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Lower Moro Campground permit area in Crystal Cove State Park - backcountry hiking destination
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Lower Moro Campground Permit

Crystal Cove State Park · California

Primitive hike-in camping in lower Moro Canyon.

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Party

This permit allows up to 4 people per group.

When it opens

6 months
First come, first served from six months before your start dateYou book on the agency's site.

Source: parks.ca.gov

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Lower Moro were gone within 10 minutes.

Lower Moro reservation dates

Season
Year-round
route distance, out and back
3mi
max group size
4people

How to get a Lower Moro permit

As of September 2026, Lower Moro in Crystal Cove State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Lower Moro is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Lower Moro permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Lower Moro runs year-round. The Lower Moro route covers 3 miles, rated moderate.

Type
Overnight
Location
Orange County Coast, CA

  1. Step 1: Create a ReserveCalifornia account

    Sign up at ReserveCalifornia if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at ReserveCalifornia
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation hunting

Lower Moro pro tips

  1. Set an alarm for 8:00 a.m. Pacific exactly six months out. These are small campgrounds in the middle of Orange County.
  2. Weigh your water before you leave the car. Three miles uphill with a full carry is the whole difficulty of this trip.
  3. Carry a rubbish bag. There are no trash cans at any of the primitive sites.
  4. Bring a backpack stove and nothing else: wood and charcoal fires are banned parkwide, not just at camp.
  5. Check in at the Moro Canyon kiosk first. This is not a self-register trailhead.
  6. Plan to be back on the trails inside the 6 a.m. to sunset window; they close at sunset.
  7. Leave the dog at home. No pets at the campgrounds and none in the backcountry either.

More on Lower Moro: Live availability activityWhen Lower Moro permits open upDo I need a Lower Moro Campground permit?ReserveCalifornia permit and campground cancellations

How much a Lower Moro permit costs

Lower Moro permit fee: Nightly rates are set in ReserveCalifornia at booking. Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia, six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific.

The Lower Moro hike

Distance
3 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
Moderate

Lower Moro landmarks

  1. 1Moro Canyon kiosk

    Where primitive campers check in before hiking inland; the parking lot is where vehicles stay

  2. 2Moro Canyon backcountry

    2,400 undeveloped acres of fire roads and single-track open to hiking, biking and equestrian use

  3. 3Deer Canyon Campground

    The furthest of the three primitive campgrounds, five sites

  4. 4Crystal Cove Historic District

    The federally listed enclave of vintage rustic coastal cottages down on the beach side of Pacific Coast Highway

Eleven hike-in sites in lower Moro Canyon, three miles uphill from the kiosk: backpacking in the middle of Orange County.

About this permit

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 about 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.

The route

Check in at the Moro Canyon kiosk, leave the vehicle in the parking lot, and walk in. The park says the hike is about three miles, mostly uphill and strenuous at times, heading away from 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.

Why it matters

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 feeling

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.

Lower Moro hike highlights

  1. 11 hike-in primitive campsites, coded #013 through #024
  2. A roughly three-mile hike inland from the Moro Canyon kiosk, mostly uphill and strenuous at times
  3. A picnic table and a pit toilet at the site
  4. No drinking water and no trash cans
  5. A maximum stay of seven nights
  6. Backpack stoves only: no wood or charcoal fires anywhere in the park
  7. Limited cellular service

How hard the Lower Moro hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
  • Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5

Best for: Anyone who wants a genuine backpacking overnight in Orange County, and is willing to carry every drop of water three miles uphill.

Recommended experience: Enough to carry a full pack including water on a three-mile climb and camp without a water source.

Not recommended for: Dog owners, anyone hoping to camp near the beach, and anyone unwilling to carry water and pack out all their rubbish.

Trailhead information

Moro Canyon entrance (Moro Campground kiosk)

Primary

Check-in point and trailhead for all three backcountry campgrounds. Vehicles stay here; the backcountry is reached on foot or by mountain bike.

  • Restrooms
  • No water

Parking

Vehicles must be left at the Park Office or the Moro Campground Day Use lot. Check in at the campground kiosk to obtain a permit for overnight parking. Vehicle day use is $15.00, or $20.00 at the special holiday, seasonal and weekend rate.

Getting There

The park is off Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, at 8471 North Coast Highway. Trails are open from 6 a.m. until sunset.

Nearest Services

Laguna Beach or Newport Coast. Nothing in the backcountry.

When to hike Lower Moro

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.

Peak
March through October
Shoulder
November through February

  • Spring

    Green hills and wildflowers on the coastal sage scrub, with the most comfortable hiking temperatures of the year.

    Crowd level · high

    • Advantage: Best hiking weather for a three-mile uphill approach
    • Advantage: Wildflowers through Moro Canyon
    • Advantage: Cool enough to carry water comfortably
    • Challenge: Weekend demand from the whole Los Angeles and Orange County basin
    • Challenge: Marine layer can sit all morning
    • Challenge: Ticks are active

  • Summer

    Hot inland in the canyon even when the coast is cool, with the marine layer clearing by midday.

    Crowd level · extreme

    • Advantage: Longest days
    • Advantage: Warmest ocean for the beach side of the park
    • Advantage: Latest sunsets from the ridge
    • Challenge: Heat on an uphill carry with all your water
    • Challenge: Peak competition for a small number of sites
    • Challenge: Very little shade in the backcountry

  • Fall

    The best combination here: warm, dry, clear, and past the summer crowd.

    Crowd level · high

    • Advantage: Clearest ocean views from the ridges
    • Advantage: Warm days and mild nights
    • Advantage: Marine layer thins
    • Challenge: Santa Ana wind events bring heat and fire risk
    • Challenge: Fire restrictions
    • Challenge: Dry, dusty trails

  • Winter

    Mild and green after rain, with the best availability of the year.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Easiest booking
    • Advantage: Green hills after the first rains
    • Advantage: Comfortable temperatures for the climb
    • Challenge: Trails may be closed for inclement weather
    • Challenge: Short days against a sunset trail closure
    • Challenge: Cold, damp nights

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

⚠️

Backcountry Tips

  • Day 5: Extreme heat (99°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
  • Day 6: Extreme heat (99°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.

Today

☀️

77°

58°

Wed

🌫️

74°

60°

Thu

🌫️

82°

57°

Fri

☀️

94°

73°

Sat

☀️

99°

79°

Sun

☀️

99°

82°

Mon

☀️

94°

82°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Lower Moro photography guide

Golden Hour

Sunset from the ridges above camp, looking back down Moro Canyon to the Pacific.

Best Light

The hour after the marine layer burns off, when the canyon has light but the coast below is still under cloud.

Beat the Crowds

The three-mile uphill approach does the filtering for you. Day-use traffic in Moro Canyon thins fast beyond the first mile, and the trails close at sunset, so the campgrounds are quiet from then on.

Classic Shots

  1. The Pacific from high in Moro Canyon, with Catalina on the horizon on a clear day
  2. Coastal sage scrub ridgelines stacked in evening haze
  3. Camp with the canyon dropping away below it
  4. The Crystal Cove cottages on the beach side of the park at low light

Lower Moro rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • 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

Rules & regulations

  1. 01Sites are only accessible by foot or bicycle; vehicles must be left in the parking lot
  2. 02Check in at the Moro Canyon kiosk before hiking in
  3. 03No pets are allowed at the primitive campgrounds, and pets are not allowed in the backcountry at all
  4. 04Fires are restricted to backpack stoves; wood and charcoal fires are not permitted anywhere in the park
  5. 05All supplies must be packed in, including water, and packed out: there are no trash cans
  6. 06Backcountry trails are open from 6 a.m. until sunset
  7. 07Stay on designated trails; trails may be closed for inclement weather or public safety

Hazards & considerations

  • 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

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Lower Moro.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Lower Moro · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

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Lower Moro FAQ

How far is the hike to the Lower Moro Campground at Crystal Cove State Park?

California State Parks says that after checking in at the Moro Canyon kiosk, campers must hike inland about three miles, mostly uphill, and that the trail is strenuous at times and in the opposite direction of the beach.

Is there water at the Lower Moro Campground?

No. The park states there is no drinking water available at the primitive sites, and that all supplies must be packed in, including water, and packed out. There are no trash cans either.

How many campsites does the Lower Moro Campground have?

ReserveCalifornia lists 11 sites, coded as hike-in primitive campsites #013 through #024, with a maximum stay of seven nights.

Can I have a campfire at the Crystal Cove primitive campgrounds?

No. Fires are restricted to backpack stoves, and the park states that wood and charcoal fires are not permitted anywhere in the park.

Are dogs allowed at the Crystal Cove primitive campgrounds?

No. The park lists no pets allowed at the primitive sites, and pets are not allowed in the Moro Canyon backcountry at all.

Can I drive to the Crystal Cove primitive campgrounds?

No. The park says the sites are only accessible by foot or bicycle and that vehicles must be left in the parking lot.

How do I reserve a Crystal Cove primitive campsite?

Through ReserveCalifornia: online, by mail, or on 1-800-444-7275. California State Parks takes reservations six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific. Crystal Cove is a state park, so Recreation.gov does not carry it.

Lower Moro trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

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Alternatives to a Lower Moro permit

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Upper Moro Campground

    Thirteen hike-in primitive sites higher in Moro Canyon, the largest of the three campgrounds.

    Tradeoffs

    More sites and better ridge views, at the cost of more climbing with your water.

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Deer Canyon Campground

    Five hike-in primitive sites, the furthest and smallest of the three campgrounds.

    Tradeoffs

    The quietest of the three by a wide margin, and the hardest to get with only five sites.

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