Nothing shady about this trail, had such a pleasurable walk this morning at Shady Canyon. The trail seems to stretch forever. I was only able to do a mile before turning around, but can't wait to come back for a longer walk. I did not realize it had as much elevation as it did, because the walk itself feels easy (262 elevation gain for 2 miles). Lots of greenery, plants, and scenery to enjoy along the way. It is both paved and dirt, and I saw both walkers and runners. Shady Canyon is connected with Quail Hill, and also there is a park across which leads to another trail. The possibilities are endless, and all so enjoyable. Great place to get those miles in. read more

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Great starter trail. Highly advise boots made of mud or wet terrain. It gets very slippery when it rains.. Also a frog haven! read more

Shady Canyon Trail is an out-and-back 7.8 mile trail in Irvine. It starts from Quail Hill Loop, passes the Shady Canyon and Turtle Rock neighborhoods, and ends when you hit Culver Drive. There was some but not much incline throughout and is a good walking, jogging, or biking trail. There is some parking at the Quail Hill Loop but most people seem to park at the Quail Hill Community Center next to the park. We walked through the trail and although we didn't go all the way, it wasn't a difficult hike. read more

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This was a really cool hike that we had never been on before. My girl friend and I took our family on this hike with our 10-year-old, 20-year-old and our mini golden doodle. we had a lot of fun and would definitely do this hike again. What surprised us the most about this trail was how it's has such beautiful, open areas the further you get into the hike. It's definitely a hidden gem in the Irvine area. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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Very easy to navigate and walk around. There's a dirt road path to walk on and a paved path for bikes. Dog-friendly but you'll often see dog poop on the path. There are lots of flying insects just fyi so a face mask is convenient lol. A coyote did pop out twice right next to me on the path and had its eyes on a dog that was a good distance away... probably not a common thing to see but it happened. I started in the middle, from Turtle Rock Community Park, took the northbound route, reached the end to Quail Hill's trailhead, did that loop, and returned back to the park in a little under 2 hours time. read more

Medium hike, not strenuous but not Easy but can be tough depending on the weather (heat). It's also a biking trail which is actually an even better option than hiking, if you know how to use your gears. A round trip (out and back) is 8 miles, not 6 miles and I also verified this on AllTrails before setting out. Note it's about 6.5 miles if you park at Turtle Ridge instead of the trailhead, but that's not the full trail. Also there is a lot less shade than you would think, especially after about 10am, so do bring a hat/sunblock and plenty of water. It has rolling hills the entire time which requires some effort but is better than just a flat boring hike. You can also opt to veer off into Turtle Ridge instead if you prefer. There are bathrooms at Quail Hill Trailhead parking lot if you need some. And there is additional parking at 39 Shady Canyon which I actually recommend instead. read more

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. read more

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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. =) read more

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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. read more

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

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

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. read more

Shady Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

Great views and very well kept. Very nice paved rode. We took the ebikes and had a wonderful day. You feel like you just stepped into Tuscany! read more

I just went here today with my friend and it was awesome! It was shady at the beginning of the trail which was great, it's near restrooms and AC rooms. I love how clean and environment friendly this trail is, it's next to a very great park with tennis courts and volleyball sand court !! read more

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. read more

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One way trail through Shady Canyon Private Community. Even though Shady Canyon is a gated community, the bike and hiking trail is accessible to non-residents also. I start at the parking lot for the Quail Hill trail Loop at 34 Shady Canyon Drive, but rather than run the Quail Hill loop, I take the residential trail that runs parallel to a bike trail at the parking lot turn in. Alternatively you can start at the other end of the trail, which is actually the designated trail head at the Turtle Rock Community Center parking lot at 1 Sunnyhill Drive. I prefer to trail run, so it's a moderately challenging run, with a couple of good hills, but as a hike its an easy-moderate hike. The great thing about it is once you go up some hills you see fantastic views. Its a beautifully dirt paved trail. It's about 3.4 mi one way, so realistically 6.8 mi out and back. Depending on how fast you're running or walking I would say it takes 1.5-3 hrs RT. I didn't take pictures when I found the trail because I found it accidentally when I went out for a run, but next time I'll take picks and post them. read more

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. read more

Shady Canyon Trail - Cool bridges. - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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Distance: 6 miles Elevation: 574 feet Trail: out and back Shady canyon trail is still more of a morning stroll, than it is a hike, which is my reason for three stars. If you're looking for something not too strenous, then I'd recommend this place. Some parts of the hike are gravel, some paved, and some dirt. You can start your way from the turtle rock parking lot and go all the way to quail hill and turn back around to make the 6 mile mark. There are some bridges and nice views of the native plants in the area and the hike itself was only really shaded in the first mile or so. read more

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. read more

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Nice incline starting from quail hill trailhead. I have never completed the loop. The furthest I've hiked is 45 minutes then turned back around. I think next time I will go all the way around. It's really nice to see so many people hiking and being so friendly. I love the outdoors! This trail so close to home makes me appreciate living in Irvine more and more each day! read more

Shady Canyon Trail - Shady canyon trail...lake view! - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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This was a delightful 8.6 miles walk. We went early in the day but encountered more and more visitors on the way back. The public facilities among the way .. are what could be expected in Irvine, CA. read more

This is my go-to-trail when I need a medium level hike. I take Shady Canyon all the way to Bommer Canyon and back. It's about a 5-6 mile loop. Great scenery and it's very quiet and enjoyable if you need to get away. No snakes thus far!!!! read more

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The Bommer Canyon trail hits an amazing view of the ocean! I was lucky enough to go when everything was lush and green, so I got to see some wildlife as well. read more

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Great place for a weekday or weekend hike! The path has a gradual incline so it's not strenuous at all. Part of the trail is paved for cyclists, but there's also a dirt path if you're wearing hiking shoes. Wishing I lived closer to Irvine because of the many great trail paths in the area! read more

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Great stroller walking trail! It's about 4 mi round trip with both a paved and dirt trail. There are a few hills so you will definitely be getting a good work out. This trail is used by bikers and joggers. There is a nice scenery and you even get a glimpse of a lake and a small golf course. At the end of the trail, before you turn back, there is a restroom with water fountain (where Quail Hill loop trail begins). If you want to go further, you can continue on to the Quail Hill loop trail for an additional 2 miles. No shade so make sure to wear hats and apply sunblock. Park at the parking lot on the corner of Shady Canyon Dr and Sunnyhill Dr. read more

Great beginner/intermediate trail. Views are excellent. Rattlesnakes on trail so keep your eyes open. Suggest taking trail to top for spectacular views of Saddleback mountain and LA/OC. Trails switch back so the ascent is easier than most for walkers/joggers. There are a couple loops you can take on a mountain bike. Wildlife is abundant with pretty birds, reptiles, and terrain. If you park at the trail head lot you can summit the canyon trail and return in about 6 miles. I parked at the tennis courts nearby and the trail parallels a bike trail and my run was 6.8 total miles. read more

Who doesn't love the outdoors? For those lucky enough to call this home it's a wonderful area to walk, hike, run and mountain bike. But for the love of God pick your dogs crap up! This isn't your personal backyard to fertilize with your dogs crap. I'm tried of having to play hopscotch over mounds of $hit on the ground. If you're not responsible enough to bring a doggy back then at least have them go in bushes. read more

Shady Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

This trail is fantastic to go on for bike rides or for long walks. If you go when there is a sunset the view is breath taking. On your way back you will see some lovely homes peaking out of the tops of the prestigious Shady Canyon. Clean and orderly this trail is relaxing for a morning walk or as a relaxing mid day Sunday ride. I am excited for spring when this trail will be beautiful with the warmer weather and comfortable to go on. read more

Found this trail by searching for dog friendly trails. It's a great, easy stroll. We saw all walks of life and all kinds of bikers and dogs. Very pretty area. Our dog that walked the trail came out with a bunch of stickies and fox tails in his fur. We spent a good amount of time picking them out. So be aware of that and be careful. We saw a lot of cute lizards. Very nice trail. read more

Incredible trail to go for a bike ride or jog, def.. Coming back on my road bike The trail is well maintained, clean and is perfect for a road bike!! read more

These trails are just for running or walking or riding your bike these trails would take you all the way to Turtle Rock these trails are dangerous there's a lot of rattlesnakes and spiders you got to be very careful other than that it's beautiful quiet and relaxing read more

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

Beautiful day for a beautiful hike. Great excerise. Great trail. The view is gorgeous over looking the city. Easy hike. Very friendly people hiking, walking, running, and biking along the trails. Enjoy! read more

Shady Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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

I was looking for a trail to run on after a doctor's visit at the Kaiser on Alton and Sand Canyon and this trail came up on my yelp search! I parked in the area where the Quail Hill trail starts and at first, I thought the Shady Canyon trail was closed but I went a different direction and found the trail that sends you up a hill. Initially, I believe the original trail I was going to go on was Quail Hill (on a dirt trail) but it was closed due to the rain a couple of days ago. Shady Canyon is not an easy trail! Lots of hills but so worth the view and beautiful greenery. I did a total of 5 miles and luckily, didn't get lost. You'll pass a bridge and come across a lot of signs that warn you it's a private area but as long as you stay on the trail you'll be fine. I loved it and will definitely come back here to go cycling or even to take the dogs on a hike! read more

Great trail in Irvine. If you keep going it connects with the Quail Hill Trailhead (after you go up the hill and down and reach the bathrooms and parking lot. There is a biking path and a gravel road for walkers. I will definitely do this trail again. read more

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

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