Los Rios Park playground in San Juan Capistrano is a great place to play in addition to its location in the very historic Los Rios neighborhood.
If you've ever taken the train to the San Juan Capistrano Amtrak Station, you'll be able to find this playground.
It sits directly behind River Street Ranch (Zoomars) Petting Zoo and I first covered it back in 2009 when it was built.
Directions to Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano: Exit Interstate 5 at Ortega Highway. Head towards the San Juan Capistrano Mission and continue on Del Obispo. After you cross Camino Capistrano and the railroad tracks, make an immediate right onto Paseo Adelanto. You'll see the parking lot come up on your right past River Street Marketplace and Zoomars River Street Ranch. It's marked by a large boulder with "Los Rios Park" written on it. [As of 2025, there is now a fee of $2/hour to park here.] This is a great illustration of how my map markers work better than an navigation system. You need to park off Paseo Adelanto - NOT Los Rios Street which is mostly for pedestrians and you will be really embarrassed if you are accidentally driving on that street! (Park Address: 31791 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano) MAP to Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano
Highlights:
The location is incredibly rich in history. The Los Rios District is the "oldest neighborhood in California" according to this website featuring info about the homes and historic buildings.
If you enter the park from the train station, you'll see lovely black and white historic photographs set into the garden wall.
The playground structure is dark wood with iron accents. You'll really feel like you're in the Old West. My kids immediately starting pretending they were at the ranch and trading post.
I absolutely love the REAL children's saddles atop the telephone pole horses. They have withstood wear & tear and the city is good about replacing them. It's such a clever and authentic addition.
We also loved "The Grand Canyon" - our nickname for huge climbing boulders.
The picnic area is covered with a lush trellis of grape vines to shade the picnic tables. Many of the tables were built to be accessible. There is another set of picnic tables on your way from the park into the Los Rios Historic District.
Kids get a thrill hearing the train rumbling and whistling through the depot.
Pair your trip with nearby Heritage Barbecue and a stroll around the Los Rios Neighborhood to make a day out of it. Or go early and grab coffee at Hidden House Coffee. Also, River Street Marketplace is officially open with lots of food options including a mini food court and a McConnell's ice cream.
There are two baby swings and two bench swings at this playground.
Many are happy to know there are restrooms nearby.
Be Aware:
This park now requires a $2/hr parking fee. The dirt parking lot has been paved. Payment machines have been installed. And even parking adjacent to the park along the street requires payment for numbered spaces through an app. For now, there is a dirt lot around the corner and BEHIND the playground, that doesn’t require payment (yet). You just need to drive past the playground to the dead end, turn right, and then turn right into the lot.
The water feature - a pump with a ramp - used to run in the summer, but the pump part is no longer in operation.
Make sure you accompany your children to the restrooms at any park!
If you plan to picnic, you might want to bring a little whisk broom and/or tablecloth because at certain times of year, the grapes drop onto the tables. Easy to brush them off!
Open 8am to Sunset.
Checklist:
- Parking in a small dedicated DIRT lot. Or just past the playground they opened a big NEW lot.
- Bark play surface
- Restrooms locked with a key code after hours
- Two sets of drinking fountains - one near the restrooms and one closer to the playground
- Sycamores provide shade for bench area
- Lots of picnic tables nearby the playground and closer to Paseo Adelanto, as well as right in between the park and Los Rios Street
- Easy to see the kids from all viewpoints and plenty of benches
- Official City of San Juan Capistrano park info
This is the 2nd picnic area just outside the park:
Wanted to leave in this "historic" photo of when Los Rios Park playground was first installed. The grape trellis hadn't grown in yet and the sycamores are small. There's lots more shade these days!
Then (looks empty):
Now (so lush):
Originally published in 2009.
