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Horseback Riding Trails In Orange County

Orange County is a bustling, urban area. But there is a big equestrian community here as well. Thanks to our city and state park systems, and a few other organizations focused on preservation, we are fortunate to have a number of equestrian trails to explore on horseback.

For FREE equestrian trail locations visit: www.ocgov.com website and search equestrian trails for a listing of riding trails, special events, park hours and park entrance fees near you. Here are some suggestions we found.

Horseback Riding Trails In Orange County

Orange County Regional Trails

Regional trails span Orange County from the mountains to the sea, as well as local trails (maintained by OC Parks).

  • Aliso Creek Regional Trail
  • Badlands Trail
  • Bay View Regional Trail
  • Hicks Canyon Regional Trail
  • Irvine Coast/Shady Canyon Trail
  • Niguel Regional Trail
  • Peters Canyon Regional Trail
  • San Diego Creek Trail
  • Santa Ana River Trail
  • Sea View Trail
  • Serrano Creek Trail
  • Anaheim Hills Regional Trail
  • Live Oak Canyon Trail
  • Thomas A. Fuentes Regional Trial
  • OC Parks Regional Trails Map

Aliso Creek Riding & Hiking Trail: This trail is 18.4 miles long with multiple access points

Salt Creek Trail: Five mile trail that Extends from Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point to Laguna Niguel at Chapparosa Community Park and Laguna Niguel Regional Park

San Juan Creek Trail: A six mile trail that extends from Doheny State Beach in Dana Point to Calle Arroyo and Avenida Siega in San Juan Capistrano.

West Irvine Trail: Just under two miles long, this trail extends from Bryan Ave & SR 261 and travels along the wash to Valencia Park. You can connect to Peters Canyon Regional Park trails from here to extend the journey.


Orange County Wilderness & Nature Preserves

Guided or Docent-led trail rides are available at these preserves:

  • Pacific Horizon Preserve
  • Trabuco Rose Preserve

Anaheim

Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
Yorba Regional Park

Brea

Carbon Canyon Regional Park

Coto De Caza

Includes an Open Space Network trail system for horseback riding that leads to 47 miles of equestrian trails through the Coto de Caza and adjacent wilderness areas.

Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park

Fullerton

Bud Turner Trail
Juanita Cook Trail
Laguna Lake Park
Panorama trail

Huntington Beach

Harriet M. Wieder Regional Park – This location can be accessed from the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center which offers 150 acres of public trails.

Irvine

Bommer Canyon
Quail Hill
William R. Mason Regional Park

Laguna Beach

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Laguna Hills

There are approximately 25 miles of riding trails throughout the Nellie Gail Ranch community.

Lake Forest

Serrano Creek Park

Newport Beach

Crystal Cove State Park
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Santa Ana Heights has community horse trails with limited connectivity.

Orange/Orange Park Acres

Irvine Regional Park
Peter’s Canyon Regional Park
Saddleback Wilderness
Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Orange Park Acres has community riding trails that lead to Peter’s Canyon, Casper’s Regional Park, Santiago Oaks, and Irvine Park.

Santa Ana

Santa Ana River Trail

San Juan Capistrano

Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

There are city owned horse trails throughout the city that lead to many parks and wilderness areas in Orange County.

Silverado

Black Star Canyon/Wier Canyon (offers trail riding days)
Lime Stone Canyon (offers trail riding days)

Trabuco Canyon

O’Neil Regional Park
Whiting Ranch

Tustin

Canyon View Equestrian Trails

Villa Park

Small equestrian trails system that leads to Santiago Oaks Park

Yorba Linda

There are over 100 miles of equestrian trails coordinated into a regional trail system at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. Access via Gun Club Road Linear Park Quarter Horse Staging Area


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Cindy de Assis
Cindy is an OC native fond of PCH road trips to places like Rosa Santa or Carmel. She’s a mother of three spending her free time baking apple pies, cooking green enchiladas, and listening to 80s music. She’s a beach girl at heart and Cancun is her go to paradise.