{"id":296,"date":"2014-05-13T16:45:03","date_gmt":"2014-05-13T23:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ocbirds.com\/?page_id=296"},"modified":"2014-05-23T12:13:10","modified_gmt":"2014-05-23T19:13:10","slug":"bell-view-trail-east-in-rancho-santa-margarita","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/?page_id=296","title":{"rendered":"Bell View Trail (east) in Rancho Santa Margarita"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Bell View Trail can be found in Rancho Santa Margarita (or Google Maps shows this as part of Trabuco Canyon) off Robinson Ranch Road.\u00a0 It’s open to the public and there are no fees.\u00a0 It is divided into to in two sections: East and West though both trails join at one point.<\/p>\n

The west entrance can be accessed off Heritage Drive and is not listed on this page.\u00a0 Click here<\/a> for a map.\u00a0 The east entrance is further up Robinson Ranch Road and applies to this page.<\/p>\n

If you opt to take the more challenging east trail, continue on Robinson Ranch Road until you pass Vista Drive on your left.\u00a0 You’ll note a park bench just after Vista Drive.\u00a0 Once you pass the bench, make a u-turn and park at the bench (or park on Vista Drive and walk up to the trail head).\u00a0 There you will find the entrance to the Bell View Trail East.\u00a0 I’ve included a screen capture of Google’s Map below with notations that may be more insightful . From the entrance point to the loop and back is 2.6 miles and is gradual yet steep in 2 areas. The trail ascends to several scenic view points which overlook most of Rancho Santa Margarita and out to the Pacific Ocean or if you are facing east it’s a breath taking view of the Saddleback Mountains.<\/p>\n

Once you reach the top of the first view point, you can continue on the widened dirt trail until it begins to descend (steep).\u00a0 At the base of this descent you can bear left or right (you are at the loop juncture).\u00a0 My recommendation is to bear right if you opt to hike this loop.\u00a0 This is incline is quite steep and it would appear a bit more challenging going down this section should you choose to do the entire loop.\u00a0 At the top of this second summit you’ll find continued spectacular panoramic views of the Saddleback Mountains (see photo section below) as you face east.\u00a0 Continue on this trail as it gradually traverses downward.\u00a0 You’ll ultimately come across a meadow (marked on map below) to head back to the aforementioned loop intersection which takes you back to the trail entrance.<\/p>\n

Recommendations:<\/span>\u00a0 water, good hiking shoes and walking poles if you desire.\u00a0 Please keep in mind this is Mountain Lion and Rattlesnake country.\u00a0 Be mindful of your surroundings at all times.\u00a0 Check ocparks.com<\/a> for further wildlife recommendations.<\/p>\n

Map with notations<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a 2.6 mile trail however it excludes where the trail veers off to the right at the top part of the map below.\u00a0 It is this portion of the trail that connects to the Bell View Trail west end.<\/p>\n

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\"Bell<\/a>
Bell View Trail east section<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\nPhotos (click to enlarge):<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"This<\/a>
This photo was taken on May 10, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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This illustration shows the top of the first summit facing east.\u00a0 \u00a9Anthony Gliozzo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"This<\/a>
This photo was taken on May 10, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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This illustration shows the top of the first summit facing east.\u00a0 Yucca plants are in view. \u00a9Anthony Gliozzo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"This<\/a>
This photo was taken on May 10, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Bell View Trail top of 2nd summit. This is facing east also. \u00a9Anthony Gliozzo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"This<\/a>
This photo was taken on May 10, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Bell View Trail at beginning of 2nd descent facing east.\u00a0 \u00a9Anthony Gliozzo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"This<\/a>
This photo was taken on May 10, 2014 \u00a9Anthony Gliozzo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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This area is at the base of the second summit and it also begins the Meadow area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"This<\/a>
This photo was taken on May 10, 2014 \u00a9Anthony Gliozzo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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This illustration shows the top of the first summit facing east.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  The Bell View Trail can be found in Rancho Santa Margarita (or Google Maps shows this as part of Trabuco Canyon) off Robinson Ranch Road.\u00a0 It’s open to the public and there are no fees.\u00a0 It is divided into … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":42,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-296","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5Rhss-4M","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=296"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":311,"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/296\/revisions\/311"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}