*Be aware of Rattle snakes out on the deeper walking trails during this season*…read moreThis is a fantastic park for families, parties, and individuals who love walking their dogs. Heads up, entrance fee/parking is $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. There is so much to see and do here! Snack Bar, Pony rides, a train that travels around the inner part of the park, horseback riding lessons (3rd party company), picnic areas, bike rentals, and giant wheel floating tricycles on the pond! To walk their inner perimeter pathways, where all the trees are, it's about a mile out and a mile back. If you have kids, they will love looking for the ground squirrels or wild peacocks, the train, ponies and more! There is so much wide open grassy space close to parking. There are several parking lots scattered all throughout the park. So you are always close to your care and nature. This last week, I walked a dog every day there and 3 outs of the 5 days, i encountered a rattle snake, not a big deal and it is after all...nature! Theirs was out on the more extensive hiking and walking trails beyond the main area. During spring and summer, it is good to carry a stick to help deter the snakes. I also would not use headphones out on the trails for this reason. Stay alert, and you will stay safe. If you have any concerns, always check in with a park ranger! It can get crowded on the weekends, specifically afternoons when a lot of parties and family gatherings are happening.

Kind of out there but surprisingly big park with a decent amount of things to do. Despite its name…read moreits not really in irvine i think, rather like 15 minute from northwood? On the outskirts. Went to browse and didn't see any fish, lots of parking around and decently fast entry. Parking free on Tuesday for farmers market, just let them know at the gate. The farmers market is small but they have a lot of food options, the fruit stand in the front is more expensive than the other irvine markets but super sweet fruits. The food stalls here are a lot more hospitable and small business/making connections. The park itself has quite a few equestrian places, a small booth near the pony area that takes cash for pony rides and sells tickets for a small train, bathrooms in that area too. Lots of nice grass around for picnics. Overall it was a nice place to walk with a variety of activities to do.

Overall a wonderful park - lots of PLAYGROUNDS for all ages, TENNIS COURTS, nice walking paths, big…read moregrass areas, and public RESTROOMS throughout the park. The playgrounds are so much fun for our kids and it is also a great space for picnics too. There is a lot of parking here and it's never too busy. Only downside is that you have to pay $3 to $5 to get in but it is well worth it. Definitely one of our top favorite parks to bring the family.

I looked for walking spots in the Brea area and this park popped up. There was a bit of a line to…read moreget in on Memorial Day and the cost for parking on a holiday was $7. The display also showed $5 for weekends and $3 midweek. We wanted to do the Redwood trail and were directed to parking lot A. The park is big and beautifully landscaped with a pond and various picnic areas that can be rented in advance. There is enough space to set up all kinds of games. We brought a picnic lunch and sat on a bench that was perfectly situated alone amongst the desert plants. After lunch, we followed the signs for the Redwood Grove Trail which was labeled as easy and is a 1.5 miles dirt trail to the Redwood trees. When you arrive you'll see a small Redwood forest with the history of the trees displayed before you enter. A really beautiful and peaceful spot to relax for a bit. On our way back we decided to take the Creek Trail to see where it would lead us. I was hoping to see water at the end of this trail. But, we only saw a bunch of rocks at one point that may be filled with water if it rains. The end of this trail did lead us to a beautiful butterfly garden and the opposite end of the park. We made the walk back and stopped at the pond. There appeared to be other trails surrounding the park and a trail that leads to the Carbon Canyon Dam.

Such a great workout and a great hike for all levels…read more We tend to go right after work around 6ish, and it can get a bit busy, but the overall hike takes us at least an hour, depending on what trail we do. A few of our favorites are the Peter's Canyon Trail, Ridge View Trail, Scout Trail, and the Mountains to Sea Trail. Some can be a bit challenging due to the hills, but after a while you will get used ot it and will see progress, as I did. Great location to get your heart rate moving and to work out in nature. Bring lots of water and comfortable shoes with grip for the steep hills. Also, don't forget to pay for a parking permit to avoid getting a ticket.

My favorite trail for a quick hike…read more I like going early before everyone is there and before it gets too warm. Definitely a safe place to go alone if needed. There's always someone on the trail. Lots of animals see also.. I've ran into coyotes, snakes, birds, roadrunners ... Would definitely recommend for beginner hikers

Santiago Oaks is definitely only of the best and most expansive places to hike in OC. Also it is…read moredog friendly on all trails! Parking is $5 on weekends and the parking lot is quite small and fills up quickly... I recommend leveraging the few other access points in other parts of the park where there is free neighborhood parking. You can look up these access points on AllTrails but the two most popular ones are: 1) Parking at Anaheim Hills Elementary School (you can park here on the weekends). From here you can access a plethora of trails. 2) Also parking at Anaheim Hills Riding and Walking Trail (look it up on Google Maps). From here, most people do the Weir Canyon Trail loop. There are so many interconnecting trails you can explore this place over multiple visits. There are also a lot of mountain bikers (many of which go very fast) so be aware of your surroundings and don't assume they will slow down for you. Especially if you have a dog, watch out for your leash or bikers zooming past you. Overall the views here are incredible and I never feel like it gets overly crowded. It is a very immersive park. There are a wide variety of trails ranging from very challenging to easy.

First off, the parking fee to enter is $3 or $5 on weekends. The parking lot is pretty big and…read moreright off the trails. Trails are fun and not too challenging. The more difficult ones are due to the elevation increase, but they are not too bad. Watch out for the guys coming down fast in there bikes, though. Luckily, some of the trails are only for pedestrians on foot, so that is a plus. A couple of my favorite trails were the historic dam trail, Bobcat Meadow, Santiago Creek, and Sage Ridge. Not all were too difficult, but they can get a bit hot since not much shade. Make sure to bring comfortable clothes and shoes because you will be walking. Make sure to stay on trails and read the signs; some trails can be flooded or are only for park rangers. Also, bring water and sunscreen, especially during the summer. Beware of mountain lions and snakes; luckily, we didn't encounter any, so that was great. Overall, great location and great trails. We will be back to do the Windes Nature trail and to explore the nature center. Such a great walk in nature and a great way to elevate your heart rate while having fun.

This is such a gorgeous pocket of nature to get away from life for a while! There's so many places…read moreto go explore, people are really respectful for the most part so there's not trash on the trails, even people who bring their kids don't let them run around screaming like in some places. Nature is very much respected. It's also absolutely gorgeous! There's little Creeks, tiny waterfalls, the nature preserve itself is stunning, they have an area set up just for little birds to come visit that is beyond adorable, the birds you can come up to you! Well at least they did with us. I've also been to several weddings here, it's a really nice venue. Especially if people put lights up and have a dusk wedding OMG Parking is free, cheaper than therapy, wonderful break from the rat race. This is by far my favorite place in Orange County to just unplug.

Amazing hikes with the whole family…read more Very fun and chill hikes that cross a nice little steam in several areas.

Noguchi gardens is a gorgeous spot to just relax for a little, enjoy a break from the hustle and…read morebustle of the world. It's a small space but the artwork is nice and instills a sense of calm that is appreciated

Fun and interesting little place to visit if you are in the area by South Coast Plaza mall…read more Not the easiest place to find since you can't see it from the street. It is behind the Mastros restaurant. There is a parking structure nearby that is like $3 or $4 for 15 minutes and you can probably run through in 15 minutes, but 30 minutes to be safe. You can also walk from the mall parking lot, it is a little bit of a stroll but manageable. There are plenty of pictures so you can see what you are getting into before you make the drive, pay for parking, and walk over. When we went there on a Sunday morning, there were only 2 or 3 other people, so it was very quiet and zen. I enjoyed the write-ups and the exhibits. If I worked right there I would probably visit all the time.

Lots of public restrooms available throughout the park…read more Lots of kids playgrounds - different sizing for all ages. There are paved pathways so it's easy to push a stroller or to bike or roller skate throughout this park. There is a good amount of parking for your car depending on which park entrance you choose. There's lots of nature life and greenery here so it makes for a fun place to go on a walk or have a picnic with the family - there is both large grass areas available and a plethora of picnic tables.

I love this park. Typically my go to park is Irvine regional park in Orange, but this one has…read morebecome our new favorite. There are always spots available. Plenty of parking. I think the biggest downside to the park is that the entrance line can get really long and there's only one way to enter. We like to picnic and BBQ and we always feel secluded because of how much available space there is.

My family and I met several of my daughter's high school classmates at this park to take photos…read morebefore they departed for their prom. The big deal here is to take photos adjacent to the large water fountain. This is an extremely popular photo location, as over 100 students here in formal wear from various high schools. The park itself was very clean and well-maintained, with numerous areas for visitors to take photos. Parking is available in one of the numerous parking lots surrounding the park.

Hillcrest Park in Fullerton--specifically the stairs--is no joke, but that's exactly why we love…read moreit. We went early in the morning around 7:00 AM, and it was already packed. Parking was very limited at that time, so plan ahead if you're going early. Clearly, a lot of people know this is the spot for a serious workout. The stairs themselves are brutal in the best way possible. After about three rounds, my legs were completely done--but it's such an effective workout. This place really gets your cardio in fast, and you feel accomplished every time you finish a round. The views along the way make it even more worth it. We also came back later in the day around 5:30 PM. It starts to get a bit dark around that time, so that's something to keep in mind, but it's still a great experience and totally worth it. Overall, if you're looking for a challenging, fun, and effective outdoor workout, Hillcrest Park stairs deliver every time. Just be ready for sore legs and limited parking during peak hours.