Michael & Tricia Berns Environmental Study Loop, Laguna Beach

About Michael & Tricia Berns Environmental Study Loop

The Michael and Tricia Berns Environmental Study Loop in Laguna Beach engages visitors in hands-on conservation science through eight field stations distributed along a half-mile ADA-accessible loop trail. The facility includes an amphitheater and student staging pavilion for educational gatherings. At the Animal Tracking Field Station, visitors examine footprints in tracking pits and review images from trap cameras to identify nocturnal wildlife activity in Moro Canyon. The Bugs and Butterflies station focuses on the restored coastal sage scrub habitat and the ecological relationships between insects and plants. Additional stations explore birds, wind patterns, rocks, early residents, nature's trespassers, and an overlook area. The loop invites families and students to participate in citizen science activities that support park management and habitat restoration efforts. Located within Crystal Coves State Park, the Environmental Study Loop combines outdoor exploration with scientific observation.