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    O'Neill Regional Park

    4.0 (157 reviews)

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    Campsite #47
    Bailon A.

    We love going to this campground. The bathrooms and showers are clean. In March the creek was flowing, but when we came back on June 22, it was dry.

    Orienteering JAN2026
    Franklin M.

    We drove out to this park to join in on the Los Angeles Orienteering Club event. This is a great large park to hold this event which has so many trails, bike lanes, dry riverbed, restrooms, and many parking spaces. On Sunday the entrance fee was 5 dollars. If you come out here plan on spending many hours exploring the area as there is a lot to do especially if you like to hike.

    Javier R.

    As near perfect as you can get. Wilderness for miles and miles. Uphill downhill, twisty curves, tree canopies, parks along the way, skunks squirrels and quietness. From O'Neil Park from the north to the south of Capistrano. GREAT for bikers, great for long distance runners and amazing all day walk and hikes. I just touched 15 of the passage.... looking to see so much more. I started from the 241 freeway area and headed south. Bathrooms water fountains and great ambiance make this a great place - and so many entry points. Take water, and be prepared to just stay here for hours. Definitely one of just a few 5 star places.

    Bench
    Kwan K.

    About a 30 mins away from drive from Irvine. This camp site is great for beginners or if you want a quick get away. Facilities are clean and well maintained. I stayed in spot 42 which is right across from the restrooms and showers. You can hear people and some road noise fat away but people were respectful and quiet. Overall a great close getaway to stay outdoors.

    Lindsay K.

    I chose to run the Arroyo Trabuco Trail and some of the shoot off trails this weekend for my long run and I'm so happy I did. This trail was a blast! I got turned around because the rains caused the creek bed to be pretty flooded but there were so many other trails that went up and down hills. I ran 9 miles and just over 800 feet of gain. This area is gorgeous right now - flowers are blooming and everything is bright green from the rain. Parts of the trail are muddy so it will slow you down a bit. Be careful to watch out for mountain bikes and dirt bikes as the side trails are single track. There are signs but always be mindful of mountain lion country. This section of the park is pretty close to the main road and school so I wasn't too worried.

    Lizelle P.

    This review is for the Arroyo Trabuco Trail that we accessed from Rancho Santa Margarita. Free parking along Arroyo Vista street. No parking allowed on Thursdays. The trail is quiet and not very picturesque. It is sandy and not shaded but can possibly accommodate a jogging stroller. We encountered quite a few cyclists. It's a short hike down a hill (not stroller friendly) to the creek which was where my kids had the best time! Perfect to cool down from the sun. It is shaded, the water is cool, there are lots of little rocks to look at and there were little fish and tadpoles in the water. Make sure you bring a change of clothes and a towel. And bring water appropriate sandals.

    Patricia T.

    Great state park! Camping,hiking, enjoying nature! The nature center is cool! Campsites are decent size and all come with a picnic table and fire ring. They also sell firewood.

    I prefer non muddy conditions
    Chris L.

    "Huge park with Many Trails." This is one of the larger county parks. There are a ton of trails, many of which are suitable for beginner hikers. Keep in mind that during times of rain, some of the trails might be closed. For example, right now many trails are closed due to muddy conditions. Of course, you can drive to the main entrance, but you'll have to pay a parking fee. Instead, I like to hike into the park from one of the many different trails. For example, there is an entrance in Rancho Santa Margarita which is just one mile from the park. I enjoy running down that trail. I have never seen any snakes there. The county produces an excellent park map, which shows all of the trails. One of the Rangers was kind enough to give me one of these maps, but you can also purchase them at the ranger station. They aren't very expensive, and they are well worth buying. There are also multiple campgrounds, which you can reserve. There are shower facilities near some of the campgrounds. I never tried them, but I always wondered if they have hot water or if it's one of those kinds where you have to put quarters in to get hot water. If you find out, please let me know. So all-in-all, an excellent resource. This is a really big Park and quite a treasure for South Orange County.

    Jessamine A.

    05.31.2020 After being quarantined since March 13th it was GREAT to hang out with our family. Hubby lucked out getting this reservation only two weeks prior. Due to continued COVID-19 precautions, only every other site was occupied. This gave us (actually the kids) three sites to spread out on and enjoy the awesome weather and scenery. The showers were closed but the restrooms were VERY CLEAN! They were well-stocked with soap and toilet paper. Be aware of the front gate hours or you could be locked out...or locked in. LOL! The kids loved the set up of the sites and roads were smooth for bike riding and skateboarding. The creek/stream was very low, maybe calf high. But it entertained the kids long enough that they came back with some tadpoles. There were well placed water sources/faucets throughout as we had one across the road from our first site and then another one accessible at our second site. We can't wait to come back and stay here again!

    Deer
    Maye E.

    If you love outdoor, this park is for you, it's good for day use or camping ground, a lot of things to do, specially to a family with young children. There is a play ground, biking trails, lots of hiking trails, a stream for kids to have fun, lots of grilling areas for day use as well. Enjoy!

    Parking spot next to the restrooms
    Brittney B.

    We absolutely love O'Neill Regional and visit the trails often. Every time we come we see a family of deer, the sun is shining through the trees, and there is always plenty of campers to get FOMO. The best park about this park is my husband and I got married here! There are no fees as long as your event is under 20 people, otherwise you'll need to secure a permit. The park rangers are always kind, helpful, and making sure the park is safe. The park is quite large running from RSM to the beach. You'll never get bored exploring the trails, seeing the wildlife, and making new memories!

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    1 year ago

    We always come here when we feel like getting away from the city life. The perfect place for a quick weekend trip!!

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    3 years ago

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    Perfect for our families first ever camping trip! Kids loved it Clean, friendly, running water and bathrooms!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    There's not much to do and it's super hot during the summer. I'd suggest they add more to the area like more water activities.

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    1 year ago

    loveee this campground! always so clean and very pretty. come here every year with family (:

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    2 years ago

    Beautiful place to camp with the family and has trails to walks and hike. Great for bikes too.

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Excellent campsite and friendly service! Will definitely be planning on visiting again.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - O'Neill Regional Park

    Is it open 24 hours a day?

    It opens at 700am and closes at sunset.

    Which side of the camp is best for tent camping?

    Is the park reservation only or can people just go for a day or picnic?

    The park is open for hikers and picnics everyday without any reservations. It might fill on major holidays like Easter or the 4th of July.

    Is there Wi-Fi or cell service @ the campground?

    Yes

    Are there electrical outlets to plug things into?

    No, no electrical.

    How do I know which campsites have a faucet on site? Is there a recommendation for the best camp…

    Both the reservation website, and the park office have details that show which sites have a water spigot. Generally the campsites in the northern half of the campground seem to fill first. They have about half a dozen pull-through sites for RVs or… 

    Are there showers here?

    Yes - they are located in the same building as the bathrooms.

    I plan to reserve a spot for overnight camping here soon. For the people who have stayed here, which spot numbers would you recommend for a better experience?

    Just tell em you'd like to be near Emma's trail.

    View All 13 Questions

    Review Highlights - O'Neill Regional Park

    Every time we come we see a family of deer, the sun is shining through the trees, and there is always plenty of campers to get FOMO.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Ronald W Caspers Wilderness Park - Seep Monkeyflower

    Ronald W Caspers Wilderness Park

    4.0(137 reviews)
    8.6 mi

    I have never seen a park like this…read more Unfortunately, it was dry on our visit, but I still enjoyed the hills, trees and meadows. There is lots to see and do with camping top of the list hiking, horseback riding and picnic's come to the top. be sure to check out the visitor center. Day use, overnight or stay for a week, it's a relaxed spot not far from the cost. We encountered two employees on our visit, at the gate we got lots of info and welcoming smiles, and then we met up with gloria who seems to be in her element and the love for her park shows with her smile and enthusiasm.

    Great hiking along the San Juan Creek., numerous trails around to explore. Heats up in the summer,…read morebut doesn't get as hot as true desert east of the divide. NO DOMESTIC PETS, service animals and horses only. That's the reason I took a star off, because I think the policy is lame. If I can't have a Dog, Cat, or Bird while camping it's ridiculous to allow a horse. 24/7 Port-A-John's located near hook-up camping. Hookup camping has a water fountain and typical water connection. Gravel pads , very close to being level in Ortega Flats. No sewer connection at sites, free dump in park on your way out. Showers currently down Jul 2025. Water hookups worked at my campsite and in the restroom I went in. Bring diatomaceous earth if you camp to keep ants away. I've seen a lot of campers prop their hoods open or place LED string lighting under their vehicles to prevent rodents from causing damage nesting. Helpful and happy staff, clean park. Gates closed at end of day use for safety. However, campers may still access the park. I like Casper's better than O'neill regional. You will lightly hear 74 traffic from Ortega flats campground. Less midnight racers on HWY 74 than in Trabuco Canyon, but it happens. The other campgrounds should be pretty quiet, they're set back in the hills pretty far. My fire pit at my site h had built in grill. Enjoy the wildlife and scenery, be grateful. Parks personnel keep it clean for us, but don't mess it up. :-)

    Photos
    Ronald W Caspers Wilderness Park - Seep monkey flower can be found by the creek.

    Seep monkey flower can be found by the creek.

    Ronald W Caspers Wilderness Park - Pincushion

    Pincushion

    Ronald W Caspers Wilderness Park - Ez-up with cube tent, personal tent for the luggable loo.

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    Ez-up with cube tent, personal tent for the luggable loo.

    Dogwood Family Campground - Yellow Jacket infestation (each trap had between 50 to over 100 in 2 days). We had 6 traps set up.

    Dogwood Family Campground

    4.2(202 reviews)
    46.1 mi

    Super close drive from down in the IE. nice easy entry gate, reservations made online. Firewood is…read moreavailable at the entry area for small fires at campsite with a built in grate. Site are spacious and most are not paved except for your "parking spot". We brought our RV but commonly here you will find tent or small van camping. The sites are surrounded by multiple trees making your area secluded. Great area to rides bikes and walk. Several birds & squirrels running around with lockbox for food at each site. Will definitely be returning for another memorable R & R.

    9/7/2026 thru 9/9/2025…read more We come to Dogwood every year because we really Love it here. We do the hiking trail twice a day, grill some meats, take Hot showers before bed and sleep in tents. It is beautiful here, the facilities are clean and most importantly you can take Free HOT showers. This year we planned to stay two nights at Campsite #87. But left early, only staying the one night leaving around 1pm on 9/8/2025. During the night around 1am we heard someone or an animal walking around outside our tent. (We have Never experienced any kind of wild life animal or people walking into our campsite before. This was the first time this happened to us). The steps were light and almost human. The light grunting and chewing on what sounded like twigs or maybe acorns and light heavy breathing is what made us realize it was not human. But we were not sure and all of us were scared to look outside. After staying still and playing dead for two to three hours we finally fell asleep and woke up around 5:30am. And started our day. Went for a hike and came back to our tent / campground. HUGE Black Bear encounter. We got back to our campsite before 10ish, ate, relaxed and were drinking tea. When suddenly out of no where I saw a huge Black Bear just casually strolling into our neighbors campsite walking past their RV camper and headed we towards the garbage dumpsters or towards the Rimforest high school. We Jumped into our car and stayed there until the bear was out of site. Then we met with the Park ranger and let them know that we just saw the Black bear. Park ranger then confirmed that the bear was also here last night. And that that there was a Mountain Lion lurking around as well. So we had to be on high alert and if we see the mountain lion to hide or get in your car. I gave my family members one look and within one second we agreed to pack up and head back home. Although we know bears can be seen whenever you go hiking or camping. We never expected it to actually ever happen to us. So to be safe we had to cut our trip short.

    Photos
    Dogwood Family Campground - Great place to come with families from our church.

    Great place to come with families from our church.

    Dogwood Family Campground
    Dogwood Family Campground - The camping spots were really nice.

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    The camping spots were really nice.

    San Mateo Campground - Bench at #45

    San Mateo Campground

    3.6(122 reviews)
    17.1 mi

    This is my third time to camp at this campground. The first two times were a few years ago. I…read morecan't believe I haven't reviewed it yet. Although I didn't this time around walk to the beach you must if the weather permits. If it's not too hot or too cold. It's a short walk maybe a mile. It's not paved and in some parts it is narrow. It's along side the road but a barrier does separate you from the road. But the beach is beautiful. My campsite on this visit was in the first grouping. I was at campsite 38 which had a water spigot and electrical hookup. Also at the site is a fire ring and wooden picnic table. It had a good size dirt area for a couple of tents. During this visit this time of the year were plenty of squirrels running around. Now I have heard stories of car cables being chewed up at other campgrounds so there could be that possibility here too. When we went for a walk, we noticed a blinking device under someone's truck. Not sure if that was to deter critters. So the dirt area at the site is not level in some spots and there are squirrel holes as well. Wood is available at check in for $10 a bundle. Occasionally the rangers will drive by checking if anyone needs to purchase wood. You have privacy on both sides with the help of some shrubs. Behind the site 38 it is open, but shrubs from other sites help with blocking their site. Since I had privacy on the sides I chose to set up my hammock on one side. The restrooms/showers are just about 7 sites away. Restrooms are pretty clean and showers. Showers are coin operated and they do have a coin machine at one side of the building. I did see the staff there in the mornings cleaning the restrooms. Garbage pick up could be daily at 8 or 9 am. We were there a couple of days when they did pick ups. Staff at the time of my check-in didn't leave a good impression. But I heard the person ahead was not so nice. You will hear traffic noise from the freeway and occasionally artillery training from Camp Pendleton. Views are nice from the sites on the outside of the circle. i would definitely camp here again.

    It's a nice camp overall, the facilities are decent, a bit rough, but they're getting used 24/7 at…read morea rather large campground. The weather was hot and extremely humid in the evenings, but the area is beautiful with plenty of wildlife, and a quick 1.6 mile hike takes you to Trestles. :)

    Photos
    San Mateo Campground - Moon showing off

    Moon showing off

    San Mateo Campground - Campsite #5. 30 foot trailer fit perfectly.

    Campsite #5. 30 foot trailer fit perfectly.

    San Mateo Campground - Overcast night

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    Overcast night

    O'Neill Regional Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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