Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Rancho Santa Margarita, California, offers some of the best trails and outdoor activities. The top pick is the Arroyo Trabuco Trail, a 10-mile round trip hike that features a river and is rated as moderate. This trail is known for its scenic landscapes, including the O'Neill Regional Park, Trabuco Creek, and various rock formations. Another must-visit is the Tijeras Creek Trail, a 4.7-mile loop trail with a river view and a moderate difficulty level. It's perfect for hiking, walking, and bird watching. For those seeking a shorter trail, the Dove Canyon Waterfall Trail is a 2.1-mile out-and-back trail that leads to a beautiful waterfall. Rancho Santa Margarita is also home to the Lago Santa Margarita, a man-made lake that offers fishing and boating. These outdoor adventures make Rancho Santa Margarita a top choice for hikers and
Top Spots in and near Rancho Santa Margarita
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Canyon Lake, California
Kabian Memorial Park Loop
5.03.48 mi / 335 ft gainKabian Memorial Park Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Quail Valley, California.Read more -
Ladera Ranch, California
Huntington Beach Pier
4.6The Huntington Beach Pier is a great spot for a multitude of activities. If you're looking to bodysurf, surf, swim, jog, or just chill, this is the spot for you. There's plenty of a restaurants nearby, making it the perfect weekday/weekend getaway. I frequent this location to shoot sunsets by t...Read more -
Fallbrook, California
Hike the Santa Margarita River Trail
5.05 mi / 469 ft gainSanta Margarita River Trail is a 5 mile out-and-back hike that takes you near the river in Fallbrook, CA. This trail provides some shade which is helpful on hot days. If you bring your swimsuit you can hop in for a dip on hotter days. Make sure you wear good hiking shoes due to some rocky terrai...Read more -
Riverside, California
Hike Mt. Rubidoux
4.22.7 mi / 500 ft gainFeaturing over 161 acres and over 3.5 miles of combined paved and dirt trails, Mount Rubidoux Park in Riverside, CA is a beautiful natural environment and adventure location. Although some say this is just a "hill", this Inland Empire gem offers a quick escape from the pace of city life. Just m...Read more -
Huntington Beach, California
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Trail
4.52.97 mi / 30 ft gainThe Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Trail is great for birding and wildlife viewing. If you want a longer hike, you can extend the mileage by heading down the riverbed trail. The trail is open year-round. Dogs are not allowed in Bolsa Chica. Bolsa Chica State Beach is easily accessible from Oran...Read more -
Huntington Beach, California
Stand Up Paddle (SUP) in Huntington Harbor
4.5Huntington Harbor is the perfect location for an easy and relaxing stand up paddle board session. Here you will get to enjoy the view of the houses by the harbor, some boats sailing by, and some low bridges you'll have to paddle through while ducking on your board (fun!).There are several stores ...Read more -
Seal Beach, California
Sunset Beach
4.6Sunset Beach is located just 9 miles south of Long Beach and 6 miles North of Huntington Beach, CA on the famous Pacific Coast Highway 1. I accessed Sunset Beach from the South on I-405. I took exit 22 for Seal Beach. After the exit I turned a left/west on Seal Beach Blvd and drove for 2.6 miles ...Read more -
Fallbrook, CaliforniaLos Jilgueros Preserve Trail
4.01.25 mi / 72 ft gainLos Jilgueros Preserve Trail is a loop trail that is good for all skill levels located near Fallbrook, California.Read more -
Riverside, California
Hike Two Trees Trail
2.5 mi / 977 ft gainParking is free at the trailhead, but there is only room for approximately five cars. The trailhead is on the edge of a neighborhood, so you can park there if needed. From the parking lot, head west, and immediately veer right and across the bridge. If you go left at the first fork, you can stay ...Read more -
Seal Beach, California
Seal Beach
4.7Seal Beach is a small beach community between Long Beach and Huntington Beach. Right off PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), this sandy beach is a great place to chill on a hot summer day. The high winds coming off the water makes it an ideal place to kite board, surf, or simply fly a kite along the sho...Read more -
Fallbrook, California
Monserate Mountain Loop
5.04.16 mi / 1247 ft gainThe Monserate Mountain trail is a 4.2 mile loop hike that takes you through a [stand out feature of the adventure] near Fallbrook, California. This hike can be challenging given the elevation gain, so make sure you pack plenty of water especially on warmer days.Read more -
Long Beach, California
Colorado Lagoon
5.00.95 mi / 30 ft gainThe Colorado Lagoon is a wetland that is being restored. To make this 1 mile walk into a loop, you have to walk along sidewalks near the park. This is a very kid-friendly destination. This trail crosses over the lagoon on a boardwalk. It also accesses a sandy swimming beach with restrooms, picnic...Read more -
Long Beach, California
Red Car Greenbelt
5.00.63 mi / 0 ft gainThe Greenbelt used to be the right-of-way for the long lost Pacific Electric Red Car, an amazing system of public transportation that connected Long Beach, LA, Orange Coutny, and even San Bernardino. The pathways are landscaped with plants typical of the area and plenty of native flowers for the...Read more -
Oceanside, California
Kayak the Oceanside Harbor
Sea kayaking from the Oceanside Harbor public kayak launch is one of the best ways to experience the Oceanside coast and the Pacific Ocean. There is ample parking along North Harbor Drive with the public kayak launch well-marked on the street. You can paddle around the harbor or you can go out pa...Read more -
Oceanside, California
Stand Up Paddleboard the Oceanside Harbor
The Oceanside Harbor is a great place to paddle board with easy parking and access to restaurants, and all protected from the wave and swells of the ocean. Often times there are sea lions, pelicans, and other marine life swimming among the hundreds of beautiful sailboats. Paddleboards are availab...Read more -
Oceanside, California
Surf the South Jetty, Oceanside Harbor
4.5The jetty's of Oceanside Harbor serve to protect and stabilize the mouth of the San Luis Rey River meaning the sand and subsequent breaks remain fairly consistent and sand bars last for quite some time. After heavy rains large sand bars will form making for decent waves. It is also a great place ...Read more
