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    Santa Ana River Trail

    4.1 (117 reviews)

    Santa Ana River Trail Photos

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    Reviews With Photos - Santa Ana River Trail

    Right before sunrise
    Brenda L.

    The path is gorgeous! We did a full 5k run and could have gone longer, except there were no restrooms on site (at least none that we saw). The path is very clean, no homeless or littering at all. We went before the sun hit is peak as there is not many shades besides your occasional bridge and few trees. The water looks pretty and is a very peaceful site. I felt very safe. There were plenty of bikers and only a few other runners.

    Lori L.

    Beautiful place to ride e-bikes, run or walk. The bridge is so cool. We even saw a Bald Eagle. The picture didn't turn out the best because it was far away. My husband and I enjoyed our ride very much, and I am sure we will be going there more often.

    Tuesday walk
    Caitlin V.

    My husband and I visit this river bed almost every day. We live nearby, so it's a short walk. He runs, and I walk. It's perfect, especially for social distancing and getting your steps in. My goal is at least 10,000 steps, which takes about an hour and a half to two hours to complete. Most of the time, it's less because in the morning, I usually walk about 5,000 steps around my apartment complex. We often go in the late afternoon, and there aren't that many people. If you don't want to run or walk, there is a bike trail. I see many people come and go on their bicycles.

    Christina L.

    I saw tons of review ages ago concerning about the homeless being there. They don't have this problem no more. I've been riding this trail for the past half a year and i don't see a problem. The trail is smooth and clean with the option of dirt trail and road trail. Perfect for people running, walking, jogging and cycling. The trail goes from Newport Beach to Yorba Linda. They have the best sunset there, just look at my photos. Lots of vegetation and animals. People, please maintain this place clean. :) Thanks!

    Angel B.

    Down by the trail Where the bikers go Back on the trail I dare not go For if I do My mother would say Did you ever see A bike, losing its breaks Down by the trail Yea, Im the one on the 17.5 inch 29er on the river trail, ask me if I care. Cuz I dont. Yes, this is a road trail. But Ive put to much into my 29er, and Im going to ride it here, if Im riding street, which is usually unlikely. I like the dirt. This trail is what you make of it. There are lots of places to enter the trail. I used to enter it near Angel Stadium, park my car and take off down to the beach and back. But I dont think that particular lot allows parking. The trail is all road, and primarily flat with a few easy roller coaster type bumps. The roadies, are quick and usually shout out as they pass you. There is also Edison Park, which is a great place to park, have a BBQ then ride. 2 stars...1 star bonus for the beach.

    1 mile in
    Chris R.

    Another weekend, another trail to explore. This one is super easy and is really more for biking. The views are pretty blah and more city scape than nature. It's not a loop, but an up and back trail for 8 miles. It does connect to various other trails and will get you all the way to the beach if you keep going. I'd probably not go for a walk on it again, but would give a try on my bike

    Steep hills to run up and down for leg work
    Noah R.

    Nothing like a long stretch of concrete with steep hills to work you out and level up . Definitely go with a water backpack . I started on the lower side by fountain valley . It is maintained by the city while there I saw multiple city trucks . All graffiti is painted over . Mostly bicyclist but a couple marathon runners (pacers ) I'd recommend if you're the type that likes to workout alone and be In Your zone

    Patrick A.

    Everyone is gone and it's all cleaned up. They re-route you through a few service roads that are right next to the trail where it was most contaminated from Taft to Orangewood. Parts of the trail area are fenced off because they said they need to remove the contaminated dirt but it doesn't look like anything is happening yet. It's really hard to believe how clean it is. On a recent Sunday we saw dozens of riders, walkers and families enjoying the trail - people that were understandably not venturing through here a couple of months back. I've seen more homeless now on the trail to the east of here but they're not setting up permanent camps. Let the good time roll.

    Patricia C.

    I am not a hardcore cyclist by no manner of means! I do not own a road bike nor do I bike on a regular basis. I came to the Santa Ana River Trail after searching for paved biking trails in Orange County on Yelp. I thought it was really impressive that one could run/bike/walk from Anaheim to Huntington Beach via this trail... I just never thought of the existence of such a "highway" system for pedestrians/cyclists in the OC. Furthermore, the trail continues farther north of Anaheim for miles and miles, but I have yet to explore it. According to their website, it will be possible to reach Big Bear Lake when complete: "Welcome to the Santa Ana River region's longest recreational trail and parkway. When complete this 110-mile trail and bikeway corridor will reach from Big Bear Lake, high in the San Bernardino Mountains, to the mouth of the Santa Ana River, at the Pacific Ocean." I parked in the lot where there is a Starbucks near the Honda Center and easily found an access point to the trail. I traveled southbound from Anaheim to Santa Ana and turned back because the sun was setting. It was pretty scary (but kind of thrilling?) once it started getting dark because the trail is not brightly lit, and I was by myself.... I will definitely not do that again!! I never pedaled faster in my life!!! :P I look forward to checking this trail out again and biking to Huntington Beach ;)

    A section of the River Trail in Anaheim.
    Kiril K.

    From the Pacific Ocean, in Huntington Beach, to Montrose Beach & the base of the mountains, in San Bernardino, the Santa Ana River travels 70 miles or so. Most of the River is accessable by Bicycle, including all of it in Orange County. In 2007, for my Blog The Cycling Dude, I rode the whole length, and took plenty of photos. This ride is a joy to take, from top to bottom, in either direction, and you will learn a lot about the communities it passes through, and about the environment. The Santa Ana River Bike Trail begins on the north side of the river, at the border of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach and there are 2 entrances: 1 on the East side of Pacific Coast Highway, 1 on the beach side. At 4 1/2 mi. you get your first glimpse of how Mother Natures march to the Sea has been briefly interupted by the hand of man. How Nature, and the hand of Man, battle for control of who shapes the landscape is a recurring theme of your journey, with Man seemingly having the upper hand in the OC. At several spots along the route the Bike Trail switches from one side of the river to the other. The ride is mostly flat and depending on the time of day, and day of the week, you will share the trail with families out for the day, walkers, joggers, and other bicyclists, from fellow individuals, and Club Rides, large, and small. There are plenty of opportunities to leave the trail for food, and bathroom breaks. While there is the occasional graffiti, trouble from gang bangers is not an issue. There ARE few spots in Santa Ana, and Anaheim, where you might encounter small Homeless Encampments under a bridge, and you might encounter a lone Homeless man resting along the trail anywhere along your journey, from time to time, but they tend to keep to themselves. Flowing water, flowery weeds and bushes often appear in the river, and many spots are prime hangouts for birds of all persuasions. At 22 1/2 mi. the river is really flowing, the freeway is on your right and Yorba Regional Park is on your left and, if you choose to continue further inland, into Riverside County, this is your first inkling that Mother Nature only relented completely to the hand of man, in her march to the ocean, only after the river had traveled a few short miles into the OC. At 26 3/4 mi. you come to La Palma Ave. & Gypsum Canyon Rd. Cyclists interested in continuing into Riverside County take note of a little brown sign on the wall nearby. Turn right, here, because to go under the bridge and continue on the trail will lead somewhere else. Turn right, ride to the corner, and turn right again. Following the green signs, to the right, the trail enters Canyon RV Park, then heads into a narrow passage where the freeway is on my right, and the east end of Featherly Regional Park, on my left. The last leg heads past the Coal Canyon entrance to Chino Hills State Park, and Green River Golf Club. Take a good look around because this is the last sight of the flowing river that you will see for almost 15 miles. The trail official ends at 29 mi., at the entrance to Green River Golf Club on Green River Rd., and to reach the start of the Bike Trail in Riverside County means a 15 mile ride thru the streets of Corona, and Norco. To see read my Detailed Report, with Pictures, and to read the Riverside County/San Bernardino County Report with its pictures, as well... go here: http://www.cyclingdude.com/2007/12/rolling-rolling.html

    Some nice fog to begin this glorious Sabbath.
    Francisco G.

    This trail is much cleaner as many recall, once as seen on the highway near the Angel Stadium there were entire campsites of homeless often blocking the trail; it had been a problem for decades until 2018. I hope many of them found a proper shelter or at least some semblance of help. The trail has a familiar design and path and is simple to navigate yet daring when doing so in reverse as the winds will getcha.

    Beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon!
    Linda H.

    There are definitely negatives to this trail, including the freeway traffic noise, sewage smell at certain points of the trail, and as many reviewers stated, the prolific homeless population clustered near the 22 freeway (by Angel Stadium). However, there aren't many lengthy, paved bike trails in the San Bernardino/OC area, so I'm grateful this 30 mile stretch exists where I can bike without worrying about getting hit by a car. It's a bonus that it ends at the beach! If you're looking for a bike trail that is nice and leisurely, this one is more than satisfactory.

    Schel H.

    This place has taken up so much of my time I cant hardly believe it. Light or Dark, day or night, weekday or weekend, what a great place to have available. I have ridden hundreds of miles on my bike and skated a lot of miles on rollerblades as well. It is something that gets repaved every few years which it always eneds with new tree roots growing under the path. This is the kind of place that gets a lot of great use by the general public and ive never come across anything bad here. There are a lot of cyclists like myself, rollerbladers, horse riders, walkers, runners/joggers, nature lovers, bird watchers, kids playing around, dog walkers, etc. It is just one of the best places to get out of the house and enjoy the scenery. Check it out unless you are an anti exercising couch blob. Its a great thing though. If you want to go and have some fun times alone or with friends just go... what more could you ever want... It goes from the edge of the IE in Corona all the way down to the beach near Huntington/Newport passing places like the Big A and The Pond in Anaheim on the way. There are lots of portapotties, fountains, rest stops/picnic areas, bird watching locations, etc. What a fun fun place to go and get out. :) See you there soon!

    Batavia and Lincoln entrance.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Santa Ana River Trail

    Is it okay to skate longboard on the trail or do they hate skaters of all types? Have you ever seen anyone get in trouble?

    I've seen a decent amount of skateboards, E-bikes, E-skateboards and rollerbladers. Never seen anyone getting hassled unless you try to set up a tent and spend the night.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Santa Ana River Trail

    The portion of the trail outlining Yorba Regional Park is perfect for a late afternoon or a midnight stroll.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Arboretum and Botanical Garden

    Arboretum and Botanical Garden

    4.5
    (544 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    Nice place for a stroll. It's no LA Arboretum but this 26-acre garden is free and more of an…read morearboretum on a college campus than a standalone. I met up with a friend that I hadn't seen for awhile and it was the perfect place to catch up during a walk around of the garden. I loved the pond with the lily pads and turtles, and the Heritage House surrounded by orange trees and roses. I was impressed by the amount of orange trees. It reminds you of why they call it Orange County. If I went to school here I'd be here probably once a week. Otherwise it's great to come if you live in the OC.

    Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a free attraction at Cal State University Fullerton. I'm not sure…read moreabout the weekdays, but my boyfriend and I came during the weekend and parking was free when we went to pay at the ticket stations. Yay! From the parking lot it was easy to follow the signs along to the garden. The garden had areas that represented Woodlands, Mediterranean, Dessert, and a Cultivated Collection. There were walking paths but I still recommend closed toed shoes since it's a bit sandy. They had many benches throughout for resting or handing out and admiring nature. We spent about an hour here, but to be fair I'm not that into nature. I GOT A BUG BITE and it swelled and was super itchy. Sigh. I think someone who super loved nature or wanted to take their time to hang out could take 2-3 admiring all the plant life. My FAVORITE moments here was when we came across wildlife. My favorite were the rabbit, turtle, and crane. It's beautiful. Great spot to get some steps in and absorb some sunlight.

    Photos
    Little squirrel friend
    Little squirrel friend
    Dried flowers, check near the back entrance and you can grab some when you leave
    Dried flowers, check near the back entrance and you can grab some when you leave
    So beautiful

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    So beautiful
    Irvine Regional Park

    Irvine Regional Park

    4.4
    (531 reviews)
    6.9 mi

    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.

    *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.

    Photos
    Cactus Wren on cactus plant| IG @moniquedao
    Cactus Wren on cactus plant| IG @moniquedao
    Yellow-rumped Warbler bathing | IG @moniquedao
    Yellow-rumped Warbler bathing | IG @moniquedao
    Goldfinch in Fall foliage| IG @moniquedao

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    Goldfinch in Fall foliage| IG @moniquedao
    Carbon Canyon Regional Park

    Carbon Canyon Regional Park

    4.4
    (357 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Redwoods!!
    Redwoods!!
    Family Photos 2023
    Family Photos 2023
    Fun in the sun :) my baby girl she makes me so proud

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    Fun in the sun :) my baby girl she makes me so proud
    Santiago Oaks Regional Park

    Santiago Oaks Regional Park

    4.6
    (358 reviews)
    5.8 mi

    You'd have to come really early to find parking and it'll be paid parking if you park at the park…read more I came around 8ish AM and the parking lot was already full, so I had to park residential. Parking at residential isn't bad, it's just a slightly longer walk back to your car. There are multiple trails you can go to and some trails have shade, most don't. The trails are great and definitely a workout if you do difficult trails. Tip(s): - Come really early to find a spot to park, otherwise, the parking lot can get full and you'd have to park residential - Pay to park at the park or free to park at residential

    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.

    Photos
    In the visitor center!
    In the visitor center!
    Beautiful trails throughout!
    Beautiful trails throughout!
    Walking across the creek.

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    Walking across the creek.

    Santa Ana River Trail - hiking - Updated July 2026

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