enjoyed this article, check out my latest How To Hike Sunset Trail in Anza-Borrego State Park. This is a must-do walk if you’re visiting Southern California and looking for a great workout.