Fullerton Hiltscher and Juanita Cooke Trails

Fullerton Hiltscher and Juanita Cooke Trails


This isn't exactly a travel run, but I had a little window to get out and enjoy an after work run.  The weather has been very hot, but has cooled pretty nicely over the past couple of days.  I think it was about 90ish when I started my run. Today I went out for a little jaunt around the Hilscher and Juanita Cooke trails in Fullerton.  Both of these are very nice, well maintained, and heavily used trails that eventually link up with Laguna Lake Park.
I started my run at the intersection of Euclid and Hiltscher Trail crossing.

From the get go, there were runners and mountain bikers galore.

 

The trail itself is all hard packed dirt.  Perfect for regular shoed runners as well as a few of the barefoot guys that I have seen out there.  I have run this trail numerous time in my 5 Fingers, but there are quite a few rocks and pebbles which make it a little uncomfortable sometimes.
For the most part, the trail is nicely shaded and often pretty cool.

Granted, this run took place at about 5pm, so the sun was a little to the west. 

From the Euclid crossing on up to where the trail intersects the Juanita Cooke trail is a little less than a mile.  The Juanita Cooke trail runs for a good distance and is well marked.  It basically runs from behind the court house in Fullerton, on up to Imperial Highway.  From my run on the Hiltscher trail, I join the Juanita Cooke trail and turn left, or head North. This is a little wider, flatter trail than the Hiltscher trail, and gets quite a bit more running and biking traffic.  Right at the intersection of Hiltscher and Juanita Cooke, there is a little house that has put a water fountain in his back yard for all of the runners, hikers, bikers.  Pretty nice little feature.
Once on the Juania Cooke trail you will pass under the Valencia Mesa Drive bridge.

Quite a few people join the trail at this point.  Keep on going down the trail and you will eventually have to cross Bastanchury Street.  This is a big road with fast moving traffic.  There is a light for trail goers and horseback riders.  Head down the steep hill and cross the road.

Once you cross the road you will continue running on the street that is in front of you.  Crest the hill and make a quick right then left, and you are back on the Juanita Cooke trail.  Continue on up for crossing the train track bridge and heading on for maybe another mile and you will come up to the crossing to enter Laguna Lake Park.  I like to make this turn and do a loop or two around the lake.
Here is the crossing entrance from the east end of the lake.

You can see by this pic that there are lots of bike track at the entrance.  This is a very popular biking spot so be aware while running.  One loop around the lake comes out to .7 miles.  It is generally pretty flat with a couple little hills to go over.  This is also a great place to walk you dog, or go fishing.  There is great bass fishing in this lake too, but keep that a secret. This trip I did two laps around the lake then started back towards the beginning of my run.

 

You pretty much just back track along the same route that you just ran.  I do enjoy running this route as its very peaceful and the people that you encounter are generally quite freindly.  I also get a little choked up when I get near the Bastanchury crossing as my grandmother used to live at Sunnycrest which backs right up to the trail. You can always pick out here building by the yellow awnings.

 

 

As I mentioned, this is a fun little run. Pretty easy and fairly flat, with a few little hills.  This day I did a total of 6.6 miles.

Happy Running!