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Laguna Niguel is a city in southern Orange County, set on rolling coastal hills just inland from Dana Point and Laguna Beach, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The land was once part of Rancho Niguel, a Mexican-era cattle ranch, and in 1959 the Laguna Niguel Corporation began developing it as one of California's first large master-planned communities. Homes, parks and greenbelts spread across the hills over the following decades, and residents voted to incorporate as a city in 1989.
Today Laguna Niguel is a residential city of around 64,000 people, known for its tidy neighborhoods, ridgeline views and network of trails. On clear days the higher parks look out over the Pacific toward Catalina Island. The city's most unusual landmark is the Chet Holifield Federal Building, a vast stepped concrete building from 1971 nicknamed the Ziggurat, which rises beside the freeway on the city's northern edge.
For visitors, Laguna Niguel is all about easy outdoor time. Laguna Niguel Regional Park has a fishing lake, picnic areas and paths, the Salt Creek Trail winds downhill toward the beach at Dana Point, and Badlands Park on the coastal bluffs offers wide ocean views. The Niguel Botanical Preserve shows drought-tolerant plants from around the world, while the edges of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park bring hiking and mountain biking right to the city.
Laguna Niguel Regional Park is a large county park around Sulphur Creek Reservoir, with fishing, picnic areas, a playground, tennis and volleyball courts, a dog park and walking paths. It is a favorite for family gatherings. A parking fee applies, and weekend afternoons are the busiest time for picnics and fishing at the lake.
Crown Valley Community Park is Laguna Niguel's central park, with a community center, public pool, sports fields, tennis courts, playgrounds and walking paths along Crown Valley Parkway. It hosts city events and classes. Check the city site for public swim times and summer camps held at the park's facilities.
Seaview Park is a hilltop park in Laguna Niguel with wide lawns, a playground, picnic areas and views out to the Pacific Ocean. It is a quiet spot for picnics and watching the sunset over the sea. Bring a blanket for the grass, and visit on clear afternoons when the coastal view is at its best.
The Laguna Niguel Skate and Soccer Park has a large outdoor skatepark with bowls and street features, plus soccer fields used by local clubs. It is popular with skaters of all levels and families watching games. Helmets and pads are recommended, and the park hosts skate events and lessons through the year.
The Salt Creek Trail is a paved path that follows Salt Creek through Laguna Niguel from the regional park toward the coast, passing under roads through green open space and ending near Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. It is used for walking, running and cycling. Go in the early morning for cool air and fewer people.
Badlands Park sits on bluffs in Laguna Niguel with eroded sandstone formations and a short trail leading to ocean views stretching from Dana Point to Catalina Island on clear days. It is especially popular at sunset. Paths are short but can be uneven, so wear sturdy shoes and keep children away from the cliff edges.
The Niguel Botanical Preserve is a volunteer-run garden on a hillside in Laguna Niguel, with plants from Mediterranean-climate regions of the world, including California natives, South African and Australian species. Paths wind uphill with views. It is free and open daily, and spring is the best time for flowers.
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park covers about 4,500 acres of coastal canyons and ridges, with an entrance on Alicia Parkway in Laguna Niguel. Trails lead past sandstone caves, sycamores and oak groves, and Wood Canyon is popular with hikers and mountain bikers. Pay the parking fee and bring water, as shade is limited.
The Chet Holifield Federal Building, known locally as the Ziggurat, is a huge stepped pyramid office building completed in 1971, one of the largest buildings in Orange County. It holds federal agencies and is not open for tours. You can view and photograph its unusual design from the surrounding public streets.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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Photo: Beyond My Ken, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Tracie Hall from Orange County, us, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tracie Hall from Orange County, us, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tracie Hall from Orange County, us, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: CashewCraver, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Shannon1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tracie Hall from Orange County, us, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Beyond My Ken, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Beyond My Ken, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: CashewCraver, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0