Hiking

Where to find wildflowers (2022) from Orange County + kid-friendly spots. California wildflower guide for identification + safety tips.

Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo is outside the Norman P. Murray Community Center. It’s perfect for family walks near an awesome playground.

Cedar Grove Park in Tustin has a nature-themed playground and adult fitness equipment, plus it’s fun for pretend play or sports activities.

O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon is the perfect spot for hiking & camping. It doubles as campground + nature-rich playground area.

Understanding the vastness of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is key. It’s hard to believe that it’s 50,000 acres! The area was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 2006 …

The Flag Hill & Patriot Trail hike in San Juan Capistrano is sometimes called the Flagpole Hike. San Clemente + Dana Point views.

The only thing I wanted to do in Oak Glen, besides picking apples, was check out The Wildlands Conservancy. It turned out that our apple picking destination actually shares a …

The light faded as we headed toward the hills and our rendezvous point for our special guided night hike in Silverado Canyon.  We’ve walked around our neighborhood in the dark …

Nature Scene Investigators (NSI) are a rare breed. The unit’s top investigators can uncover evidence of a coyote on a trail and spy a woodpecker’s acorn stash with one glance. …

If you’re looking for Orange County hiking trails for families, Joe Anzenberger of  OC Explorer is the one to ask.  Joe covered Nature Preserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries, as well as Nature …