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Santa Margarita River Trail

4.5 (68 reviews)
Open 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve sign
Melissa H.

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!

Me and my pup
Dan G.

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.

Western Fence Lizard
Jeff N.

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. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

Shauna G.

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!

Information
Veronica G.

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.

Terri C.

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).

Madeleine L.

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.

Mayu H.

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.

Dogs on leash required
Mike L.

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

Grace N.

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!

Hae A.

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.

Ed T.

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.

Alexandra H.

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

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

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Ask the Community - Santa Margarita River Trail

Review Highlights - Santa Margarita River Trail

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 We saw a lot of birds, a blue dragonfly, some fish and several Western Fence lizards out there but no snakes or other animals.

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Santa Margarita Preserve

Santa Margarita Preserve

4.1(68 reviews)
1.7 mi

Santa Margarita Preserve is a very popular spot for hikers and anyone looking to connect with…read morenature. The preserve has several well-marked, directional trails, which is super helpful in case you get turned around. It does get very busy, and parking is almost always full unless you arrive early or don't mind waiting. The views are beautiful, with lots of flowers along the way. I personally did about 5 miles, but the trails definitely go beyond that. It was a great hike--challenging but enjoyable--and perfect for my dog and me. The trail is dog-friendly, but we did come across horseback riders, so a friendly reminder to be mindful of others on the trail, especially horses, and to keep your dogs under control. Overall, this was an amazing hike and I highly recommend this trail!‍

Nothing less than five stars for this Fallbrook hike. It's got wildlife, a river system, and it's…read moredog friendly! Note: dogs must be on leash due to horse traffic. I'd consider this to be a mild hike, more like a nature walk. There's multiple river crossings throughout to be explored. We crossed at six, which was easily up to my knees. The stream was cold, refreshing, and completely clear. You can easily spot fish and we were lucky enough to see turtles. I also love that there's a sign at the beginning of the hike that lists/dates recent wildlife sightings. It does get incredibly busy here. Despite visiting on a Wednesday the parking lot was completely filled by 10am. Highly recommend arriving early if you want to snag a spot.

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Santa Margarita Preserve
Santa Margarita Preserve
Santa Margarita Preserve - Tip: Bring Lots of Water! They offer a Trail Map before you start your walk, don't loose it

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Tip: Bring Lots of Water! They offer a Trail Map before you start your walk, don't loose it

Los Jilgueros Preserve

Los Jilgueros Preserve

4.2(19 reviews)
4.2 mi

What an amazing discovery! You have to look real close on the side of the road because the sign is…read moresmall and the entrance is even smaller. Once you pull in though everything opens up into this lush wilderness. It has a huge parking lot. Once you get on the trail it is well maintained and plenty of space for dogs joggers strollers etc. Bird watchers this is your heaven! There were so many different species in here. The funnest part of this trail is there is choose your own adventure. Along the way you choose left or right over and over. You can't go wrong because it is a beautiful view no matter which way you turn. The best part of all is if you are the type to get lost like me it will spit you out into the parking lot because it's a huge loop. A huge loop with different trails what a great place! The only reason I gave it a four-star instead of a five is unfortunately it's built right on the side of mission Ave which is the main avenue going into fallbrook so there is a lot of traffic noise. That is only part of the trail though not the whole thing. I will be back here on my days off because it's an easy going 1 mile so I feel like I barely had to do anything, got into nature and got my steps in.

My friends and I took a stroll here in the rain. The entrance to the parking lot is a bit easy to…read moremiss, but once inside, the lot was completely empty because of the weather. Some parts of the trail were flooded, but we were still able to find a one-mile loop around the affected areas. The scenery was beautiful with all the trees and fallen leaves glistening in the rain. I definitely want to come back when it's not raining and the trails aren't flooded.

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Los Jilgueros Preserve
Los Jilgueros Preserve
Los Jilgueros Preserve

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Hellers Bend Preserve Trail - Don't stop when the paved trail ends- keep going!

Hellers Bend Preserve Trail

3.3(4 reviews)
6.4 mi

This is an awesome place if you could just not have ticks there. I don't recommend going at least…read morenot when I went which was the middle of April. We were covered in text. Most definitely do not explore anything off trail and check yourself head to toe.

Minimal street parking, no restroom, a fair amount of dog-doo. The views are great!…read more This is a fairly short up and back hike, so we combined it with a nearby hike on the same day to make the drive worthwhile. (Los Jilgueros Preserve around 3 mi from this one). After taking a few minutes to actually find the preserve, we managed to park on the street tucked in behind 3 other cars. Go through the white wooden arch structure and you'll find a bench under a big tree. That's where we ate our lunch with the bubbling sounds of the nearby Ostrich Farms Creek. There is a sign warning of rattlesnakes, but luckily we didn't see any. The paved path takes you up to quite an elevation where you feel like you're almost as high as the soaring birds above and you have sweeping 180 degree views over Fallbrook's rolling hills dotted with cyprus trees, large houses and below there was horse ranch. The hike is uphill, but I didn't find it especially 'steep', but that opinion might depend on your own personal experience and fitness level. When the trail flattens out, there's a small area where you can admire the view. Someone had placed a painted rock garden there. If you continue on towards the large houses, the trail is unpaved. We went a little further, but soon turned around and hiked back down to the car. We saw a dog-walker, another couple enjoying lunch on the bank of the creek and a few other groups of hikers.

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Hellers Bend Preserve Trail
Hellers Bend Preserve Trail - Perfect bench for a picnic lunch.

Perfect bench for a picnic lunch.

Hellers Bend Preserve Trail - Look for the white arch entrance.

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Look for the white arch entrance.

Guajome Regional Park

Guajome Regional Park

3.9(149 reviews)
11.8 mi

This was my first time camping alone, and this was the perfect place to do it. Super easy booking…read moreand not too deep into the wilderness. The camp spots are all quite close to each other with not much privacy, but that wasn't a problem for me. If you plan on pitching a tent, I really hope you have mats (like we did) because the ground is (as you can see) plain dry ground. The park itself seems really great for biking and just walking around. They have long and short trails with lots of nature to look at. The lakes themselves are not too big, but I did see people fishing. There are many benches throughout the trails. There were also many trees that gave me many options for putting my eno up! Amenities: - 50¢ for 4 min showers - the bathroom is only for campers and it was SO clean. The shower was really warm and i actually felt clean after using it lol

Guajome Regional Park has a lot to like. This fairly large space has multiple parks with…read moreplaygrounds, nice picnic areas, a fishing area, and a campground. That's the Western half that is more like the park. The Eastern half has walking trails that are more like a nature preserve. Some reviewers commented about how the trails are unkempt, and that's mostly true on the Eastern side and the Nature Trail. It wasn't too bothersome, as most of the trails were wide enough. The annoying part, though, is that there's a lot of dry, dead weeds/plants that carpet the trails with little splinters, which inevitably get into my shoes and jab me. Other than that, it's an easy, flat-ish 4 miles of walking. Lots of birds by the lake. Parking is paid in the lot, but there's also free parking along the street.

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Guajome Regional Park
Guajome Regional Park - Pelican

Pelican

Guajome Regional Park

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Cougar Ridge Trail - Dog friendly trail! Lots of poop bag stations.

Cougar Ridge Trail

4.7(3 reviews)
15.5 mi

Hidden gem in Daley Ranch…read more... This is a great spot if you don't want to deal with the crowds on the main path. Park in the dirt lot, cross over, go over the metal gate and you're in. You'll see an information board. Be aware...there have been mountain lion sightings here. Really nice views, different paths, dog friendly, some incline.... 5 stars!

Beautiful Trail. It's got a lot of shade, perfect place to get some exercise without getting beat…read moredown by the sun. When you park, there is a trail off the parking lot... that trail is not the trail head. The trail head is across the dirt road you came in on. The trail head is marked by a metal gate meant to keep vehicles off the trail, and there is an information post about 100 ft in. The trail is easy enough for an off road stroller with inflatable tires to do. I think the trail might be a little too bumpy for any thing with solid tires. The trail does have some hills to climb. My wife and I, along with our 9 and 10 yo had absolutely no problems on this trail. We did see one mountain biker and some evidence of horses. I would definitely come here with either if you have them. Most of the trail has good head room for riders and the trails are wide enough to share with hikers. You're on the outskirts of town, so we saw evidence of large wildlife like paw prints and skat. There is signage warning you of the local animals in the area. Just watch the time of day, have a plan and you should be safe.

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Cougar Ridge Trail
Cougar Ridge Trail
Cougar Ridge Trail

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Wilderness Gardens Preserve - Recent photo (from 2nd visit).

Wilderness Gardens Preserve

4.4(20 reviews)
13.4 mi

So last week was my second time to this spot. I enjoyed it the first time that I asked my friend…read moreto join me again for another leisurely hike/walk. There is a small fee of $3 to park and enjoy a walk or hike. Each time of our visit it seemed like they were maintaining certain areas. This spot is located right off the main road of Pala, which you must give a enough time to give the driver behind you with a warning brake and use your signal. This turn will sneak up on you as you are coming downhill at a decent speed. I like this area because it is not too far from where I live and it has a lot of nature habitat that I feel like I am deep in a canyon. You can make this a leisure walk or a moderate hike by taking a different trail. There is a small pond nearby and a couple of benches to sit and enjoy the pond. While on this walk we watched a healthy coyote roam the area. We didn't feel threatened by it. We opted to head up the hill which we managed much better than my first time. There are areas that have soft soil/sand. We didn't come across any snakes, but I see a Yelper had encountered one. We are in their territory. During our walk at mid morning there was a constant breeze, that was a plus. There is a porta potty available if needed. During our first visit rangers were driving the roads periodically, which this time we didn't seen anyone driving in the area. I hope to do another leisure walk or hike here again soon. Come check it out! Be cautious turning into the entrance and also exiting the Preserve.

The entrance to this place WILL sneak up on ya, and it's a steep entrance so drive slow! This is…read moreone of my absolute favorite places to go to with all my dogs. This place is very peaceful on weekdays, it has plenty of easy trails to use and a few that are a little more difficult but not ridiculously steep and there's stairs on one trail! When the rains are heavy you have to cross the river at the start, IF the current isn't crazy strong. If so, it'll likely be closed and you can only walk on one trail near the parking lot. Parking is $3, but there's a year pass option which if you're local enough it pays for itself! They're also closed on Wednesdays and their hours are 8am-4pm.

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Wilderness Gardens Preserve - My fist hike at this location.  You could smell the orange blossoms from the orchard nearby.

My fist hike at this location. You could smell the orange blossoms from the orchard nearby.

Wilderness Gardens Preserve - Another trail, leisure trail.

Another trail, leisure trail.

Wilderness Gardens Preserve - Beautiful clouds, created some much needed shade.

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Beautiful clouds, created some much needed shade.

Santa Margarita River Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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