Orange County residents and visitors have a generous selection of places to get out in nature. The OC Parks system has over 20 regional parks, wilderness parks, and open space preserves. Whether you’re looking for a shady hike, a place to hit the trails on your mountain bike, or a place for horseback riding, these parks are some of the best spots in Orange County.
There is a $3 – $5 fee for parking at most of the OC Parks properties. Purchase an OC Parks Annual Pass and get unlimited parking all year.
*Please note that most restrooms and parking facilities have re-opened but some nature centers may remain closed due to Covid-19.
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in Laguna Niguel covers 4,500 acres and offers over 30 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. From the Awma Road parking lot, take the Aliso Creek Trail to the Wood Canyon Trail and follow the signs to Dripping Cave for an afternoon adventure. Out and back, the hike is a little over 5 miles but the trail is mostly flat so it’s relatively easy. Legends say that robbers used to hide out in the cave here after train heists. A visitor’s center offers interpretive programs and there are no playgrounds or picnic areas here. Portable toilets are available near the parking lot. This park is mostly used for its plentiful hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
Bommer Canyon
Bommer Canyon has the distinction of being part of the first California Natural Landmark; the Irvine Ranch. This preserve is 16,000 acres of wilderness open space. Much of the area is open to the public to hike, mountain bike, and reserve for special events. But some trails and areas within the canyon can only be accessed through guided programs and require pre-registration with the city or Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Here you will be led by a tour guide who can provide insight to the history of the cattle ranches and efforts to protect the sensitive ecosystems.
If you are hoping to explore on your own, here are some must do trails:
- Buck Gully Trail: This easy rated trail is just over 4 miles and is wheelchair friendly. The trail is mostly shaded as you stroll along the water and take in its peaceful sounds. It is great for all ages and capabilities.
- Bommer Canyon Trail: You will find both runners and bikers on this popular almost 5-mile trail. The moderate climb takes you to the top of turtle ridge which rewards you with lovely views of the canyon. Bring water and expect to get dirty!
- Bommer Ridge and Deer Canyon Loop: This 8-mile lollipop loop is the most strenuous of the three hikes listed.
Carbon Canyon Regional Park
4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea
Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea is home to one of Southern California’s few Redwood groves. A short 1.1 mile walk along a nature trail leads you to the big trees. Enjoy the walk and spend some time wandering under the canopy of 3 acres of Coastal Redwoods. This is a dirt path with some uneven terrain, but it is navigable with a jogging stroller and kids shouldn’t have any trouble with this short hike.
Carbon Canyon hosts many events for individuals and families from guided nature walks to movies in the park. Other park features include tennis and volleyball courts, ball fields, lake fishing, playgrounds, a paved path for walking or riding, a native garden, and group picnic areas. There is no nature center at this location but it’s a great spot for a short nature hike and a fun family gathering.
Car Wreck Trail – Laguna Beach
Alta Laguna Park Trailhead – 3299 Alta Laguna Blvd., Laguna Beach
There’s a 1946 Dodge coupe wedged into the hillside above Laguna Beach, and the crash site was such a popular destination that the Wilderness Park made it into a trail in 2013. The 3.8 mile loop will get your heart pumping with just under 1,000 feet of elevation gain. The best route for this hike is to start on the West Ridge Trail near the low stone wall where Top Of The World trail splits off to the left. Stay on the wide main trail as you make your way downhill and make the right onto Mathis Canyon Trail. Keep an eye out for the Car Wreck Trail signpost on the right and head downhill. You’ll head into the trees and see the wreck on your left. You can either turn around and go back, or continue past the wreck. When you see the trail sign and car door, hang a left. When you get to the end of Car Wreck Trail, make a left onto Mathis Canyon Trail and head back up the hill. Continue on the Mathis Trail until you get back to the West Ridge Trail. Hang a left and head back to where you started.
This hike has some decent hills and some rough terrain so it’s not great for younger hikers. But older kids who have hiking experience will enjoy this route. Also keep in mind that much of this trail is in full sun, so wear sunscreen and protective gear and take plenty of water. Mountain Biking is also allowed on most of the trails here so remember to look out for oncoming traffic.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Just off the 133 in Laguna Beach, the Laguna Coast Wilderness park offers trails for hiking and mountain biking. The main lot near Nix Nature Center has several trails of varying difficulty. Some difficult trails head uphill for views of the surrounding area. Mary’s Trail is perfect for little ones with signage for an educational trip through native habitat. Follow the trail that heads away from the nature center and crosses under the 133 to pay a visit to Barbara’s Lake, one of the few naturally occurring lakes in Orange County.
For another fun hike, park at the Willow Staging Area and take the Laurel Canyon trail about a half mile to a meadow where you’ll see what locals call Ghost Face Rock. You can make this short and sweet, or you can link this trail to others in the park for a longer, more difficult hike.
There are 4 staging areas (and parking lots) along the 133 that are part of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park: Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area, Willow Staging Area, Dilley Staging Area, and Big Bend Staging Area. Most of the trails connect from the staging areas, but take a look at the trail map online before you go to see what area best suits your needs.
Oak Canyon Nature Center
6700 E Walnut Canyon Rd, Anaheim
Parking is free
Oak Canyon Nature Center was one of our regular spots for years. There are multiple trails, some shady that meander along the side of the creek, and some rugged, in full sun at the top of the ridge. This is a perfect option for families with younger kids as the main trails are jogger-stroller-friendly, and if young walkers give up, you haven’t ventured too far no matter which direction you go. As the kids get older, you can extend the hike, vary the terrain, and create a whole new experience. The last time we went the kids and I hit every trail in the park for multiple out and backs, and had a blast. They’re both comfortable hiking over 5 miles at a time now, but this was less, and still a worthy adventure.
Riley Wilderness Park
30952 Oso Parkway, Coto De Caza
Riley Wilderness park is 544 acres with 5 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. There are old groves of sycamores and Coast Live Oak, and two seasonal creeks. For breathtaking views of the park and surrounding areas, head up to Horned Toad and Skink Vista lookouts. There is a natural butterfly garden in the park that blooms in April and May and butterfly viewing is in full swing shortly afterwards. There is a ranger station with hands on displays that showcase the rich diversity of the park’s plants and animals. For a great family hike take Mule Deer Trail to Vista Ridge Trail where you can head up to Skink Vista Lookout. Come back down from the lookout and take Oak Canyon Trail back to the parking lot for a magical walk under the canopy of old trees. Restrooms are available and there is a $3 parking fee.
Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano
The 8,000-acre Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano offers miles of hiking trails, groves of Coastal Live Oak and California Sycamore, abundant wildlife, and camp sites. It’s a perfect location to get away from the busy city and spend the day, or the weekend, with family and friends.
The nature center at Caspers is full of taxidermy animals that live in the surrounding area including coyotes, squirrels, snakes, and birds. They often have coloring pages out for the kids as well as books and other hands-on activities. Rangers at Caspers offer guided nature hikes, naturalist programs, and Junior Ranger programs.
Many of the trails here are available for equestrian use and there are designated areas for equestrian camping. Enjoy an easy hike on the Bell Canyon Trail to experience the beauty and wildlife of the park. The trail is 1.85 miles long so an out and back hike clocks in at just under four miles. The trail is mostly flat the whole way and provides a combination of sun and shade. See the Caspers Trail Map for details.
Santiago Oaks Regional Park
2145 N. Windes Drive, Orange, CA 92869
One of our favorite places, Santiago Oaks is located in the city of Orange behind residential equestrian properties and isn’t far from neighboring Irvine Regional Park. The historic dam and creek crossing are just two of the many highlights of Santiago Oaks.
A few of the trails behind the nature center are still closed due to fire damage, but the majority of the parks trails have reopened. If you have little ones, the best route is the Santiago Creek Trail and follow the loop around Bobcat Meadow Trail. On the loop back, take the stairway down to the Historic Dam to skip rocks and look for turtles, then take the Historic Dam Trail back to the play area and restrooms.
For a more challenging hike, take the Santiago Creek Trail to the Towhee Trail and follow it up the the Wilderness Trail. Use the Oak Trail to connect to the Sage Ridge Trail until you connect to Bobcat Meadow. Take Bobcat Meadow back to Santiago Creek and the Historic Dam. In addition to these easy to moderate trails, Santiago Oaks has a number of difficult trails that head into the backcountry so hikers of all skill levels can find an adventure here. See the Santiago Oaks trail map for trail lengths and ratings.
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
Two Entry Points – Borrego Parking Lot: 26701 Portola Parkway, Foothill Ranch OR 27901 Glenn Ranch Road, Trabuco Canyon
Whiting Ranch is a popular spot for mountain biking. There are 17 miles of trails here, with Red Rock Canyon and Billy Goat Trails reserved for hikers only. All other trails are open for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. There are no picnic or play areas here and the only restroom is a port-a-potty. This park is for trail adventures only.
Whiting Ranch is by far one of the best hiking spots in OC, as it is home to Red Rock Canyon, a beautiful location with magnificent rock formations. For the easiest access to Red Rock Canyon, enter from the Borrego parking lot. The Borrego Canyon Trail ascends gently towards Red Rock Canyon making the first portion of the journey relatively easy. The Red Rock Canyon Trail has a lot of rocky terrain and dry stream beds to navigate so this portion is more difficult, but worth the effort for the view. Round trip, the hike is about 5 miles. See the Whiting Ranch Trail Map for details. The shopping center next to the Borrego parking lot has a grocery store and several spots to fuel up afterwards.
For more information and trail maps for these and other parks in Orange County, visit the OC Parks website.
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Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights.
