Aliso & Wood Canyons - Aliso Viejo
Ronald W. Caspers - San Juan Capistrano
Thomas F. Riley - Coto de Caza
Whiting Ranch & Limestone Canyon - Foothill Ranch
Once inside this beautiful park, you'll find it hard to believe that a Wal-Mart is only a mile or so away "as the crow flies."
Whether you want to explore relatively flat trails or challenge yourself with its steep, but short, hills, this park is a great place
to feel rejuventated in a safe and scenic environment.
Located off Ortega Highway, Caspers Park is the place to go if you want to explore what south Orange County looked like before development.
Remote, quiet and uncrowded, this park will treat your senses with the smells, sounds and sights of nature in its finest splendor.
A wilderness park near Coto de Caza??? Believe it or not, Riley Park is an island of luxury as only nature can deliver.
Full of wildflowers in the spring and cool breezes in the summer, this park attracts many butterflies and birds. It's a relatively
small park, but once on the trails, you'll be treated to solitude and scenery.
Although fire burned much of the park in 2007, Whiting Ranch and Limestone Canyon has made a remarkable recovery. Anyone who
regularly explored the park before the fire would be amazed at how different it is now. Newly exposed views, new growth and
new trails makes this park a wonder to explore.
Laguna Coast - Laguna Beach
Offering some of the best trail views of the Pacific as well as a glimpse of ancient ocean floors and fossils, the Laguna Coast Wilderness
is a must visit area. Some very dedicated individuals and groups fought hard to keep this portion of the county pristine and
protected forever. Park hours are limited so check first.
Arroyo Trabuco - Rancho Santa Margarita
The Arroyo Trabuco wilderness area is a new extension to O'Neill regional park that includes ridgeline trails with stunning mountain
and valley views. Trails follow Trabuco Creek as it winds its way through deep woods and sunny meadows.
Santiago Oaks - Orange
Santiago Oaks park, while not designated as a wilderness area per se, certainly gives you the feeling of one. It's quiet beauty
and forest-like setting gives you the chance to experience lush grassy knolls and cool shady oaks. You'll love the sweet smell of
Orange blossoms near the parking area.
Chino Hills State Park
Chino Hills State Park is located in Orange and Riverside counties and offers over 14,000 acres of rolling hills and meandering streams.
It acts as an important wildlife and plant refuge while giving visitors over 60 miles of trails and fire roads to enjoy its serenity.
O'Neill - Rancho Santa Margarita
O'Neill regional park is full of winding trails that take you through hideaway areas where you'll think the trees are humming
songs when there is a wind through them. You'll enjoy views of the Santa Ana mountains and the whole Saddleback Valley when
you make it to the top of Vista Trail.
Bell View Trail - Rancho Santa Margarita
Bell View Trail is one of the more surprising trails you'll find in south county. The most popular part of the trail stretches
to and from Dove Canyon and the Bell Canyon Trail of Caspers Wilderness Park. These very challenging, very scenic trails
meander through the hills of Robinson Ranch and even hook up to forest trails in Trabuco Canyon.
Orange County and its Wilderness Areas
What is a Wilderness Area?
Trail Maps
Key Info
Maintained by the City of Anaheim, this 103 acre area is good for hiking and biking.
A wilderness park is "...an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor
who does not remain." (Wilderness Act of 1964)
Wilderness areas play an important role in the county by providing an open area that still maintains the natural, native ecosystem.
Through land donations, strategic purchases, and federal acts, the
county, state and national government have made over 25% of Orange County "wild."
Entrance by foot, bike or horse is free. Vehicles will cost $3 to $5 for parking usually by using a parking machine. Rangers
will ticket non-payers.
Trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
Bring water! Most wilderness park trails do not have water stations.
Port-a-potties are usually near parking areas but rarely on the trails.
Dogs are not allowed on wilderness trails.
Trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
Bring water! Most wilderness park trails do not have water stations.
Port-a-potties are usually near parking areas but rarely on the trails.
Dogs are not allowed on wilderness trails.
Deer Canyon Preserve / Park
Things to Do
OC Explorer