How to Get a Lower Moro Permit
Eleven hike-in sites in lower Moro Canyon, three miles uphill from the kiosk - backpacking in the middle of Orange County.
Check Lower Moro permit availabilityNightly rates are set in ReserveCalifornia at booking. Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia, six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific.
Permit Cost
1-7 nights
Duration
3 miles
Distance
moderate
Difficulty
About Lower Moro
Lower Moro Campground is one of three primitive hike-in campgrounds in the Moro Canyon backcountry at Crystal Cove State Park. ReserveCalifornia lists 11 sites here, coded as hike-in primitive campsites #013 through #024, with a maximum stay of seven nights. The approach is the defining feature. California State Parks describes it plainly: after checking in at the Moro Canyon kiosk, campers must hike inland approximately three miles, mostly uphill, and the trail is strenuous at times and in the opposite direction of the beach. All supplies must be packed in, including water, and packed out. What you get at the site is a picnic table and a pit toilet. What you do not get is drinking water, trash cans, or the option of a fire - fires are restricted to backpack stoves, and wood and charcoal fires are not permitted anywhere in the park. Cellular service is limited. Sites are only accessible by foot or bicycle, and vehicles must be left in the parking lot. No pets are allowed. The Moro Canyon backcountry around the campground covers 2,400 undeveloped acres of fire roads and single-track trails, open to hiking, biking and equestrian use, with maps available at the Ranger Station. Trails are open from 6 a.m. until sunset and pets are not allowed in the backcountry. Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia, which California State Parks takes six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, online, by mail, or on 1-800-444-7275. This is a state park, so it is not on Recreation.gov.
Crystal Cove offers two kinds of camping and no sandy beach camping at all. The primitive campgrounds are the only way to sleep in the 2,400 acres of undeveloped backcountry north and east of Pacific Coast Highway, and Lower Moro is the largest of the three by site count after Upper Moro. In a county with almost no legal backcountry camping, eleven sites is a scarce commodity.
The Experience
You walk away from the ocean to get here, which is the strange part - three miles inland and uphill, with the Pacific behind you the whole way. The canyon is coastal sage scrub and open fire road, hot in the afternoon and cool once the marine layer comes back in. At night the Orange County light dome sits low behind the ridge and the canyon stays dark.
Check in at the Moro Canyon kiosk, leave the vehicle in the parking lot, and walk in. The park says the hike is approximately three miles, mostly uphill, strenuous at times, and in the opposite direction of the beach. Lower Moro is the first of the three primitive campgrounds you reach going up the canyon. ReserveCalifornia lists 11 sites here, numbered from 013 to 024, with a maximum stay of seven nights. Above it sit Upper Moro with 13 sites and, furthest in, Deer Canyon with five.
What to Expect
11 hike-in primitive campsites, coded #013 through #024
A roughly three-mile hike inland from the Moro Canyon kiosk, mostly uphill and strenuous at times
A picnic table and a pit toilet at the site
No drinking water and no trash cans
A maximum stay of seven nights
Backpack stoves only - no wood or charcoal fires anywhere in the park
Limited cellular service
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Permit Requirements
Sites are only accessible by foot or bicycle - vehicles must be left in the parking lot
Check in at the Moro Canyon kiosk before hiking in
No pets are allowed at the primitive campgrounds, and pets are not allowed in the backcountry at all
Fires are restricted to backpack stoves; wood and charcoal fires are not permitted anywhere in the park
All supplies must be packed in, including water, and packed out - there are no trash cans
Backcountry trails are open from 6 a.m. until sunset
Stay on designated trails; trails may be closed for inclement weather or public safety
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •All your water. The park states there is no drinking water available at the primitive sites
- •A backpacking stove, because fires are restricted to backpack stoves and no wood or charcoal is permitted anywhere in the park
- •Bags to carry out all your rubbish - there are no trash cans
- •Sun protection for an exposed, mostly uphill approach
- •A headlamp, since trails close at sunset and the walk back is three miles
Hazards & Safety
No drinking water at any of the primitive campgrounds - every drop is carried in
A roughly three-mile hike inland, mostly uphill and strenuous at times, with a full pack
Southern California heat on coastal sage scrub with very little shade
Limited cellular service in the canyon
Rattlesnakes and ticks in the backcountry, which is normal for Orange County chaparral
Best Time to Visit
Autumn and spring. The approach is three miles uphill in coastal sage scrub with almost no shade, which makes summer afternoons the wrong time to be carrying all your water. Winter is mild and the easiest season to book, but trails may be closed for inclement weather. Because ReserveCalifornia opens six months out, an October trip means booking in April.
Pro Tips
Set an alarm for 8:00 a.m. Pacific exactly six months out. These are small campgrounds in the middle of Orange County.
Weigh your water before you leave the car. Three miles uphill with a full carry is the whole difficulty of this trip.
Carry a rubbish bag. There are no trash cans at any of the primitive sites.
Bring a backpack stove and nothing else - wood and charcoal fires are banned parkwide, not just at camp.
Check in at the Moro Canyon kiosk first. This is not a self-register trailhead.
Plan to be back on the trails inside the 6 a.m. to sunset window; they close at sunset.
Leave the dog at home. No pets at the campgrounds and none in the backcountry either.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Lower Moro permit?
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Lower Moro permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Lower Moro?
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Autumn and spring. The approach is three miles uphill in coastal sage scrub with almost no shade, which makes summer afternoons the wrong time to be carrying all your water. Winter is mild and the easiest season to book, but trails may be closed for inclement weather. Because ReserveCalifornia opens six months out, an October trip means booking in April.
How difficult is Lower Moro?
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Anyone who wants a genuine backpacking overnight in Orange County, and is willing to carry every drop of water three miles uphill.
What gear do I need for Lower Moro?
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Essential gear includes: All your water. The park states there is no drinking water available at the primitive sites, A backpacking stove, because fires are restricted to backpack stoves and no wood or charcoal is permitted anywhere in the park, Bags to carry out all your rubbish - there are no trash cans, Sun protection for an exposed, mostly uphill approach, A headlamp, since trails close at sunset and the walk back is three miles.
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