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Old 06-16-2010, 08:24 AM
 
3 posts, read 9,207 times
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I'm looking for nature hikes in the orange county area. Preferably tree lined, or as close to temperate forest as possible. I love that OC seems to have large wilderness parks. I haven't had a chance to really look around OC much, but the little bit I saw ( the Laguna Coast area) it seemed dry and grassy. Some examples of hikes I have found in Northern LA: Chantry flats in the Angeles National Forest and Zuma Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. Please exclude small parks in neighborhoods, I'm looking to "get away" from people, and take out my stress on 3 or more miles of nature.
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Old 06-16-2010, 09:13 AM
 
Location: Declezville, CA
16,806 posts, read 39,945,786 times
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Wood Canyon Trail in Aliso Viejo.

Whiting Ranch Nature Trail in Whiting Ranch Wilderness park behind Foothill Ranch

Casper's Regional Park nature trails.

Holy Jim Trail in Upper Trabuco Canyon (bonus: you get a natural spring pool with waterfalls on this trail)

Black Star Canyon Trail in Silverado Canyon.

NOTE: The last two are within the Cleveland NF and are within areas subject to closure during hazardous fire conditions. Check with the personnel at the US Forest Service Guard Station in Trabuco Canyon before accessing these areas.
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Old 06-16-2010, 09:33 AM
 
2,031 posts, read 2,988,369 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pharmgrl View Post
I'm looking for nature hikes in the orange county area. Preferably tree lined, or as close to temperate forest as possible. I love that OC seems to have large wilderness parks. I haven't had a chance to really look around OC much, but the little bit I saw ( the Laguna Coast area) it seemed dry and grassy. Some examples of hikes I have found in Northern LA: Chantry flats in the Angeles National Forest and Zuma Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. Please exclude small parks in neighborhoods, I'm looking to "get away" from people, and take out my stress on 3 or more miles of nature.
Orange County California - OC Regional Parks

Orange County California - OC Wilderness Parks

Crystal Cove SP

I would suggest the excellent Afoot and Afield in Orange County by Jerry Schad. It nicely covers hikes all through Orange County (and beyond) from the beaches to the foothills to the Santa Ana Mountains and the Chino Hills.

Last edited by Voyageur; 06-16-2010 at 09:33 AM.. Reason: sp.
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Old 06-16-2010, 10:14 AM
 
Location: Mission Viejo, CA / San Rafael, CA
2,352 posts, read 5,253,449 times
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Crystal Cove hike is a great one, with beautiful scenery.
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Old 06-17-2010, 12:01 PM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
30,708 posts, read 79,810,729 times
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Find the big green book "Afoot and Afield in Orange County" It has execellent descriptions and directions of all available hiking areas. It is a huge book. I bought my copy at the Army Navy store in Old town Orange, but I expect that you can get them all over.
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Old 06-17-2010, 05:50 PM
 
3 posts, read 9,207 times
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Thanks for the suggestions. I'll definately find that book.
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Old 06-20-2010, 11:31 AM
 
Location: The house on the hill
1,148 posts, read 3,557,502 times
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Peters Canyon up Jamboree In East Orange.
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Old 06-26-2010, 01:09 PM
 
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Tree lined, temperate forest is not OCs strong suit. I wish it were. We have a lot of hiking spots, most are dry brown dirt with few trees and little vegetation outside of drown brown weeds.

Whiting Ranch does have two good portions: the hike in on Borreago and the backside of Mustard (Live Oak) with a big hot dry no tree having rock (Mustard) to climb in between.

Peter's Canyon has little as far as tree lined. Crystal Cove and Laguna Coast Wilderness both have many trails, again not tree lined.

Holy Jim isn't bad, but don't go durung the summer.

Tijeras Creek has a great section known as the Jungle.

A bit of a drive, but my favorite hike around is the Bridge to Nowhere out past Azusa. Great hike.

Even further, but a good hike is Malibu Creek.

People who have grown up in SoCal don't understand what you are talking about when you say tree lined temperate. I grew up in NorCal. Vastly different experience. Nothing down here compares. I love to hike and mountain bike, but not so much in SoCal. I dream of the Sierra's. Yosemite, Humboldt, Oregon, Olympia, Colorado, etc., but wake up to the nightmare of hot dry brown dirt. Still it is nice to have open areas, just wish there was more green/trees.
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Old 06-26-2010, 01:13 PM
 
Location: Declezville, CA
16,806 posts, read 39,945,786 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by albinoazian View Post
Holy Jim isn't bad, but don't go durung the summer.
Good point. Predatory deer flies that can bite through denim jeans.
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Old 06-26-2010, 01:22 PM
 
Location: Denver Colorado
2,561 posts, read 5,813,671 times
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I have never been to Trabuca Canyon though I have heard much about it. Is this the very best place to hike in OC..I know that's subjective..so I'll say most popular? If not where is.. I have lived in OC..or how's this THE OC. on and off for years but never leave the coast to travel very far inland. Where are the best Mts and scenery in inland OC?--- thanks scott

Last edited by Scott5280; 06-26-2010 at 01:33 PM..
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