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THE ROUTE

Two significant hiking routes take you along the shores of San Elijo Lagoon. From the Rios Avenue trailhead, you can follow beautiful paths that meander along the West Basin’s south shore. You will stroll by coastal sage scrub vegetation, which looks bright green in winter and spring and drab in summer and fall. You will also walk through groves of eucalyptus and other nonnative trees. Eroded sandstone bluffs half-hidden behind a screen of vegetation provide an impressive backdrop for the placid lagoon. Annie’s Canyon Trail starts approximately 0.5 mile from the trailhead along the southern section of the main loop trail. Turn right and continue south about 70 yards to a signed junction with arrows. The right fork ascends Annie’s Canyon in a counterclockwise loop, steep and narrow in places, and eventually climbs out via a steel ladder through colorful bands of sandstone to reach the viewpoint, followed by a descent on an open and more gradual trail leading back to the junction. Going left reverses this route to the viewpoint. The inner canyon is marked as a one-way loop at the junction sign. Descending from the viewpoint should be avoided during busy periods as there is little room for one person to negotiate the narrowest sections, let alone space to pass another party going the opposite way. Inside the canyon is like visiting another world. Fanciful fingertips (Dudleya edulis) sprout from vertical walls. Scramble up a south-facing cave in the middle upper section for a great view of the inaccessible upper reaches due south. Watch your step, though, as the footing can be slippery here even when wearing hiking boots.