Afoot and Afield: Orange County. Jerry Schad

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      Laguna Ridge Trail

      The Big Bend Trail takes you ever upward along a ridgeline on a course absolutely committed to gaining elevation as quickly as possible. A couple of flat stretches along the way allow you to catch your breath and look around. Before long, cars and buildings in Laguna Canyon below begin to look toylike. You may spot scallop fossils near your feet if your eyes are glued to the ground.

      At 1.6 miles, you come to an intersection with the wide Bommer Ridge Road. Turn left and proceed south on a gently falling, then gently rising course to the intersection of Boat Canyon Road on the right (2.5 miles from the start). On the left, just past Boat Canyon Road but before the next intersecting road on the right, take the narrow Laguna Ridge Trail, which goes briefly up a 912-foot knoll, then suddenly and precipitously plunges down to Laguna Canyon.

      Rough and worn deeply into the sandstone bedrock, it approaches a 40% grade in a couple of spots. It, too, sticks to a plunging ridgeline. Near the bottom of that plunge, the trail veers left (east), almost reaching the pavement of Laguna Canyon Road (3.3 miles). The final leg goes up and down a couple of times, staying parallel to but decently clear of the busy roadway. At 3.7 miles, you meet Big Bend Trail, which leads 0.2 mile down to the starting point.