History Car Wreck Trail

Thanks! I never knew that. Bob

 

Ha! That would go over really well with the Rangers if I packed a toolbox in there, "Really, a guy named The 37 Kid told me to do it!"

 

Hey CYJ,
Nice thread about a local So Cal hiking spot. Here is an article from Hot Rod Network that took the author a long hike in to the place.
That area of OC was just the "woods" from 1950's until the late 80's. Then Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo and the outer reaches of Laguna Beach happened. (Laguna Audubon)


Yes, There Really Is a “Car Wreck Trail”
Written by Thom Taylor on April 15, 2015
Chloe Taylor - photographer
"Hiking Trail Officially Named By Orange County
You’ve heard of “Dead Man’s Curve”, right? Among the tangle of trails that run through the hills behind Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo in South Orange County, California, is a narrow trail among the sage that is miles from paved roads, officially named by the county as “Car Wreck Trail.” Known for years as the trail with the wrecked car that seems as though it was plopped there from the sky, it was officially named and added to the Aliso Viejo Wood Canyon’s hiking trails in 2013.

Popular with trail bike riders and hikers alike, there is no explanation as to how the 1946 Dodge 5-passenger coupe ended up here, with no paved roads within miles of its resting place, but there it is nonetheless. Hidden by the lush foliage, it rests near a creek at the base of the canyon.

From Laguna it is an uphill hike of about four miles for a round trip, or coming into the trails from Aliso Viejo it’s a longer but easier seven-mile hike as it’s mostly level or downhill.

If you’re into the bizarre, hiking, and cars, this wraps all three of your interests into one. If you’re anywhere around South Orange County in the future you should check it out, not only for the wrecked Dodge but for the incredible ocean and city views, and rare open space in an area overrun with development."



Local Legend: It is a left over car from back in the late 60's Laguna Beach "hippie" days concerts in the Laguna Canyon era. Those incoming roads were plastered with a bunch of young, carefree, teenagers + for a free concert. Those concerts were happening all over So Cal from Los Angeles canyons to the OC canyons.
This could be a left over from 66-70 in the inland, Laguna Beach area. It did and does rain in So Cal !

Jnaki
Official notice information from Laguna Beach archives:

 

I go along with this, except there is a strong possibility the car was stolen for a joy ride.

 

There is also a crashed F-8E that my friend, Admiral Paul Gilcrest crashed one night while flying out of El Toro Marine Corps base. I'll try to take some pictures of that and post. It's pretty cool too. (though not as hamb friendly)

Tell me that isn't a hard charging war fighter!

 

^You had to have big gonads to fly one of those F8s. They were a definition of a hot rod in Aviation; big engine in a light weight membrane of a fuselage. It handled like***** with its small wings. The Navy provided 2 F8s aboard the USS Kittyhawk for reconnaissance missions. I saw one showing off at a air show out at sea. Jet came in at a high rate of speed and turned, temporarily went out of control as it rolled one way then the other. The pilot got it under control. I never saw that stunt being performed again.

 

My son lives nearby to that trail. He took me mountain bike riding down the trail to show me the car. His explanation was that it was indeed stolen by kids and driven - driverless - off one of the hills and landed there. We studied it and concluded it was some kind of Mopar, as has been speculated on here.

If you hike or ride there be sure to check out "Drippy Cave" nearby, used by thugs and cattle rustlers way back when.

 

Damn, that's where I left my car.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

You rock if you made it down that hill on a mountain bike. And yes, Dripping Cave rocks too.

 

1946-48 Plymouth or Dodge 2 Dr sedan, uni joint rubber cover, angled forward rear shocks, side valve 6 with mopar intake/exhaust & holes in rear body for taillights...........mopar for me..........andyd

 

Sorry for the left turn here, but in the same catagory of fascination , over on a much wetter side of the island we have what's become famous as Cadillac trails. It's a multi-mile long hike and famous technical mountain bike trail that runs along a nice steep ridge here in Tallahassee Florida and a few miles in there are about 5 or six mid to late fifties Ford and Caddy carcasses. Just like yours, it's hard to fathom how these beauty's came to rest in such a precarious area.
Pretty neat how these things just happen!

 

That we just berely got out of. Sheesh.