Awesome park to take a long stroll. Plenty of parking on the weekday afternoon. Dog friendly and a few poop bag stands along the trail. Nice view of the watershed and spring flowers. read more

If you want to get your outdoor fix, but still be close to Starbucks, then Fairview Park is a great place to come! ;-) Come here to hike, run, walk, ride your bike, or have a picnic - you can even fly a kite! The last time I was here, there were several people flying remote control planes - very cool! read more

Really nice place to take your dog for a walk. There's a park connected with the hiking trail. It's a very easy hike if you want to take a nice stroll. Great view too. I recommend to go early in the morning or on a cool day if you want to walk your dog. The ground can be hot for them. read more

Fairview Park - Parks Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Really nice walk. Walked in from a friends house. Not sure where to park though. That's it.

It has a really cool sunset view but after dark it's very dimly lit. There were also not many clearly marked trails we could follow on the day we were there. Some of them were closed off to the public. read more

Beautiful (hidden from noobs like me) nature gem! This park had lush walking/running trails with enough incline variation to get a good workout. Parking is plentiful and free; highly recommend. read more

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Loved this park! Why haven't I come here sooner?! First and foremost, if you're coming from Costa Mesa down Placentia and plug the address into your GPS, you'll be like half a mile from the entrance. Just keep going down Placentia, past Estancia HS, and there will be a light for Fairview Park that you will make a left into (it's before the bridge). I came here yesterday with my doggy around 10AM and found a parking spot towards the end of the marked spaces. I walked over the bridge to the "golf course" side and was surprised to see a mini railroad track! Apparently, every 3rd Sunday of the month they offer free mini-train rides to kids (it's called the Goathill Junction Railroad if you want to Google it for more details). There were a bunch of different dirt paths to choose from and lots of little hills. I covered as much of the trails as I could and crossed back over the bridge to the other side. I headed to my right and downhill once I crossed the bridge and there was a man-made lake with a lot of different breeds of ducks and birds. There were rock waterfalls, bridges, and nice gravel trails. Then I headed back up a steep dirt hill and back towards the entrance. There were a bunch of kids with their RC trucks on the little dirt hills (I saw an RC plane flying overhead too), and a few others on dirt bikes. I followed one of the many dirt paths until I came to the plateau overlooking the Santa Ana River. I got a really neat panoramic view where I could see the smokestacks in HB. On a clear day you could definitely see Catalina. Below the mesa was a grassy park with picnic benches, but I didn't venture down there. There are a bunch of interesting signs posted about the history of the area, like how exactly where I was standing was where the Gabrielino Indians first settled, and how Costa Mesa was named, as well as some facts about the Santa Ana river dating back decades ago. Stop and read them! Speaking of signs, there was one part that was fenced off to people walking across because it was a dry lake bed that at one point had an endangered shrimp species that they were trying to rehabilitate (yes, all this info is on the signs). Anyway, there was also a ball park, benches, and bathrooms, but I didn't check them out. My only complaint was that there wasn't ANY trashcans on the railroad side and very few on the main side to throw away your doggie poop bags. When I left around 11:30 the parking lot was completely full. I will make sure I DON'T come here the 3rd Sunday of the month because I bet parking is a nightmare if the train is running. I can't wait to go back here on a trail run! There's not a lot of trees or shade at all, but in the winter and spring this place is great for running, hiking, or exploring! My BF wants to go back and bring his RC trucks. I'm stoked I found this park! read more

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Went here with some coworkers for a social distancing picnic. Plenty of room to space out from other people. While we used blankets there are some tables/benches around the park. Plenty of parking and you can do different activities like hike, workout, or just enjoy the open air. There is a mix of shade and sun so that makes it nice when you just want some outside time. read more

One of the best and only places to go on a nature hike in Costa Mesa. I couldn't believe we had this, until I started looking for local places to go walking. It's a lot bigger than it looks once you take the stairs on the far right. I love to come out here every other week, or sometimes every week, to get more of a challenging walk done. We loop around a good portion of it and usually end up walking about 3.5-4 miles. I have seen lots of rattlesnake signs, but haven't seen one yet. Always on the lookout! I wouldn't say it's the safest for going on your own, because I've been alone on a long stretch before and felt a little vulnerable. Just tell someone where you went, when you go and come back. Always bring some self protection. I have never had any problems, but it's always good to be safe! I like to walk shouting distance from people. The best place for biking. Lots of little hills and bike paths. Great for flying remote controlled devices. Love to watch the small planes zoom by. If you go down the stairs, there is a nice green park area great for picnics and small get togethers. May be hard for someone with walking disablities to get to this part. There is a steep downhill path, as well. read more

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Weather you're a runner or a murderer, or just a fan of nature, you're going to love this park. It's got a TON of trails, great wildlife, beautiful scenery and even WOLVES at night! If you really explore you can find a ton of winding paths that lead you through all kinds of beautiful scenery. Perfect for prepping for that marathon or hiding bodies! Also, if you're a dork and like R/C planes and cars, come here. There's a lot of open dirt road and great runways for your radio controlled pleasure! read more

Fairview Park - Parks Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great park. A little of everything. Enjoyed the RC planes & drones a lot. Lots of great selfies. read more

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Thanks to Yelp found another really cool trail that's dog friendly. In Costa Mesa it's got it all, except trash cans (my only complaint) there is a couple of ponds with lots of wildlife. Concrete and dirt trails. It all links up with the bike path and there's a field for drone and radio flyer lovers. There's clean bathrooms and drinking fountains by the parking lot along with picnic tables. We saw cranes, multiple lizards, rabbits, and a large squirrel burrow. So keep those pets on a leash. Lots of rattlesnake activity. I really enjoy exploring new trails and I really like Fairview Park. It's a short 15 min drive so I'll definitely be back. read more

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Fairview Park is such a find in Costa Mesa!! I'm always looking for great trails to run in the OC and Fairview has it all. From paved roads to gravel and dirt trails to small off the beaten path finds. There are also a good amount of elevation changes to keep the run interesting yet challenging . A good mix of folks walking, running, dog walkers, RC airplane hobbyists, picnickers... and nature of course. I like the fact there are so many routes you can take so if you're training for a run you can map out certain mileage to meet your goal. Again just an awesome park!! read more

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Great for everyone! Joggers, hikers, bikers, family and kids, picnics and other events. There a huge parking space, and has a bathroom as well. We came here to do a little hiking. If you want to go hiking that is strenuous and has a lot to see, especially forestry, this is not the place for you. Fairview Park is more of a park (duh, that's what it's called) Lol But we still checked out the whole spot and it does not have any shade. We mostly did the wooden stairs on the south side of it. Fresh air, wooden seats--great place to do cardio! :D read more

Fairview Park - Parks Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a great park for everyone. There's a grassy area and also lots of hiking trails. It's never very crowded.

Fairview park is a great little park in Costa Mesa. It's situated on a bluff overlooking the 'not so scenic' Santa Ana River. There is a wide flat gravel trail that loops around the perimeter of the park which is shared by hikers, families and cyclists. Fairview Park is also the "secret" mountain biking spot where locals come to hit the jumps and the makeshift dirt trails that snake through the middle of the park. The mountain bikes trails and the dirt jumps are not maintained by the city, so you probably want to scout the trails before you do any hardcore riding. The jumps can get washed out after any heavy rain. Fairview park isn't very large, probably less than 2 miles in circumference, but you can turn your trip into a longer loop by combining Talbert Park, Canyon Park and Fairview Park. If you're looking for an even longer ride, you can access the Santa Ana River Trail from the park and ride 30 miles north to Chino Hills State Park. I've personally never made it any further than Tustin. Fairview Park has restrooms and water fountains, so there's no need to bring a ton of water with you. And look out for low flying remote control airplanes. Parking: There is plenty of street parking in the residential area on the corner of W Wilson St. and Pacific Ave in Costa Mesa with easy access to the trails at the end of Pacific Ave. If you're looking for other mountain bikign trails in OC, check out my blog at http://southcaladventures.blogspot.com/ read more

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We went to see a Beatles cover band here last night for the Costa Mesa Summer Concert Series. It was so much fun! The only bad thing is that it started at 6:00 pm on a Tuesday night. I'm just getting home from work at 6:00 but we managed to get here after the show had started. We pulled in and we were told to go park at Estancia High School and walk over but just then a security guard came over and told us a spot had opened up and we could park up front. Nice! This park is HUGE and nice. There was plenty of CM police presence here along with booths that had activities for the kids like face painting and kicking a Rams football. There were food trucks here or you can bring your own picnic. The band was really good & lots of people were dancing up front by the stage. We sat next to plenty of friendly people who also had dogs & it was fun meeting new people while the doggies played together. This was the first time I had ever been to a Costa Mesa Summer concert and I plan to go next year. We usually go to the Newport Beach Summer concerts by the library but those are usually really crowded because the grass area is so small. They announced at the show that next summer they will have five shows and I plan to go to some of them. This was fun and the price was right: FREE! read more

**As I happened to be walking through, I ran into someone else a part of the greyhound rescue Greysave telling me that a greyhound got loose not far from here, I'm including a lost dog poster with this post in case someone finds him** Parking is FREE and there were plenty of spaces. Zulu (the dog) and I went at around 7am and it was perfect, overcast and drizzly (nice and cool). There are many trails to explore, although because there are no trees (lack of shade, one downside) you can pretty much see where some of the trails go and there is not much "exploring" around the dirt side of the park. There is a wetlands side by fairview channel side that has a couple of ponds and ducks. There's also a bike path on that side that I'm pretty sure connects to the Santa Ana River bike path/trail. There's a bridge that goes across Placentia St for more access to the park along with mini train tracks. You can get some pretty good exercise traversing up and down the hills and/or taking the stairs. You can also get to the Talbert Nature Preserve through this park. We will be back to explore some more! read more

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Since moving to the area Fairview Park has been my go to for a nice day with the pups! I have 2 bigger dogs that run and run and run but never run out of energy. Like, can I get a break?! There is a mini-train track and station that runs through it that is a lot of fun to see on the weekends. So many trails to choose from, just be careful of bikers speeding through! read more

What a gem in Orange County! I'm tired of the dull, predictable and sterile nature of gyms so this natural park was really a breath of fresh air. It is very accessible, decent parking, and informative signage all around. There are many paths and trails for hiking, jogging, biking, and some areas for equestrian pursuits. The area is undergoing environmental restoration, and it is so wonderful to see the native California setting. There are grasses, trees, lots of shrubbery, critters galore! There is even a public restroom and a dog watering area in the gully part of the park. One thing I did not appreciate, despite the plethora of signage, many people refuse to leash their dogs!? Even though some owners selfishly think their dog needs to be free and run, it can present a menace for joggers or other dogs. I recommend a long leash or a more active owner to run their dogs. I felt a little nervous walking my little tiny bit of a dog in an area with unleashed Rotties and other breeds. I don't trust unknown dogs, and I don't trust their owners to control them, since many dog owners are unable to control their pets. I don't mean to rant, but ignoring state dog leash laws puts the public and other dogs at risk. I don't want to jeopardize the safety of my cherished critter. read more

This really is a hidden gem in Costa Mesa. A couple points: -A large, new portion is under construction. I believe I see several new trails, two man made lakes, and some nice new resting areas. -On the East side, there is a mini railroad station, which runs every third weekend of the month. -Amazing, over-traffic steel bridge that connects the East and West sides. For a nice romantic talk, have a seat in the middle and feel the cool breeze as traffic zooms by underneath. The first time I visited, I was greeted by the strange sound of several things buzzing. "Oh no! Bees!" I thought, immediately tensing up since I am mildly allergic to the flying kamikazes. Looking up, I saw an amazing sight: Several model airplanes zipping left, right, up, down (A,B,A,B, start. Sorry, couldn't help myself). Turns out there is an "airfield" dedicated to these guys. If the weather is sunny and the wind is mild, you can be sure to see some of them flying around. Next up, a BMX area. You read that correctly. Hills, jumps, twists, and turns with the extreme biker in mind. I don't know if it was purposely made for that reason, or just a natural occurence, but regardless we were cheering the guys on and holding our breath as they narrowly made their landings. By this point, I'm chock full of happiness. Model airplane flying,a mini train station, and a BMX show? That's my kind of park. But the fun didn't stop there. Onward on the trail I ventured. As I rounded about the bottom corner trail, that's where I saw what was to become my favorite area of this park. Picture a circle of trees, which you can't really see much through. "Curious... very curious", you think to yourself. As you round the corner, an opening appears, and you see what is in the middle of that circle: A large, super green field with scattered picnic benches; trees arching over the field as if to shield it from view from above as well, yet still leaving the right amount of sunlight to make the place seem magical and inviting. With all the dirt and pavement you walk on to get to this point, it feels like a hidden oasis in the middle of a desert, and is really unexpected. Visit in the springtime when the trees are blooming for the full effect. Beyond the oasis are several trails, which I have yet to see where they go. I followed a couple but always have to turn back due to time constraints. The park could use a little maintenance as far as brush clearing. I looked up once to see a tumbleweed the size of a car coming my way. I welcomed it with loving, open arms. Afterwards, I spent an hour taking the splinters out of my body and face. Those things are not as light and fluffy as they appear to be in movies. Ouch. I see always one or two of them on windy days, which might be dangerous to children who can't make it out of the way in time. Other than that, this a park you must visit at least once in your lifetime. read more

Delayed review.... I was here back in April for the Civil War reenactment. So much fun while learning at the same time. It was really interesting to see all the participants dressed up and living in tents. And of course the reenactment of the battle was awesome! With canons and Gatling guns going off. I cant wait to attend the next one this April. Bring your kids some ear plugs and enjoy history. Unfortunately with the increase of Homeless activity in Costa Mesa in general a lot of them end up funneling into this park. So be careful and watch out for unsanitary items on the ground.... read more

One of my favorite places to ride my bike!! Such a great park! The park is split into what I would consider three main sections. There is the plateau that sits on the cliff overlooking the riverbed, the riverbed itself, and across the street where the mini train track is. In the spring, on the plateau, there are a series of trails that lead you through a maze of tall wild flowers. In the center of these small trails (perfect for bike riding - its dirt but smooth enough for most bikes) there is a wooden platform with benches. In the late afternoon you can sit here and watch all of the small birds dart in and out of the flowers like honey bees). For all the BMX riders out there, there are also a series of jumps and hills hidden within the plants. If you take the ramp down to the riverbed, you get to see some preserved California landscape, its a beautiful area. Again, this is a dirt trail, but smooth enough to ride on for most bikes. The trail takes you all the way to Victoria. On it you will see huge oak trees and vast grass areas and fields of native California plants. This is the area of the riverbed that is not paved, and the plant diversity is amazing. Such a treat in our own backyard. There are picnic tables down here, perfect for a little middle of the city get away. Across the street there is a mini railroad track. In the spring you can ride your bike through tall grasses and get lost in a sea of green. You can follow the track or follow one of the many trails. all in all my favorite park in costa mesa and perfect for riding your bike. There is also an official model airplane "air strip" here, park your bike on the grass for a breather and watch the airplanes glide over the horizon. read more

I love this park, huge, tons of places to explore, great view (especially at sun down), wild life and an unincorporated feel. If you get use to running or biking on trails, check your self before you do the same after a rain. The foliage goes nutz and trails become a micro Amazon jungles. There are bathrooms that are open every leap year on the upper level, and never open on the lower level. It bumps against the bike trail on one side, Placentia (parking lot) on the other, it has multiple parts and is worth exploring. If you take the bike trail from FVP to PCH, you will pass two other unincorporated parts and a constant view of the ever deeper river bead, fisherman, rock throwers and eventually, mouth of the dump into the Pacific. Down sides? Some bums in the early AM and in the eve, locals who don't know of the leash law. I have been chased by a rottweiler, and ran over a chiwawa (mountain bike). Both were off their leashes and the owners blamed me. Some dog owners take their dogs there to chase, and kill, rabbits, and the like. That part sucks, but the park as a hole is a must see. read more

Super sad they haven't maintained the trails close to the cliff edge they fenced off all the trails we would walk or ride our bike on. What happened it use to be awesome read more

Five stars in the Spring when the park is filled with black mustard and other wild flowers. The sections near the ponds are also pretty with a variety of native plants. Lots of bunnies and unusual birds. If you go for a walk, there are a couple of miles of dirt trails and one paved path that intersect throughout the park/preserve. Very few trees and not much shade so bring a hat if you come at midday. read more

Fairview Park - Fairview Park: Black mustard on 03/22/15 - Parks Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Magical place! I live in Texas but visit Fairview Park every time I am in California! + Big park + Plenty of quiet spaces + Beautiful plants and flowers + Can walk your dog, bike, or jog + Clean and well-maintained read more

Not much fun for families looking to get closer to nature many of the trails to pond life were blocked off. Would be fun for biking with family or just trying to get out of the house read more

Past the high school is this really cool park. If you're into dirt biking and flying your airplanes, this is your spot. They also have some pretty cool trails where you can walk and sit for a bit. A beautiful view of the ocean and you can't be beat. And....it's free!!! No fees! read more

Love this place to run. I use Fairview park for my hill and tempo run for myself and we do (running group) a time trial run once a month. They keep the park clean, and love all the new trails. read more

Fairview Park - Took our running group here on Sunday for a little time trial and just love what they've done to the park. great to run! - Parks Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

minimal shade on the trail, but it's a nice run with ample inclines if you are interested. I see a lot of RC airplanes and cars usage there and it's kinda fun to watch the airplanes take off. It's a nice park just be prepared with water read more

Been coming to this park since 6th grade. Great place to walk, jog, walk your dog. Also a place to fly rc planes. Some jumps along the trails if you like bike jumping, not big though. I dont recommend walking the lower trails after dark, there are some homeless peeps that live in the cavernous bushes. I know this because i have ventured every single rabbit trail by foot or bike. Most peeps will probably never see them. read more

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Great hide away park located in between a residential area of Costa Mesa. This park has some nice hiking trails that goes for miles and ties into the Santa Ana river jetty. This park also has lots of parking, scenic area, picnic and large open field for sports. One of the high lights is that this park has a runway and fly area for remote control air planes and helicopters. A large gathering of people on the weekends flying their RC aircrafts. This can be annoying if you are interested in relaxing with Nature. As you walk down the trails you will often times see people trying to fly their RC in the trail areas and most crash into the bushes, amusing! Another problem is people don't leash their dogs and they run crazy in the trails. Last time I was here a frantic dog came rushing at me so I ended up kicking it to get away from me. I am not a big fan of irresponsible pet owners. Of course the idiot owner was 100 yards away yelling at his dog as if was going to listen. Their are coyotes in this area and wouldn't surprise me that Fido will be their meal! read more

I love the new Raprian! My dogs and I enjoy walking the park at least 4 days a week. I do get frustrated with a few problems there. Firstly too many other dog owners do not pick up after their pets. Second there is a huge problem with the garbage cans: not only do they desperately need lids since the trash frequently blows out but also they need a few more strategicly placed in the park especially by the bluffs. This would encourage more people to do the right thing! Another comment is I wish the trails in the new area were wider. read more

This is a great neighborhood park for bbqs, games, family time, or just a simple game of catch with some friends. I always see people out here with their dogs, playing pickup soccer games, or just hanging out having a picnic. There's a large open area and is never too crowded. It has a few swings and a playground for kids too. read more

This is a relaxing walk in the park. There are dusty trails, mostly flat, with nothing at all and a a reserve with water and plant life. You can walk across the bridge to a more green area. Beyond that, it's a golf course? I liked it because there were very few people here during the day. read more

I come here almost everyday after a long day at work. This place is one of the most gorgeous parks in socal, especially during the spring time when everything is on full bloom. This place really brings me peace. If you love taking photos of nature at its finest this is definitely the place for it. read more

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Would be a great park IF all the invasive, non-native species of plants that are destroying it were removed. It also needs lights in the parking lot and an ADA approved ramp. But there's a bunch of morons who refuse to allow the park to be rehabilitated and improved. So they tricked people into signing a park killing petition by lying and claiming the park was to be developed. They're STILL lying even though everything they've said, including their lie about the sports complex, has been completely debunked. So likely it'll never be rehabilitated or be handicapped accessible. Which is sad. Could be a great park if they'd just allow it to be cleaned up and improved. read more

Hidden secrets of OC! Great photo op area and an even better place to catch some serenity and walk your dog. So what are you waiting for? Get your nature on. read more

Took my puppies for a little hike... clean and safe place to go. Will definitely be coming back...