Name: La Jolla Loop
Rating: 4.0

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Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The loop is open but the trail leading to and from the parking lot is closed. Don't attempt that section of the trail it is extremely overgrown with lots of poison oak! The whole creek area in the southeast section of the loop also has lots of poison oak just inches away on either side of you, avoid it. Use the ray miller trail or the Chumash trail to access the La Jolla trail camps. campsites are a bit overgrown but someone cleared out a site in the back of the lower La Jolla trail camp

Overview

Loop through the La Jolla Valley to experience rugged canyons and peaceful grasslands just above the coastline.

Description

This utilizes the La Jolla Canyon Trail and the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail starting out at the Ray Miller Trailhead and the associated parking area. Head northward up the fire road, past the yellow gate. The path will cross over the creek back and forth until you're 8/10 of a mile into the trail and you come across a 15-foot waterfall beside the trail.

Moving beyond the waterfall you'll come across a swath of coreopsis plants. In the springtime this area is full of a variety of blossoming flowers. Moving further along the trail you'll run into a trail junction with the the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail on the left. Be sure to stay with the La Jolla Canyon Trail. 6/10 of a mile later you'll come across the second trail junction. Here you can leave the trail to the left toward the pond. This is a good place to spot some birds and ducks along the trail. Continue past the pond until you reach an intersection with the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail fire road, at which point the La Jolla Canyon Trail ends. You can go up the fire road to the right to check out the La Jolla Valley Camp, which has tables and picnicking spots.

At this point take the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail to the west. This trail begins as an extension of the La Jolla Valley Fire Rd. on the north edge of the La Jolla Valley. Follow the path as it turns toward the south and moves through grasslands. The trail will then bend toward the east, passing a juncture with the Mugu Peak Trail. Make sure you stick to the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail. 4/10 of a miles later you'll come to an intersection with the La Jolla Canyon Trail as the Valley Loop Trail comes to its end.Follow the La Jolla Canyon Trail back to the trailhead from here.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.