OC Parks Pass-2024 Annual Pass. Have you purchased your Orange County Parks annual pass for 2024?
For a mere $55 you get access to awe-inspiring county parks and wilderness areas, for $25 more you can get a combo pass for $80 and go to Salt Creek Beach all summer long.
The county’s regional parks are by far the most recommended by Fun Orange County Parks readers.
Last year, it took me 5 minutes to purchase an entry card from the ranger station at the entrance to O’Neill Regional Park.
Note: I am NOT officially attached to any parks. I am a writer mom and nature guide who independently promotes spending family time outdoors. Always check official sources for current info.
Link here for OFFICIAL OCParks.com pass information for 2024. Passes used to be in the form of decals, but now they are gate cards that last 1 year from the date of purchase.
Orange County Regional Park Locations
Here is a list of Orange County’s regional parks officially run by OC Parks.
- Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea
- Clark Regional Park, Buena Park
- Craig Regional Park, Fullerton
- Irvine Regional Park, Irvine
- Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Laguna Niguel
- Mason Regional Park, Irvine
- Mile Square Regional Park, Fountain Valley
- O’Neill Regional Park, Trabuco Canyon
- Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Orange
- Yorba Regional Park, Anaheim
Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea. Multiple playgrounds and big open spaces with lots of trees. There’s even a lake! Hike to a redwood grove from this park.
Clark Regional Park, Buena Park. I think of Clark as the “dinosaur park.” It may even be my favorite regional park. It has 3 separate playgrounds, an interpretive center, and a trail that leads to a hill with a great view of the surrounding area. It also has a lake that is stocked with trout.
Craig Regional Park, Fullerton. This one is near the Brea Mall. Hard to believe there is a lake in this urban area, but it makes it easy to get away and into nature.
More descriptions to come . . .
Orange County Wilderness Park Locations
- Aliso & Wood Canyons, Laguna Niguel
- Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano
- Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
- Peters Canyon Regional Park, Orange
- Riley Wilderness Park, Coto de Caza
- Limestone-Whiting Wilderness Park, Trabuco Canyon
Beach Locations
- Aliso Beach Park got moved to the City of Laguna Beach running it is not managed by OC Parks anymore as of March 2023
- Capistrano Beach, Capistrano Beach – not very accessible anymore because of coastal erosion
- Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point
*Since 2008, I have received complimentary annual passes for 2 or 3 years in my 16 year history writing about them. However, I covered almost all of the OC Parks at my own expense and always renew my annual pass. It’s so worth the investment! Link here to full disclosure policy.
Age
Thursday 12th of January 2017
When I lived in Orange County we used to attend a day camp and we'd go on field trips. One trip took us to a giant park that was essentially filled with smaller, hidden playgrounds.
We showed up and we were handed a small punch card. When we got inside the park, immediately you could see a playground. The catch was, that wasn't the only playground. As you wandered around, e.g. went over a hill or cut through some trees, there was another park. And then another. And so on.
At each park there was a hole punch tethered to a piece of equipment, like a slide or a swing set. You could use the punch to mark your punch card to show which parks you found.
My brother was there too and he swears he doesn't remember such a park. Maybe I dreamed it.
Does it sound familiar to you at all?
Michele Whiteaker
Wednesday 18th of January 2017
Excerpt from my email reply to Age:
I love your story about the park! Play memories are the best. I don't think you were dreaming. It sounds like a dream-come-true to me.
Here's my guess . . .
Maybe Irvine Regional Park? I think your camp might have set up an "Orienteering" course with the punch cards. I took an orienteering workshop up near Lake Tahoe and your description sounds really similar.
Sorry I can't solve the whole mystery, but maybe the orienteering and checking out my post on Irvine Regional will bring back some memories?
Here's my post: https://funorangecountyparks.com/irvine-regional-park.html
Thanks for sharing!