Many cities maintain their own off-pavement trails that traverse open spaces, wildlife corridors or undeveloped areas. These
trails may be in the middle of a city, but they have a back country feel. They're typically only a few miles long, but they
are still worth a visit.
Listed here are some of the urban trails found throughout the county.
Entrance is typically through marked trailheads with parking available on the street nearby.
Open hours are from sunrise
to sunset.
Water fountains and flush toilets are unlikely. Port-a-potties are more likely.
Dogs are usually
allowed if on a leash, but check the trailhead signs for details.
Laguna Niguel Trails
San Juan Capistrano Trails
San Clemente Trails
San Clemente is not only a beach town that has beach trails, its city boundaries extend well east of the ocean where hilly trails
await the hardy. Views of Camp Pendleton and access to trails in the San Mateo wilderness make San Clemente a first
rate trail destination.
Mission Viejo has only two relatively short unpaved trails, the Olympiad open space trail and one near the Youth Athletic Park, but
have several more in the planning stages.
With much of Laguna Niguel's terrain made up of rolling hills, the city's open space trails boast good workouts and great
views. There are trails that skim the ridgeline above the ocean and trails that wander through wild parks.
San Juan Capistrano has interesting ridgeline trails that overlook Saddleback Valley and beyond. As part of the city's open
space planning, these hillside trails will give you an appreciation of making the best use of undeveloped land.
Ladera Ranch Trails
With this park being the oldest county-run park in the state, using its trails is like a trek through history. In addition,
the trails connect to the Anaheim Wilderness onto Santiago Oaks, and Peters Canyon.
Peters Canyon Regional Park - Orange
Irvine Regional Park - Orange
Orange County and its Urban Trails
What is an Urban Trail?
Trail Maps
Key Info
Fullerton Trails
Yorba Linda Trails
Irvine Trails
Yorba Linda has over 100 miles of maintained horse trails that can also be used for people use. To the north of the city is Chino Hills State Park.
Mission Viejo Trails
Fullerton boasts over 28 miles of interconnecting trails, about 10 of which are unpaved. In the future, a Union Pacific right
of way trail will traverse the city. Access to Coyote Hills trails is to the north of the city.
Irvine is a model city for paved bikeways and beautiful greenbelts. But it's also interlaced with miles of unpaved trails, not
to mention over 200 more miles in the private Irvine Ranch Wildlands.
With 1,600 acres of open space, the Ladera Ranch Trail takes you along ridges and into valleys. This hybrid urban/ wilderness
trail is a big loop when combined with the county's extended Arroyo Trabuco wilderness trail.
Peters Canyon is an elongated area stretching from the edges of OC's back country near Santiago Canyon to the full on developed neighborhoods
of Tustin. It's a touch of seclusion without really leaving civilization.
Things to Do
OC Explorer