This is one of my first trails. When I used to be a UCI student during COVID-19, this was a great…read moreplace to escape into nature near campus and overlook the Irvine landscape. However, I don't visit it these days for the following reasons: - It's overall short. - There is no designated parking for the trail. I think you could park in the elementary school during the weekends. There is also some street/residential parking. - It is inaccessible. It starts as a cement paved path and stairs which are all VERY steep. You could stop there, as there is a bench with the same view. However, hill you have to climb up to get to the top is very sharp, jagged, and steep. - I saw some big, black, chunky spiders at the top. - It is very scary and slippery to come down the rocks, and there is no alternate route.

Great trail to do a sunset hike. We did a leisurely 6-mile…read moreLoop. Great views out to the ocean. Please come and create your own adventure

This is a truly beautiful place to stop by. We came here on a Friday closer to sunset and we had…read moreluck finding parking near by. From the main lookout, there's a downhill path that leads you to another scenic viewpoint. It's a great place to slow down and enjoy nature.

How could Inspiration Point be anything else besides five stars? One of the most scenic spots in…read moreOrange County. I love catching the sunset from here, especially when the clouds are just right. Gorgeous for strolls overlooking Corona Del Mar/Newport Beach. Generally can find some street parking, as long as you're OK walking, or, you can park in the state beach parking lots and walk up (good workout). 2025: 74/100

No tickets needed, it's free. It is an amazing view. It's one of my fav places to visit, read a…read morebook, chill, party, or hangout with some friends. Also very romantic for a date spot. Watch out for mountain lions at night!

Came here with my daughter and her friend, went on hiking trails, this place is absolute to go…read moreplace for a walk, hiking and there also has a small park where you can take kids to play. This place has an amazing view and lots of trails for you to go walking and hiking as well. Theres plenty of parking, rite next to the park and it has restroom as well. It's a free parking. Some places you can park on the street and hike up.

Nothing shady about this trail, had such a pleasurable walk this morning at Shady Canyon. The trail…read moreseems 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I highly recommend this hike, and I wanted to do it months ago when it rained, but it was of…read morecourse, closed around that time. I actually decided to do this last-minute on Memorial Day because I accidentally drove to work when it was a holiday. I arrived a bit before 7 AM, and the trail is well-maintained, with restrooms at the trailhead. The parking spots do fill up pretty quickly, so come early! The other hikers are friendly, and the views were great. At the start, there are pretty flowers to look at, and the air was so refreshing.

Bommer Canyon is absolutely beautiful--lush, green, and alive with the sounds of nature. The…read moredifferent shades of green across the landscape are stunning, and there's a wide variety of wildflowers and mustard greens along the trails. The panoramic views of the rolling hills are breathtaking and being deep in the canyon, with very few people on the trail makes you feel immersed in nature. There are multiple trails in the area, all of which are well-maintained and clean. If you go on a weekday morning, it's especially peaceful--very quiet, empty, and feels wonderfully isolated. There are several parking lots and trailheads/gates for different entry points, but parking space is limited (shouldn't be a problem on the weekday).

One of the coolest hikes I've done, Red Rock Canyon starts as a pretty typical forest trail. It's…read morereally easy and chill, but watch out for snakes midway through! Once you get past the woods and make it to the end, you're met with all the red rock plateaus and it's so cool to see and be around! Really beginner friendly, just make sure to pack water and snacks :)

Red Rock Canyon is located at the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Trail. To get here there are different…read morehiking trails but the most popular one is probably the Borrego Canyon Trail. It's only a 1.8 mile hike one way to get to the intersection where you can continue straight to get on the Red Rock Canyon trail. You'll know when you're at the end when you see signs and the large red rock structures all around you. The red rocks really reminded me of the sights that I saw in Arizona and Utah. It was really cool to see some of that in California.

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!