Santa Margarita River Trail is a beautiful spot for getting outdoors, especially if you enjoy nature and river views. The trail is mostly easy to moderate and great for walking, hiking, or even horseback riding. It's also very dog-friendly, but keep your dog on a leash; simple. There are horses and other trail users beyond you and your dog. Be considerate, which reminds me, pack it in, pack it out. It does get pretty busy, especially on weekends, so expect to see lots of people, dogs, and riders sharing the trail. Parking is free, but it can fill up quickly. The lot fills with trailers. Overall, it's a great place to enjoy nature, just be prepared for crowds if you go during peak times. Also, bring plenty of water and snacks because it can get hot during the summer months. The signage does remind you to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, poison oak, and uneven or rocky terrain. I've seen plenty of poison oak, so pay attention. read more

Some Plants & Fungi found on the River Trail! The trail was amazing. Definitely get there early parking is always packed! read more

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Went on 4th of July and got there about 20 mins before the gates opened with only one car waiting ahead of me. I read a few reviews here and figured it was going to be the smartest move since it can get insanely busy, especially on a holiday. Me and the pup started our hike at about 8am and unfortunately because I'm not usually a hiker, I definitely got lost even with a map. I didn't really know there was like 7 different paths you could go on and well I guess I did a little bit of this and a little bit of that and ended up leaving about 3 hours after. It was a pretty one for sure but be careful of dog poop. A lot of dogs on the trail and not a lot of people picking up that poop. Unfortunately, there are not any trash cans on the trail so if your dog has to go, try to do it before the hike instead of on it. I was carrying that bag what felt like forever. The greenery is gorgeous obviously and the water seemed nice, I just didn't feel like going through it to get wet. Fairly easy hike except for some sketchy rock ledges. Other than that, be cool, wear a hat, pick up your dog poop and watch out for the horses. read more

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This is an interesting trail. I walked about a mile and turned around at the fork. It's a rocky trail at parts and smooth at others. I saw a lot of families with children so I guess they consider it safe for children. It's equestrian friendly, although I didn't have the pleasure of seeing any horses or wildlife. Lots of signs, maps and information. I only saw one restroom (port-a-potty). There's a decent size parking lot and a big metal gate that they close at 4:30pm daily. Oh, yeah, it's free! Enjoy! read more

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Nice little hike. You have to cross water about 4x so be prepared for that. Nice trail but soft in some spots, like beach sand. If you have bad ankles or knees, it may not be the best. Took my pup. He did pick up a tick, so check you guys for them when you're done. read more

Santa Margarita River Trail - Me and my pup - Hiking Near Me - Fallbrook, California

Saturday at just before Noon my Best Friend and I drove out here for an afternoon of hiking. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 The Parking Lot was literally Empty, there were maybe 10 cars, probably since it was at least 80° in the sun. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 There was a slight breeze to keep us cool along the trails. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 We saw a lot of birds, a blue dragonfly, some fish and several Western Fence lizards out there but no snakes or other animals. There's a Board at the Ranger Station that shows what hikers and the staff have seen since June 15. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 We kept tabs on when we started walking so we knew how far we could venture into the trail since they Close the Gates at 4:30 sharp. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 There are Bench Seats along the trail to sit on and rest your feet a bit and view the river from. Huge Boulders are anchored into the hillsides on each side of the river trail. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 Saw families & small groups of hikers with their dogs that enjoyed the cool river below the trails. After speaking to one of the Rangers he indicated the water in the River isn't safe for wading or swimming. There are farms upstream with downhill runoff that flows into the river at various points, so there's no telling what types of material ends up in the waters downstream along the trails. -|Swimming is Off Limits | Signs are posted Everywhere|- 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 All in All our hike seemed so Peaceful since there were so few hikers for a Saturday but it was late afternoon & hot. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 read more

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Super fun and pretty easy trail, a lot of families walking in/out with their pups and young kids. There are a few questionable areas including some rocky climbs and a narrow ledge at one point. When I initially looked it up, it said 5.2 miles in and out, but my watch tracked two miles less so I'm not sure where the discrepancy is. Paths are clear and pretty much shaded for the most part, very clean, benches to rest at and a lot of side paths to explore. The map said at marker 11 you'd be able to cross the river, but maybe due to the recent rains, it definitely was not possible when we went. We didn't see any cool wildlife except for a small bird and some horse tracks. Still, we had fun and would highly recommend! read more

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what a beautiful trail. you see so many things along the way. there are shorter routes or you can add on the c trail to make it longer. i wish they had a few bridges because crossing the river to get to the trails on the other side was no fun;-) the park rangers are great. would be nice if more people picked up after their dogs. There are port-a-potties at the beginning and the end of the trail; these are kept very clean. i always appreciated this. will always go back there, whenever i am in California. read more

This trail is perfect for Spring and Fall hiking! Head out on a sunny day during the rainy season to witness one of the most pristine rivers in San Diego county! I would say it is an easy to moderate hike and is about 1.5 miles one way. It's worth the trip to North county to check this out. read more

This is a fun place to go hiking. We went on the Sandia Creek trail. We did a round trip totaling 3 miles. The trail was wide and fairly flat most of the way. We did have to climb some rocks at some points. I'm other places you do have to cross the River. This was never an Issue when we were in a drought. However, in 2023, we are no longer in a drought, so be prepared to get wet while crossing the river. read more

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This is a terrific trail in Fallbrook, CA, featuring one of the last free-flowing wild rivers in Southern California. We've been here a few times with relatives since it's very family-friendly, fairly flat, is shaded with lovely oak and sycamore trees, and has the soothing sounds of running water along the trail. We do a 3 mile loop with the halfway point for us being the river crossing marked A12. You don't have to cross the river, but you can certainly get your feet wet and do some wading if you'd like. Parking is free and the hours are 8am-4:30pm (***as of this writing, the preserve will be closed for trail maintenance May 18-19, 2023). read more

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Definitely worth a visit. Beautiful scenery. Some up and down on the trail, but mostly fairly flat. You can cross the river in several locations or elect not to cross at all. Wear hiking shoes unless you are going to cross. Just beware it may be rough to hike the entire way in sandals; most of the trail is sandy so it will get into your shoes. Get there early because the parking lot fills up. If there is a park ranger present, they are great at answering questions; very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

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Loved the trail. We visited on July 4th around 9:30a and it was the last spot we parked at parking lot. Lucky us! Right started walking, there was a river crossing path and more you will see river crossing and you will see signs. Enough shades on the trail so even kids can walk. Few rocky area to pass but not so bad. We had two Italian greyhounds and they can handle that. Just sad to see people who has dogs didn't even pick up their dogs poop and I even saw one lady with her family didn't even pick up right in front of me. She even had kids with her and such a great parent she is. :( Oh well we enjoyed walking and saw some friendly dogs but make sure pick up dogs poop and keep your dogs on leash. Bathroom at the start point of trail. Some benches on the trail so you can take a break. I recommend either wearing shoes you don't mind to get wet or bring another pair so you can change. read more

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Fantastic hike along the river with plenty of photo opportunities. The trail is level with a few areas that require stable footing and carefulness. We took our dog along the river trail for about 1.5 miles in and found it to be enjoyable. Plenty of trees and shade and trails which are wide and smooth Parking may be difficult depending on time of year and day you go as the parking lot has limited capacity. You'll also find two portable bathrooms located near the entrance. The park trails are monitored by the rangers and for the most part the park is maintained and kept pretty clean read more

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This preserve is such a gem and I hope if you decide to come here, please keep it the clean and help contribute to preserve the place as is! We came here on a Sunday before it was opened, there was a queue of car and we waited... We assumed it was the line to enter the park. There is only one lane up and one lane down so even if you live in the area, you won't be able to by past the line of cars.. Close to 8am we saw a ranger walking up (later wow found out his name is Zach) to open the gate. Parking lot was small so we were glad we got there early. There were quite a lot of people there at 8am on a Sunday! Zach was a super friendly and helpful in showing you different trails and the background of the trail and the river. The water of this preserve is artificially being filled, sorry to disappoint you! But that is why there is always plenty of water! The trail is fairly easy to do. It is a great escape into the nature. On a hot day, it is a perfect trail to do that will reward you with plenty of spots if you want to dip in the cold water of the river. Definitely a great place to check out but please don't be selfish and think of others! Please take your trash with you and don't move things around. There were a couple of families with kids we saw that keep taking big rocks around and throw them into the river and plucking up small trees. There are also a lot of pointy ivies here so... Just saying. Please don't mess up the nature environment we live in people! read more

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Limited parking. My son loves mushrooms and so we went on this hike to look for mushrooms. The hike itself is nice. There is water to play in and a few rocks and trees to climb. We did find mushrooms as well. Overall a fun hike. read more

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We got here around 3:30pm and there were still plenty of parking spaces. A sign said the trail closes at 5pm however we saw many people walking in at 4:45pm. For the most part, there were plenty of shades and it was easy to follow the trail. From the beginning of the trail, the river doesn't look too clean. As you hike further in, the river looks cleaner but I still wouldn't want to get in there. We did pass many kids in their swimming trunks though. It was nice to sit on a rock, listen to the sound of the water and enjoy the scenery. read more

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Regardless of the experience previous reviewers might have had, swimming is NOT allowed at the Santa Margarita River. And by "no swimming", I mean NO exploring, NO splashing, NO creek walking, NO getting in to look at the fish, NO sitting on the sand and resting your toes in the cool water. According to the park ranger, entering the water for any reason other than directly crossing over to the other side of the trail is prohibited and enforced. This is a big bummer. The trails themselves are unremarkable - what makes Santa Margarita special is the river. It's a beautiful piece of nature, with green foliage and crisp clear water flowing through. Down from the trail, sandy beaches border the river - perfect little spots to sit down and soak in God's goodness around you. It makes me sad that the park rangers fail to see this river and trail system as an opportunity to spark joy and curiosity in young children. Isn't preservation of these unique spaces best achieved by instilling a deep love of nature in the next generation? How will we raise children who care about saving these undeveloped areas if we do not allow them to actually experience them? Sure, they can walk along the trail, but showing them a river and telling them not to touch it is like giving them a peach and forbidding them to take a bite. How will they fall in love if they've never tasted its sweetness? California is the land of excessive regulation, and the Santa Margarita River is no exception. We'll be happy to return home to Texas where a child's curiosity and adventure is encouraged, and lakes, creeks, and rivers are open for kids to explore, play in, and enjoy. read more

Fantastic hike, this area is rapidly changing. I still highly recommend it to any who have not traveled here, it is one of the last three flowing rivers in Southern California and one of 25 of the most bio diverse regions in the world. Truly a hidden gem that has become more known over the last couple years due to a few things I won't name. There are countless endangered species that call This place home... if You look to the sky is he will see Osprey, And if you look in the waters you will see box turtle, trout and unfortunately a lot of carp. You may also be lucky enough to see Golden Eagle that has just been recovered off of the endangered species list is quite a fantastic thing. They have been in the canyon for the past five years prior that they weren't reestablished and they weren't that many in the population but they are on a comeback keep your eyes peeled because this is quite a gift when seeing these creatures in the sky or posted on a rock... fishing is banned in this river please leave your fishing poles at home, come to enjoy the trail and the scenery the sacred oak trees that are quite imperied but still standing erect creating a canopy of shade for humans to enjoy. I don't know what will come in the next year's but I know right now this place is amazing so if you're anywhere near San Diego I highly recommend this trail! Keep in mind that there is a lot of poison oak in the area, although there are shaded areas it's best to bring a baseball cap, and first aid kit if you can and extra water. I don't advise crossing the waterway and always stay on the trail!!!! Please be kind to one another and consider plant and animal species when stepping anywhere with your feet. Enjoy the river read more

Santa Margarita River Trail - Hiking Near Me - Fallbrook, California

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Stopped by trail it was closer due to " stay home" order from Covid 19. Anyhow, we arrived pretty early the parking lot was closed but we drove up the street and parked in the dirt like many other patrons. The trail has tons of shade .. it's absolutely beautiful walking across the River trail the sound of the tranquility brings so much peace . This trail is great for families with children and pets . Nice easy trail ... bring water & wear sunscreen & insect repellent... read more

Santa Margarita River Trail - Hiking Near Me - Fallbrook, California

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Beautiful hiking, with about 16 miles of trails on both side of the river. It's super clean and folks are respectful. You can bring your dog on leash, hike, walk, and ride horses. Mechanical bikes are allowed, but no electric bikes, or motorized vehicles of any kind. read more

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Santa Margarita River Trail (Santa Margarita Preserve / Fallbrook, CA) Santa Margarita River Trail is a nice, easy hike located in Fallbrook. The trailhead starts from a parking lot right off De Luz Road. The trail runs along the Santa Margarita River and it's very easy to follow. In my opinion, this is a great hike for almost all skill levels, and it's shaded too. You'll meet the river at the 2-mile mark. From there, you can decide to cross the river, scramble around it, go for a dip, or just head back to the trailhead. Overall, this is a nice trail and I recommend it. On a side note...I think it's hilarious that another Yelper dropped a few stars on their review because other hikers didn't say "hi" to him. By the way, everyone that I encountered said "hello" followed with a "good morning". I guess he came here on the wrong day or just needs to get a grip. 2019 Yelp Review #19 / Hike Review #65 read more

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Beautiful, easy trail that parallels a river with full shade. Most people come to play in the river. Two critical issues need to be remedied. First, the trailhead needs several permanent trash bins. The current setup is a pathetic temporary metal bin that can be easily kicked or blown over. It was also packed to the brim with trash when we arrived in the morning, meaning that it isn't cleaned frequently enough. Because of this, trash was flying out of the overflowing bin and some landed in the actual nature preserve, defeating the whole purpose of the park. Some others and I had to fish it out (pictured). Second, poor signage midway through the trail caused several hikers to get lost. That's because if you attempt to hike along the river, eventually you will come to a dead end. Several hikers dangerously tried to get down to steep cliff and ford the river to find themselves lost. There's a fork farther back on the trail that requires you to turn off and then hike up an unshaded hill then back down to meet back up with the trail that parallels the river. There is NO SIGN at all at this junction, which is pure madness. See photos. If you do complete the full River Trail (All Trails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/santa-margarita-preserve-trail), the finale is not that interesting as the trail ends and you can continue on to the Willow Glen trail which requires a horse or getting knee deep in the river. read more

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I made a point to check this place out after the large January rainstorms of 2017. I started my hike from Mirna E's Tip.. 38850 Sandia Creek, Fallbrook CA. Keep in mind that the trail head parking lot was locked with a sign stating that it was permanently closed. Fortunately, I looked up the road and saw that everyone was parking on the street. Now there is another way to hike along the Santa Margarita River and that's from the Santa Margarita Preserve but this review is the Eastern part of the river trail... The trail meanders along the banks of the river with a few precarious cliff edges, though this was doable by all ages. There are some benches along the way, and a few beaches to hang out on. There are places on flat rocks where you can actually hang out in the middle of the river, probably more of enjoyable experience after the rain. Unfortunately, the river was too swollen and too fast to safely take the family across to the other side. There are also a lot of boulders you might have crawl up and down if you want to go to the crossing area. Those situations I wouldn't recommend taking the family. The negatives of this trail isn't the trail, but the fact that there are a lot of people walking on it. Not everyone is friendly, so don't expect to get a "hi" from anyone.This is a second trail I've hiked in Fallbrook and the other place also had hikers that weren't friendly.. It's also a growing problem on the trails that people are leaving trash ( Starbucks cups) and bringing Bluetooth speakers and blasting music. - Family friendly - The farther away you get from the trail head the better the experience. - Also a lot of dogs not on leashes. read more

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BEAUTIFUL hike!! The only complaint I have is they have a ton of poison oak on the edges of the paths, so we had to be super careful with our group of kids. Can't wait to go again! read more

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I love this trail. Be careful with the edges of the trail. You can seriously get hurt if you fall. It's normally colder there than in town so bring a jacket. There are cute little benches along the way that is convenient for if you need a quick rest before continuing. You will most likely bump in to people walking their dogs and riding horses but everyone so far has been friendly. Respect the wildlife and do NOT litter. read more

This is probably my favorite local hike. There are several different trails to venture on. Some with a lot of shade and others with none. Some that go along the water comepletly too. I love that the water in the creek always has an ample amount. The trails are fairly easy too. Watch out for the horse poop. Several people bring their horses on this trail. When you done with your hike go to Estrellas for a rewarding meal. Thats my rountine. read more

This trail was one of the most beautiful trails I have hiked. I loved that most of the path was shaded, which is a great quality for a hiking trail in Southern California. The water is peaceful and gorgeous to look at. I hiked this trail with a 5 month old and a 2 year old. My daughter was able to walk the entire thing, however this is NOT stroller friendly. I wore my 5 month old in a carrier and that worked great. The trail was kept pretty clean and it was not over-populated. In contrast to a previous reviewer, all the people we met were friendly and said hi. We will be coming back again and again. I used he coordinates others have posted and found them to not lead me to the correct place, however it led me close enough to find the parking lot. Happy hiking everyone. read more

This is a beautiful trail to enjoy the outdoors during this crazy time. The sound of the water, benches to sit along the way and trees everywhere make it so peaceful. There were people every so often but everyone was respectful with mask and keeping a distance. read more

Santa Margarita River Trail - Hiking Near Me - Fallbrook, California

I only wish the Rangers could park their trucks in the non parking spots with the limited parking lot!

I've been making a habit of reviewing hiking trails recently, partly to help my crappy memory recall the great (and not-so-great) trails I've hiked. Anyhow, THIS trail was a definite 5 star for me. Like, I want to go take a star away from some of the others now! I digress. I'll get to the nuts and bolts (location, distance, etc) in a minute. First, I gotta say this place checked off pretty much all of my Perfect Trail boxes. Por ejemplo: * Mostly shaded and near water. * When you start feeling too pampered by the shady flat portions, you get a decent dose of sunny strenuous incline, or narrow rocky bits. Just the right amount of torture and variety for my liking. * All the best sounds of nature - babbling, chirping, buzzing, scurrying, rattling (you'll hear it, but I didn't see any rattlers personally) * Cool things to see - stream crossings, Indian rock, rusted out old car frame, a few spray painted rocks to help mark your way, and plenty of swimming holes if you or your dog are feeling adventurous. * Very dog-friendly (just clean up after) * It's not too crowded, even when I went on a Sunday morning. LOCATION - From the other reviews, I'm gathering that getting there is an issue. Here's what I did, at the advice of the local horse ranchers I'm staying with (and who took me on an awesome ride through these same trails). There's a spot that horse trailers use for staging and then entering the trails. I dropped a pin there, and the address is 2301 Willow Glen Rd, Fallbrook. (Let me know if that address works, if you try it.) Enter via the metal gate, then go straight on the trail about a quarter mile to a stream crossing. Keep your eye out for the Indian rock on the way. After crossing the stream, turn right. Then just keep going. I walked about 2.5 miles on this trail that parallels the river before the 90 degree weather coaxed me back to my air conditioned car. The sights/sounds/terrain are so nice that this "out and back" type of hiking (as opposed to a loop) was still captivating. Most people I saw seemed to be coming from the opposite direction, to an area that looks closer to what's shown here on Yelp. Can't say for sure that my way was better, but it was easy to get to, and it was great from start to finish. read more

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My Fiancee and I went to the trail recently and were amazed to see swings underneath the road just above the river. We enjoyed wading into the water and seeing tadpoles and other wildlife. read more

Enjoyed the hike with the Meet Ups group. Plenty of parking if you arrive early - before 9am on a Saturday. The trail has some narrow pathareas but overall it is an easy hike due to the limited elevations. We all enjoyed crossing the creek - water level is low this time of year (January 2020). We had a nice potluck at the end of the trail. read more

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Went for a small hike with the girls, hike was very easy we ended up sitting on some rocks near the river. Seemed to be very family and dog friendly, someone in our party did almost step on a very long snake but that's nature for you. Over all had a blast. read more

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This is one of the best hiking trails I've ever had the pleasure to hike on. I'm not an expert hiker. I just like to enjoy nature and this place has amazing scenery. Water,creeks and rivers check. I love the sound of water on hikes. Peacefulness. Greens check. Takes you back to what life might of been on the old times. A lot to see. Didn't go through the whole trail but next I will. I would definitely recommend this hike. read more

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This trail is well maintained and provides a mostly shady, easy (almost too easy) hike that's suitable for dogs and kids as well. I'm not a local, and I didn't find it appealing enough to drive a long distance for, but if I lived nearby I would probably take advantage of it, especially in the summer when I assume the foliage by the river is more attractive (it was dead and ugly when I visited in March 2019 after a winter if heavy rain) and you could make use of the stream. read more

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I really enjoyed this hike! It's so pretty! They are asking people to stay on the trails but they aren't breathing down your neck about it. As a matter of fact there was a Park Ranger named Mike who was a really nice guy to everyone who came through. Anyway, we had a great time! read more

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Santa Margarita River Trail is everything you could want our of a hike. This year it became extremely popular due to the Corona virus shutdowns. Which was both awesome and a bummer. It was awesome because people who normally would get out and enjoy nature were doing it! However, it was not cool how some were treating the trail and the rangers. Pack it in, pack it out. Nature is not your trash bin. They've upgraded the parking lot to the trail with a beautiful wood fence and freshly paved parking lot. All along the trail there are markers Incase you get hurt or lost and need to use your phone for help. You just have to remember which marker you're by or recently passed. This trail is particularly amazing because you can take multiple paths! Also, the horses you'll casually pass by are a beautiful site to see. We've hung out at many spots along the river. Swimming is a must and you should bring water shoes if you do. Tiny rocks, big Rick's and slippery moss! Bring an inner tube if you want to float and relax. Most importantly though... Pick up after yourself. read more

So I started this trail from the Santa Margarita Preserve and finding the location based on the GPS was a nightmare. I've been on this trail before and had previously followed the directions based on a local hiking book. I sure wish we had the book now. FYI: Cellphone reception is spotty so make sure you have an idea of where you're going before you get there. The GPS took us past the reserve and up the mountain somewhat. We had to turn around and found the entrance on the left hand side off of De Luz Road. I will tell you, this is NOT the place to start the hike, at least it's not the best place and you have to walk about 2- 2 1/2 miles in what is sandy beach thick sand before you get to the trail head. This part of the trail, appears to be meant more for horses. It is not clearly marked and there appear to be several small trails. You will cut across the river/stream about 6+ times. This was probably the most annoying part of the hike. You get tired of taking your shoes on and off and have to balance carefully so you don't fall over into the mud while you attempt to put on your shoes. Some parts of the riverbed are very rocky and not very comfortable to walk through. Your shoes and feet will get unbearably dirty and your white socks will be brown by the end. Eventually, on this trail, you hit a sign telling you are leaving the Santa Margarita Preserve and entering the Fallbrook Public Utility Land. We kept going until we hit the main road. Here you will cross the street and atlas, you will find the trail head. Yepee! This part of the trail was more of a pain than anything. I would skip this part entirely and start the trail at 38850 Sandia Creek. You will know you're at the right location because you'll see a small parking lot and the sign for the Santa Margarita River Trail. Unfortunately they were out of trail maps but had some pamphlets on rattlesnakes. Yep... there are rattlesnakes on this trail... along with a beehive along the path and several little bugs. Anyhow, make sure you snap a picture of the map on the billboard before you start so at least you know where you're going. The trail is pretty scenic and several parts are shaded. There are lots of smaller trails leading to the riverbed where kids played in the water and people were fishing. Be careful with the beehive located on your left in the tree trunk. Also watch out for rattlesnakes we saw one climbing up rocks. The main trail leads right up to the river. At this point, you can choose to cross it or turn back. Several kids were playing here as some parts are pretty shallow. If you look carefully enough, you could see tiny fish and tadpoles. You should be aware that the water level rises. When we first crossed it the water went up to my upper thigh but crossing back it went up to my lower waist. I'm 5'2 so that should give you an idea. There are definitely less people on this part of the trail...mostly because of needing to cross the river. I did meet some people that were able to cross it by jumping over large rocks and bouldering up and down rocks. On the way back I did attempt to try this route but because of my short stature, I decided I didn't want to slip and injure myself so we went back through the river. Anyhow, you can take the hike for as long as you see fit. There are some pretty views of the hills with lots of greenery and some low-grade incline and declines on the trail. We did see a gardener snake on this part of the trail and the bees were more active. I could HEAR rattlesnakes in this part of the trail but luckily did not see any. This part of the trail is more narrow but less populated. We didn't get very far as we had already put in a few miles on starting the trail in the wrong place. Next time, I'd like to start the trail at the correct location and explore some more. We ended up taking the main road CAREFULLY back to the preserve to avoid the thick sand and crossing the river several times. At this point, I was over it. We clocked about 8-9 miles when starting at the preserve and going to the marker A26; however, I DO NOT recommend starting your hike at the preserve. You'll have a more pleasant experience if you start off of Sandia Creek. Although, I did not check this time around, people previously picnicked and swam in the water near the dam that is located across the street from the river trail. I did not see access and could hear people but did not look closely enough. Several local people seem to know their way around to the good spots. read more

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This trail was really pretty and close by . We were excited to take our kids and get in a good hike. The lady park ranger told us that they professionals Sanitize and clean their Porta potty's twice a day. Awesome because my kids can barely enter one . Once we got on the trail we were constantly stepping around or over dog . Mostly ever time it was in the middle of the walk way. It's so sad how rude it is that people don't pick up after their beloved animals. There were not enough signs , but we didn't really mind that. We did come upon a few masks on the floor. and bags of PLEASE throw away your trash. People were very polite and understanding of space and letting people pass. Again , if it weren't for ALL the literally everywhere we would give this place a 5 for its beauty . read more