I had no idea Red Rock was so close to us. We did a day trip and it was perfect. October is…read moredefinitely the time of year to go. It's sunny, but breezy and cool once you get to hike. It is a desert , but it is a beautiful experience. The different layered rocks really stand out on the cliffs and they go as far as you can see. The sunset here is also beautiful as the light hits the colored cliffs. The trails are pretty straightforward. A little over a mile in length. Bring water and electrolytes. Ideally a camel pak.

Red Rock Canyon is located in the City of Lake Forest. Who knew one could view glimpses of red rock…read moreformations and plateaus in Orange County? When we arrived around 8:30 on a Saturday morning, the paid parking lot was already full. There are very few parking spaces overall in the paid $3 lot. We ended up as Ralph's customers that morning and found a couple of last-minute items that we needed before starting our hike. It was a nice and cool morning with a slight breeze, which was perfect to kick off our hike. We opted to take the easy trail, Borrego Canyon Trail. There is a lot of soft sand through out parts of the trail, similar to a beach like sensation for your walking pleasure. It also felt like a magical forest during some areas with trickling streams. We also experienced some parts full of various sized rocks. This is NOT a child- friendly trail for little ones. As we approached parts that were more desert like, we got closer to the red rocks. There was much anticipation to the end and the trail concludes with what feels like a small dead end as you gaze into the view of the towering red rocks. Going downhill was much quicker and fun. It was an easy trail with some sections that forced me to go slower as I didn't want to slip on some small rocks. There was so much positivity coming from other hikers and bicyclists. So many good mornings shared, it was contagious. Bicyclists are one-way so they are only coming from behind you and so many were thankful for us moving out of their way. I've never experienced such polite and friendly trail enthusiasts. I'd love to return to experience this beautiful trail again.

No tickets needed, it's free. It is an amazing view. It's one of my fav places to visit, read a…read morebook, chill, party, or hangout with some friends. Also very romantic for a date spot. Watch out for mountain lions at night!

Beautiful views and an easy spot to enjoy Laguna's scenery!…read more Top of the World is l worth visiting if you're in Laguna Beach. The panoramic views of the hills and coastline are gorgeous, and there are several nearby trails if you want to turn it into a longer hike. It can get busy on weekends, but the views make it worth it. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and go on a clear day--sunset is especially beautiful! Definitely recommend for a quick scenic hike, photos, or a peaceful outdoor escape.

This urban trail, which runs along Oso Creek for a couple of miles, has several entrances along…read morethe route. We entered at the south trailhead on Marguerite Parkway next to Del Taco. The path itself was paved for the first mile or so and then became dirt/sawdust. While the trail runs behind and below shopping centers and housing, you never really see much of the structures. We walked a good chunk of the trail to the Peace Obelisk and then turned around and went back to where we parked in a shopping center, which was approximately a 4-mile round trip. It was a good walk on a Saturday afternoon. There weren't a whole lot of people to be seen on our walk; a few families, dog walkers, a couple of joggers, a couple of bicyclists. The entire path is an easy walk and mostly flat. Again, there are several entrances to the trail and there are actually 2 separate parallel trails on either side of the creek. This is a great place to spend a little time in nature while still being in the middle of Mission Viejo.

The Oso Creek Trail is a classic "Yuppie Nature" trail: mostly paved or manicured paths, and…read morenothing too challenging or dangerous. Exactly the kind of "outdoor" experience my wife loves! But seriously, it's a wonderful place to stretch your legs right in the heart of Mission Viejo. The trail runs along both sides of Oso Creek, hence the name, and each side of the trail is a bit different. One side is paved and the other is dirt or bark covered, for a more "natural" feel. There are also some fun points of interest along the way, including a hedgerow maze, various bear statues, and a park adjacent to the Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center. It's great for families with small kids or strollers to push, as well as solo joggers, dog walkers, or even bikers. It's long enough and stretches at least a couple miles to get some good exercise in. If you're in the area, it's well worth a visit to enjoy. Five stars!

Lovely park, unassuming in a residential area. Superb location for taking photos. Nice playground…read moreand great for just walking. Ok, bye.

Right of the bat, the park scores a 4.25. Its a city park, nested in the city of lake forest. And…read morenext to it, a horse stable park is visible and can be visited. There's a small kids park and a very lengthy inner trail that surrounds the park. Such a mixture of trails - from creek running, to wooded forest running, to open trails. Great for walks, jogs, running, biking and horse riding. The park itself is lengthy , visible and ample street parking quiet but well visited. As you exit north of the park, the trail jumps the street next to Edisons PowerPlant and continues towards portola highway and towards whiting ranch or portola hills. Crossing over a few underpass and a few parks along the way. Its a gradual incline, that will meet up with mountain trails. Only thing missing would be the water stations or bathrooms... unfortunately, be prepared. Great thing, ever so often your have a picnic table and benches available along the way. This trailhead can be as short as a 3 to 4 mile round trip around the park, but the trail leading out can be definitely extended beyond 15 to 20 miles if your a cyclists- as the incline can be gradual until you meet up in the hills.

First time visiting this trail / loop There are multiple…read moreentrances to the loop Street or residential parking Look out for signs with designated street parking signs or resident parking only If parking across chaparral park there are stairs that lead to trail head once on the top or another pathway to the right that another start to the trail There is another entrance off Concordia with street parking (no parking between 9pm to 6am) and a little sign that says turtle rock Trail overlooks the city - greenery and fields can be seen Definetly bring a hat and water and wear sturdy shoes because it's a combination of flat up down rocky hills Wear long pants as some pathways are narrow Overgrown brush / branches / bushes Appears to be dog friendly trail Watch out for various forms of number 2 No bathrooms available All trail helpful to ensure following the loop as it does take you through some residential area and some pathways branch off into a left or right or curvy direction Enjoy and start early if you can to beat the heat. 4 miles at least pending route taken and took 1.5 to 2 hours to complete Have fun!

Very much enjoyable, but this hike does require conditioning in my opinion. I found the first hill…read moreto be steep and tiring. After making it to the top of the turtle rock trail most of the walking past that point was relatively downhill, sometimes steep drops. You definitely need a pair of good hiking shoes for this venture (the Nikes I had didn't grip steep slopes up or down well. Awesome sights once you reach the top.

Beautiful hiking trails with stunning views and so many different routes to explore! The scenery…read moreis gorgeous, and there's something for everyone. Definitely a great place to enjoy nature and get some exercise. Highly recommend!

Overall score for this trail system would be 4.5 stars. Great multiple trails, skill level is easy…read moreto medium to difficult. Milage is from 2miles to up to 10 miles, and even more as the trails connect another major trail system. Parking is easy, at the base, there's a pay machine..3$ i think. Grear price, as the money is used for clean up and maintenance. No pets on trails. Luckily, a ranger caught two families and were cited! Yes! And two others cited for non pay of Parking. The high point trails are steep and difficult, for walkers joggers runners family or couples and for the renegade singles, plus be carefulwith bikers... they must slow down for you ! Not the other way! So be outspoken! Plus horses are occasional seen. . Get there early, as Parking gets full. The views are splendid and serene. Bring water, it can be frustrating as not water on the trails. But there is a water full station and bathrooms before entering. Clean trails, fun trail, and a trail that can be demanding if you wish it to be . It crosses over to other side of the foothills, and can be wildly exciting.

Beautiful trail with a stunning view of the lake…read more It is a narrow sandy trail all the way which is stroller friendly. There are bikers, joggers and dog walkers on this trail. Friendly hikers and residents. The trail is dotted with little fairy houses and tiny toys - probably set up by the residents. Fun little treasure hunt for kids. The only negative is dog poop on the trail - there's a lot of dodging involved (harder to do with stroller). Needless to say I stepped in poop. Park on Windsweet way residential street and join the trail.

Summary: if you want to see a running stream without hiking then this is the place which is closer…read morethan Holy Jim Trail. The drive is one way and you will drive past a hobby aircraft airport. The problem is at the end of the road is a stream and it's a dead end where it is prohibited to walk, drive beyond. Just a few trees, rocks and stream so bring tables and chairs because nothing else

Amazing waterfall is here! It's really difficult to find the trail. Recommend ware hiking boots,…read morelong pants and gloves. Trabuco Creek Road is a dirt road. It's fun to drive. Hikers are so nice and friendly. I definitely come back here again!

Borrego Canyon Overlook Park is a mini neighborhood park nestled in a residential area, overlooking…read morethe Borrego Canyon. It is basically a patch of greenfield with a small playground. The park is so small that the walkway is only on one side of the park. The paved road ended at the far end of the park. Anyone feeling adventurous can follow the dirt trail all the way to the Whiting Ranch park entrance I was told. This quaint park is clearly intended for neighbors' use only as it does not have a public restroom on-site. The best asset of this park is its gorgeous view of the canyon. Clearly the Bond Fire got too close to the park when you see the wooden fence been replaced by iron stakes covered with a orange mesh, and the charred remain of trees on the other side of the fence. As small as it may be, it has more visitors than the other, larger, Borrego Park, about a mile down the hill. It seems to be very popular with dog owners walking their dog(s).

This tiny park is a hidden gem that sits atop the Foothill Ranch community in Lake Forest. It…read moreoffers awesome views and a trail that goes down into town between two neighborhoods. In many ways, it is the perfect park for a short afternoon picnic or a hike. Going downhill, the hike is not strenuous and not too long. The trail is easy to follow and there are ways to turn to extend your journey. There is also a small playground and a decent size grass field which can be used for games of touch football, tag, a picnic, or whatever. On a clear day, the grassy area offers a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the views of Irvine, Catalina, and the Pacific Ocean. It is also quite pretty at night. Also, since this park is on top of the hill, it is a fabulous place to fly a kite! There is usually always a breeze blowing, and when it's a bit windy the conditions are perfect. Keep in mind this is in the middle of a residential neighborhood, so parking is limited and it's usually pretty quiet.

Love it! It's a lot of climbing over rocks but it's great exercise. The best part of everything is…read morereaching the falls and eating a good sandwich. I do notice that many people leave their trash behind in this particular trail. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TRASH! You'll definitely get a good nap after getting home.

This is one of the better hiking trails I've hiked in OC. We went on a nice overcast day several…read moredays after it rained. Dogs are allowed and be careful of poison oak. It's about a 2-3 hour round trip hike and worth it because there's a waterfall at end of hike. It's my go to hiking trail when I am back home in the OC and want to get a dose of vitamin d and nature. I'd recommend hiking early in the morning as it gets hot during peak sunny hours of the day. I'd rate this as intermediate level trail since there's rocky riverbed trail you have to hike and there's some elevation and big boulders to scale. The journey to waterfall is dynamic and you'll see nature and some interesting man made abandoned structures along the way. Hike is a good combo of fun and an adventurous exploration.