Aliso Road Trail: Emergency Evacuation & Accountability

South Laguna relies on safe, accessible evacuation routes. The historic Aliso Road Trail is designated as a critical emergency pedestrian escape, yet it remains treacherous and compromised despite a $22 million capital improvement transfer to the City.

Securing Our Only Alternate Escape Route


In South Laguna, emergency preparedness is a matter of life and death. During a wildland fire, the Coast Royal neighborhood relies on a single vehicular exit: West Street. If West Street is compromised, the historic Aliso Road Trail—which connects the north end of Monterey Street down to Aliso Beach—is officially designated by the City as our alternate pedestrian evacuation route.

Currently, this critical “lifeline” is in unacceptable condition, rendering it inaccessible for many members of our community when they need it most.

Evacuation Zones

Know your official Laguna Beach Evacuation Zone.

The Coast Royal Neighborhood is in Zone 7 Ceanothus

The Hazard: A Treacherous Evacuation Grade

The lower portion of the Aliso Road Trail is in excellent condition, thanks to a high-quality upgrade previously completed by OC Parks and professional trail builders. However, the upper section of the trail at Monterey Street tells a different story.

Due to past development and necessary realignments near the trailhead, the top of the trail was relocated closer to the street. This relocation drastically altered the terrain, creating a much steeper, washed-out, and treacherous grade.

In the event of a fast-moving emergency, residents—including the elderly, those with mobility challenges, and families carrying children—must be able to safely navigate this path in the dark or through smoke. The current steep grade makes this official pedestrian evacuation route too dangerous to use.

Emergency evacuation map of South Laguna Zone 7 showing multiple blocks of homes with zero vehicle exit except for West Street, and highlighting the critical alternate pedestrian escape trail to Aliso Beach.
Multiple South Laguna blocks have zero vehicle exits except for West Street. In a wildfire, the Aliso Road Pedestrian Trail (yellow line) is their only alternate lifeline.

The $22 Million Transfer & Unkept Promises

The completion of the trail’s upgrade was originally halted by OC Parks to accommodate adjacent property development. Before the work could resume, jurisdiction of the trail changed hands:

  • The March 2023 Transfer: The County of Orange officially transferred ownership and operational control of Aliso Beach Park and the Aliso Road Trail to the City of Laguna Beach.
  • The Funding: As part of this transfer, the County provided the City with a one-time payment of $22 million specifically earmarked for maintenance and capital improvements.

The Accountability Gap: Despite receiving this massive financial infusion, the City has done little to maintain the quality of the trail.

The Recent Victory & The Demand for Action

At a recent City Council meeting, the Council took a positive step: they voted to protect the trailhead from private parking access, and importantly, they voted to upgrade the trail.

However, a vote is not a finished project. The City owes this neighborhood a safe, accessible evacuation route, and they already hold the $22 million required to execute the work.
Current condition of the Aliso Road Trail at Monterey Street, showing the altered terrain of the designated emergency evacuation route in South Laguna.
The current state of the Aliso Road Trail highlights the urgent need to restore safe pedestrian grading so the route is accessible during a fast-moving emergency.

Next Step: The April 30 Evacuation Workshop

The current condition of our designated evacuation route is unacceptable. We need to work together to change that, and the upcoming city workshop provides the perfect opportunity to argue our case directly to the staff responsible for our safety.

Join the Advocacy: 
We urge all Zone 7 residents (and surrounding neighbors) to attend the Community Preparedness and Evacuation Workshop.

Date: Tuesday, April 30

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Community Recreation Center (South Coast Hwy)

Let’s stand together to demand the City use its capital improvement funds to properly grade the Aliso Road Trail so every resident has a safe way out.