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    Shady Canyon Trail

    4.5 (40 reviews)

    Shady Canyon Trail Photos

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    Incline
    Juan U.

    Nice 7 mile hike, with great views and choices of dirt or paved paths. This trail is next to the Quail Hill Community and their trail as well. The trail includes a lake, so well maintained walk ways and a lot of people if you don't like to walk alone. The paved road is used mostly for bikes but the community shares, just remember to be courteous and make spaces for the bikes to pass.

    Julia K.

    My husband and I are always exploring family friendly hikes in OC and came across this one after seeing Quail Loop was closed due to the recent rains. Although this trail is called Shady Canyon, it really doesn't have any shade. This is an out and back hike and started at the Quail Loop parking lot in the Quail Hill neighborhood with an immediate incline up a dirt walking trail with a paved bike path next to it. It was fairly busy compared to many of the Friday hikes we have done in the area passing people every 5 minutes or so, some were groups of walkers, some family or pro hikers, and groups of bicyclists. PRO TIP: Sunscreen and a hat for shade is very recommended for this hike even in the winter. There are beautiful views of the golf course which has a small lake and a very cute bridge that you cross along the trail. Overall it's just over 7 miles out and back and follows along some residential communities and parks. Loved how green everything was from the recent rainy weather.

    View
    Abigail M.

    I would recommend this trail for any first time hikers. It's more of a walk but it does have a hill or two when you feel a bit of the incline. There's always people walking and bikers so you'll be fine doing it alone. Everyone is friendly and it's a bonus when you see their doggies. I recommend to bring you dogs! (MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO HANDLE YOUR PETS) and please clean up after yourself or your pet. After this trail my dog is ready to pass out and nap for a bit. She's always so excited to come but it definitely gets her tired.

    Yuki M.

    These are walking/jogging/biking trails, so don't come thinking you find any level of "hiking" here. Park at the bottom on either side of the road near the Quail Hill plaza (bathrooms in both parking lots), and make your way up. It's very pretty in general with all the manicured greenery and golf courses down the way, but it's also very plastic, as is most of south OC. Come here for a stroll, an easy meandering with your less hyperactive dog, or if you're recovering from some mild lower extremity injury. You'll be safe here. When it rains, parts of the dirt path can be slippery so walk on the pavement if you like but be sure to keep eyes and ears open for bicycles. All in all, an easy 6mile round trip walk to kill a couple hours. Grab a coffee from Starbucks or Mag's before you head up, then when you get back down, grab a bite at Nalu's or Sharky's or a smoothie at Nekter (or whatever it is in the corner by the shipping office). Have a nice walk. =)

    Kelly N.

    The trail was pave all the way. You can walk as far as you like until the end to Culver. It's about 7.8 miles total. But we walked about 4 miles. The beginning of the trail was steep. There are a lot of people walking as well as biking. This trail is more crowded then some of the other trail I have been on.

    Great view of wild flowers.Nice hiking place. No crowds during the week

    Nice trail with beautiful scenery of wildflower in April 2021. Picture perfect. It is easy hike and dogs are allowed.

    Pricilla V.

    First things first...do not use the address marker that's provided on Yelp. You'll end up at the front gates of some random gated neighborhood. Park at the Quail Hill community park or the Turtle Rock community park. Either one will get you onto the trail, I parked at the Turtle Rock community park. If you park there, there's a sign with arrows pointing out where the trailhead is. So this trail isn't a loop, if you start at turtle rock you'll end up at quail hill, and vice versa. To get from one point to another is a little over 2 miles, so round trip would be between 4-5 miles. Bear in mind that there's barely any shade on this trail, I went early on a Saturday morning while it was relatively cool. It started getting warm around 10, and it wasn't even 70 degrees yet, but it was super sunny. The trail has both paved and dirt sections. It's great for runners, bikers, walkers and it's very dog friendly. There's a slight incline but it's honestly not difficult at all. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being literally a walk in the park and 10 being, I almost died it was so bad, I would rate this like a 3. Also keep in mind, if you're looking for a place within the city to get away and be alone on a hike or whatever. Keep looking, this is not the place. I got here at 8:30 on a Saturday, and already there were quite a few people. My dog really seemed to enjoy herself. So if you want to take your dog on a nice and easy walk, this is a good place. The trails are pretty wide too. However, I have to say, please pick up after you dog. I saw more dog poop on the trail than I would have liked to see. Seriously people, pick up after your dogs. Nobody wants to step on that or bike over it. I also didn't see any spiders or snakes. Apparently you run the risk of running into some on this trail.

    Ingrid V.

    NOTE: You may recognize this as my Quail Hill Trailhead review. That is correct. I mistakenly wrote this review for the wrong trail and am now editing that one to reflect the correct trail. This review was, in fact, for the Shady Canyon Trail. "My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the heck she is." --Ellen DeGeneres This trail will kick your butt without you even knowing it. How so? It's just such a pretty journey with gorgeous views that you just instinctively keep on truckin' even more so than if you were on city sidewalks. The gravel path does make it a bit easier on your joints. Another great feature is that there is a separate, but parallel paved course for cyclists. Everyone can enjoy this trail without getting in each others way! Keep in mind, however, that this hike is not for beginners. The first mile is entirely an uphill trudge. The gravel trail does make it a bit easier on your feet: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shady-canyon-trail-irvine?select=4l5Yzb1oXGdPxFh6ICNDHw#wLZC_-LiwdibvstYqlXA1w Just as you think you're done with the uphill trek, you round the corner to find HOLY SMOKES MORE UPHILL terrain! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shady-canyon-trail-irvine?select=4l5Yzb1oXGdPxFh6ICNDHw#ctPDi7Tr41BFjd_Yv6cu4A So, just as you are cussing up a storm because your legs and derriere are on fire, just turn your butt around and check out your accomplishments: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shady-canyon-trail-irvine?select=4l5Yzb1oXGdPxFh6ICNDHw#-ueGi-FmfoRIt1K9f1VhoQ The rest of the trail meanders through smaller hills, bridges, and creeks: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shady-canyon-trail-irvine?select=4l5Yzb1oXGdPxFh6ICNDHw#kOjTduFP4KfCsPH1CZLilQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shady-canyon-trail-irvine?select=4l5Yzb1oXGdPxFh6ICNDHw#vBlXZveou1EstHBx8ah6Xg You will pass lovely flowering cacti and gorgeous rock formations. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shady-canyon-trail-irvine?select=4l5Yzb1oXGdPxFh6ICNDHw#dXGi1CFjq-2aPqGgUZdHjQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shady-canyon-trail-irvine?select=4l5Yzb1oXGdPxFh6ICNDHw#Wwnoc83gsa5QUJOO-F3wCQ If you take the Quail Hill Trailhead, it merges into the Shady Canyon Trail, which in turn runs into the Turtle Rock Community Center. Going ALL THE WAY back and forth will be around 6.5 miles. Had to subtract one star for lack of bathrooms! There is community park about two thirds down the trail, but since it is a private community, the restrooms are only accessible to those with a key. This hike isn't pleasant without a bottle of water, so you'll have to hold it until you either get to Turtle Rock, or back down to the Quail Hill park at the beginning.

    Cool bridges.
    Jasmine L.

    Really nice views in the middle of the city. Great for walking or biking. There is an uphill part in the beginning but its not that bad, although some of the bikers looked like they were struggling a little. There is not a lot of shade on this trail. Make sure to bring a lot of water if you go the whole way, it's not a loop, you'll have to turn around once you get to the Boomer Canyon trail head. (I have a dog with me and dogs are not allowed on that trail) I think I over-worked my dog though, so make sure to bring enough water for your bud as well! We will definetly be back on this trail once I work the dog up to it more. Like other reviewers mentioned its not a difficult trail, just LONG.

    room with a view
    Jessica M.

    One of my favorite trails (so far) in OC. Great for both cyclists and foot climbers!! I love the hill climb that begins at the base of Quail Hill park. Great leg workout. The rest of the train winds through Shady Canyon and features both a two-lane paved bike road, and a dirt trail directly on the right. Views-the views are pretty on any day you can see the golf course below, lake, Shady Canyon homes, Turtle Ridge, the Irvine great park, and the 405 freeway. This trail is open from sunrise to sunset, is the most crowded 8-11am, and the restroom in the parking lot is clean.

    Shady canyon trail...lake view!

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    3 years ago

    Great local trail for beginners. Nice views and great for dogs. Good way to relax and enjoy the day outdoors.

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Beautiful. Very convenient within walking distance to our home. Our favorite trail in quail hill.

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Fun trail! Good workout for running that's pretty. Good hill!

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Nice trail.Good for mountain biking.I would like to rate it as easy for experienced hikers

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    10 years ago

    Great trail. Great views. Perfect location. Not crowded at all. Centrally located. Beautiful plant life. What else could I ask for!?!?

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    Ask the Community - Shady Canyon Trail

    Review Highlights - Shady Canyon Trail

    Shady Canyon is connected with Quail Hill, and also there is a park across which leads to another trail.

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    Black Star Canyon Trail - Peacock on the trail

    Black Star Canyon Trail

    4.4(393 reviews)
    12.3 mi

    Love it! It's a lot of climbing over rocks but it's great exercise. The best part of everything is…read morereaching the falls and eating a good sandwich. I do notice that many people leave their trash behind in this particular trail. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TRASH! You'll definitely get a good nap after getting home.

    First time visiting Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park to check out the "falls" and it was just as…read moreexpected. By doing a little bit of research, we learned it was best to go early - my husband and I got there at 7:45am in October on a Saturday and the lot was already starting to fill up. When we left at 11:30, the lot was very full. There is technically plenty of parking but the busier it is, the farther you would have to go just to get to the trailhead. We had a very good weather for hiking. It was overcast for the first hour or so, and there is shade when hiking along the creek, and it was partly cloudy on our way out. If hiking during the afternoon, I would recommend bringing twice as much water as you think you would need. Overall, the trail was long but not too difficult. The first 3 miles are fairly easy/moderate and only the very end being somewhat difficult because it is steep. We think the total hike was about 7-8 miles round-trip and took 3.5-4 hours at a moderate pace. In October 2025, the falls and creek were dried out after a hot summer and only one storm in months. It made crossing the creek a non-event (only a little mud and puddles in a few areas), but it also meant the waterfalls were non-existent. The trail was still very scenic and a fun hike. The end of the trail is still very beautiful when dry. Note, there are lots of mountain bikers so be alert and stay to the right side of the trail. No bathrooms, trash cans, or water fountains but still very clean; thanks to the regular hikers who help to clean up the trails. Please be kind to others and respectful to nature. Pack it on, pack it out.

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    Black Star Canyon Trail
    Black Star Canyon Trail
    Black Star Canyon Trail

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    Quail Hill Trailhead - very peaceful

    Quail Hill Trailhead

    4.2(159 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Quail Hill Trailhead ended up being such a refreshing and unexpectedly enjoyable place to visit,…read moreand I did not realize how much there was to appreciate until I actually stepped onto the trail. Even though it is a hiking area, the atmosphere feels peaceful and energizing at the same time, and I saw a lot of teenagers there enjoying the open space. Teens would love the atmosphere because it feels safe, open, and full of freedom. The wide views, the fresh air, and the long stretches of trail make it feel like a place where teens can explore, take pictures, and enjoy being outdoors without feeling restricted or watched. It has this natural beauty that makes you want to walk a little farther just to see what is around the next corner. The service aspect at a trailhead is different from a restaurant, but the experience still feels organized and teen friendly. The signs are clear, the paths are clean, and the entire area feels well maintained. Teens appreciate when a place is easy to navigate without confusion, and Quail Hill makes that possible. The posted information about wildlife and safety feels helpful rather than intimidating, and it gives teens the confidence to explore the trail while staying aware of their surroundings. The value at Quail Hill is something teenagers would appreciate immediately because it is completely free. Teens love places where they can hang out without spending money, and Quail Hill gives them a full experience without costing anything at all. They can walk, jog, bike, take pictures, talk with friends, or simply enjoy the scenery. It is the kind of place where teens can spend an hour or an entire afternoon and feel like they got something meaningful out of it without paying a single dollar. The quality of the environment is another thing that stands out. The trail is clean, the views are beautiful, and the whole area feels peaceful in a way that teenagers would find refreshing. Teens who love taking pictures would have a great time here because the scenery looks almost unreal at certain points, with bright skies, rolling hills, and natural lighting that makes every photo look good. The environment feels like a perfect backdrop for creative pictures, and teens love places that make their photos look amazing without any effort. The selection at Quail Hill comes from the different ways you can enjoy the space. Teens can walk, jog, bike, bring pets, take pictures, or simply sit and enjoy the view. It is not a place where you are limited to one activity. Instead, it gives teens the freedom to choose the pace and style that fits their mood. That kind of flexibility is something teens really appreciate because it lets them shape the experience however they want. This was my first time visiting Quail Hill Trailhead before writing this review, and it ended up being one of the most enjoyable outdoor places I have been to in a long time. I would highly recommend that teenagers go there because the atmosphere is peaceful and energizing, the organization makes it easy to enjoy, the value is unbeatable, the quality of the scenery is beautiful, and the selection of activities gives teens a chance to feel creative and free. It is a perfect spot for teens who want something fun, refreshing, and memorable.

    Quail Hill Loop is an easy, relaxed hike that wasn't busy during our visit, though I imagine it…read moregets much more crowded during spring and superbloom season. With the fog and chilly weather, it had an almost European countryside feel, which was a pleasant surprise for Southern California. It genuinely didn't feel like Irvine at all. A big plus is the location. Being so close to Tanaka Farms makes this an easy stop to pair with a produce run, and I can see it becoming part of our regular routine when we're in the area. The main downside: dog owners who don't pick up after their pets. We spent a good portion of the walk playing dodge the poop with our dogs, which definitely took away from the experience. Overall, a lovely trail, just wish people were more considerate.

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    Quail Hill Trailhead - 1.8 Mile loop

    1.8 Mile loop

    Quail Hill Trailhead
    Quail Hill Trailhead

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    Peters Canyon Hike - 1st timer here w Powee Dowee. Started @ 11:15 finished at 12:37 p.m. 9,031 steps 2.04.26

    Peters Canyon Hike

    4.4(386 reviews)
    9.2 mi

    Great place for a hike. There is hardly any shade though so best to go early in the am, or early…read moreevening, or cloudy day. You will get a great workout. You can park at the start of the park where gps takes you or I start on the back side. You can go for 4mile along the top route &/or the hike around the lake. You choose. When there's rain, it's beautiful to see the surroundings. Otherwise, it's a little dry. I've seen it all. Been hiking this for year. SYOY!

    Review 30/365 day challenge 2.04.26…read more Finally made it here to PC for a late morning hike w my hiking Gfren Pow. She's a regular here and been coming. Have told mee several times she loves this hike and it's a good hike where it's a bit more busier than other hiking trails that you feel safe to go to. Started the hike a little late morning around 11:15 a.m. and finished right before 12:40 p.m. A little over 4 miles. We went to a much easier hike trail. Where it was much shading area until you enter the hiking trail and then it was full of sun. Luckily it was a bit breezy so wasn't too fully hot. There's different areas to park, some where it's free of charge and they have the main parking where supposedly have av actual public restroom for $ 3. We parked near some residential area. Right before entering the entrance where the trail started, there was about 5 porter potties available. As all hikes there are warning signs of Rattlesnakes, poison ivy, mountain lions etc. Located in Tustin borderline of Orange. Not too far from Irvine Regional park off Jamboree. Will definitely return to hike here and check out the different trails.

    Photos
    Peters Canyon Hike - Beautiful Wednesday afternoon w Powee Dowee 2.04.26

    Beautiful Wednesday afternoon w Powee Dowee 2.04.26

    Peters Canyon Hike - Beautiful Wednesday afternoon w Powee Dowee 2.04.26

    Beautiful Wednesday afternoon w Powee Dowee 2.04.26

    Peters Canyon Hike - Family memories

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    Family memories

    Hicks Canyon Regional Trail

    Hicks Canyon Regional Trail

    4.6(45 reviews)
    7.3 mi

    growing up in this area, i've gone on this trail way too many times for me to count. it never gets…read moreold!!! there's both concrete or dirt pathways and depending on how long you want to walk for, the trail extends pretty far. if you're looking for restrooms, there's one at the hicks canyon park, citrusglen park, or eastwood (if you take that route). there's lights at night, and lots of people walk on it all the time so you feel very safe. it's very peaceful and i'm always so mentally refreshed afterwards

    I absolutely love this trail. It is one of those trails that really grows on you. When I first ran…read morethis trail, I hated it. The reason why is because I ran it to train for my first half marathon. The trail looks flat enough, but when you are running up and down that trail 3+ times a run, you realize that the trail is harder on the way up. After checking my fitness tracker, I saw that it has a slight uphill. Well, not only did I learn how to run comfortably at a slight uphill, it prepared me well for my first half! While everyone was saying the slight uphill towards the end of the race was hard, I did not even notice it lol. Other than that, the trail itself is beautiful, serene, and spacious. It is about 1.6 miles up and down, but once you reach the top you can also venture out into the streets without hitting a stoplight for a while. Did not get bored running 13 miles, and it really helped me to become a better runner. There are always people walking, jogging and riding bikes, but never get in the way because the trail is spacious. Also, there are both paved and dirt paths, which makes it really nice. If you are looking for a place to have a nice stroll, jog or run, give this trail a try!

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    Hicks Canyon Regional Trail
    Hicks Canyon Regional Trail
    Hicks Canyon Regional Trail

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    Shady Canyon Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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