This is such a gorgeous pocket of nature to get away from life for a while! There's so many places to go explore, people are really respectful for the most part so there's not trash on the trails, even people who bring their kids don't let them run around screaming like in some places. Nature is very much respected. It's also absolutely gorgeous! There's little Creeks, tiny waterfalls, the nature preserve itself is stunning, they have an area set up just for little birds to come visit that is beyond adorable, the birds you can come up to you! Well at least they did with us. I've also been to several weddings here, it's a really nice venue. Especially if people put lights up and have a dusk wedding OMG Parking is free, cheaper than therapy, wonderful break from the rat race. This is by far my favorite place in Orange County to just unplug. read more

Such a beautiful hike. It's one of my favorites, you can make it as easy or as hard as you physically are able to go. read more

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I went on a short hike/trail with a group of friends on Saturday afternoon. Our trail was around 20 minutes and at the top there was a water reservoir. There are lots of wooden benches all around the bottom of the trails and also at the top. It's the perfect getaway. I really want to come back here and read a book and get away from screens. I love that it's so local too so I don't have to plan a full on weekend getaway. There was a wedding venue available and I was lucky to see a wedding happening as I walked back to my car after the hike! There is a small parking lot but there is plenty of free street parking. I didnt get a chance to check out the bathrooms but I'll make sure to update my review the next time I go. read more

Oak Canyon Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Anaheim, California

It sucked to have driven from Manhattan Beach adjacent only to have been been greeted with a "No Dogs Allowed" sign as I brought both my frenchies! Maybe that was my fault where I overlooked this as I was going through YELP! searching for a new hike. By the looks of it, it looks like it has potential for a fun hike. Just don't bring your dog(s)! read more

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I'm not in North County often but a walk with an OC women's walking group brought me to the Oak Canyon Nature Center and I'm so glad it did. Get here early because the parking lot fills up fast (although there's more parking outside along the road). We started with Roadrunner Ridge to get the hard part out of the way first. This was definitely more of a hike than a walk, but I was pretty proud of us for sticking through it because when they said ridge they really mean it. We were single file along the trail for the majority of the ridge because there wasn't room to double up. Once we reached the top of the incline there were some incredible views and the walk back to the other trails was nice and shaded. The rest of the walk was quite peaceful as we ventured onto the Tranquility Trail. There were a few streams here to enjoy and some nice scenery. Once we made it back to the Nature Center, we cooled off inside while we looked at all the animals. It was pretty cool! Definitely a great spot to take kids too. It seemed like they had a lot of summer activities too. read more

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Easy to find. Minimal parking spots. Bathrooms available. Lots of variety of trails - dry, dirt, windy ones, and shaded ones with bridges and benches. You can also walk up to the water reservoir and go around it on a paved walkway. Lots of squirrels and lizards on your path. You can stroll leisurely or take an active pace. No dogs allowed on trails. read more

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Pretty nice park and offers some good areas for walking. Lots of shady areas and small benches if you want to rest your feet. Enjoyed the pockets of quietness in the park and also the little signs throughout the park and the sounds of water. I like how some areas were very quiet - at least during the weekdays. There's also a pretty cool stage near the front entrance. I will have to go back when they have performances or something of the like. Restrooms at the front were also clean. Parking was adequate, but it could get packed during the weekends. read more

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Compared to the many trails I have been to, this ranks around a strong 4 to 4.25 stars. Made for jogs walks hikes runners and family outings. Trails are easy to moderate difficulty. Staying on thr upper edge allows for moderate experience and better hiking trails. A round trip can be anywhere from 3 to 4 miles, lovely photo scenic scenarios are available and sears, benches and canopy overlays can be found around the nature center. No bikes no pets plus please pick after yourself. Parking is open at 8am but one can park on the side streets from 7am . There's a educational center that opens at 10 and a play area and educational amphitheater in the open air. read more

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It's been 6 years since I visited! It felt so good to be back!!! I parked in the dirt parking lot. Signs said parking lot closes at 5pm. Trails close at sunset though. (So I would park on street if you wish to hike after 5pm, careful of restricted parking signs). The restrooms near the parking lot were the cleanest bathrooms I have ever used at a park!! I noticed the park had some upgrades. The bird feeding stations have moved to a better location. I see some improved ramps. The trails had a few people, all were quiet. I walked through some cobwebs on a trail though. It was a beautiful day for a trail. Enjoy my pictures. read more

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Don't bring your dogs! We were unaware that this was not a dog-friendly location, and didn't get to walk around at all, and found another trail nearby. It did look beautiful and had quite a bit of foot traffic, so it's probably a nice area. read more

If you like to hike and love nature this is the place for you! A small hidden gem tucked away in Anaheim. I came across this on social media since I was searching for a new spot to hike by myself. The parking area was small, but additional parking on the streets is available. I was lucky enough to find parking in the lot on a Wednesday morning. So many trails for you to choose from which leads you to different spots of the nature center. Super relaxing to just stroll underneath trees, along streams, crossing bridges, and plenty of things to see. The best time to visit is during spring time when all the flowers blossom into their beauty. Such a magical place felt like I was in some kind of fairy tale. I came across the Walnut Canyon Dam & Reservoir which was cool to see. The best part of it all, it's free! read more

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We absolutely lived this nature canyon and center in Anaheim! Looking for something to do outside of Disney that's relaxing and beautiful? This is it! It's about a 25 minute drive from Disneyland, but it's absolutely gorgeous. You get to drive through the mountains and some gorgeous neighborhoods. There's ample free parking and clean restrooms. The nature center was open the day we visited so we got to see some animals like snakes, lizards, spiders, etc. From there, there are plenty of hikes, both long and short you can take. We did a portion of the stream hike which was nice, right along a little stream. We loved the tropical foliage and fauna - we even saw a woodpecker! Highly recommend this experience for old and young alike. read more

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Very beautiful and super easy hike. Perfect if you just want to get outside without turning it into a full workout. Most of the trail is shaded, which makes it extra pleasant. We spotted tons of wildflowers along the way, and it's definitely kid and small dog friendly. Honestly, it's the kind of hike you can enjoy and then roll straight into brunch afterward without feeling sweaty and wrecked. read more

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Wow this spot was beautiful.... Not busy and very clean well taken care of. Best of all we didn't have to pay for parking l lol. My son loves to go on hikes so happy we found this spot on TikTok.... Great for the little ones if you have any. read more

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Came here for a fun Father's Day hike with my 2 kids ages 11 and 4. We had some steep hills as we kept to the ride side of the hiking trails to get up to the scenic view. We did a quick hike since we had brunch planned as well. It was a great way to introduce my kids to a different hiking area and able to be quick enough for a 45 minute hike. Definitely had some good memories made on this short hike! We will be back for a longer hike! read more

Amazing hikes with the whole family. Very fun and chill hikes that cross a nice little steam in several areas. read more

I saw this place on instagram and it caught my eye because it was perfect for what I wanted to do on a Sunday afternoon. My boyfriend and I visited here because we both like nature and finding living species in the wilderness. I absolutely loved it! There's plenty of parking and everything is free. We first walked into the nature center and it was neat and small place with different reptiles and tarantula. Then you walk outside and there are beautiful nature trails that are easy to walk through (no steep hills) I loved it because you can already fully be in the nature atmosphere with pretty views from the very beginning! My bf is really good at spotting animals and species living in the wild and he found little frogs in the grass and in the water! My favorite part would have to be the many little waterfalls you can see throughout the trails! read more

Oak Canyon Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Anaheim, California

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We attended one of the Thursday nature series lectures that took place after the sun has gone down. After driving through very tony neighborhoods we came upon the parking lot amid huge oak trees. Accessing the lecture was a bit of a challenge as my friend uses a walker and could not make it up the dirt trail. I scampered up and asked if they could help. A gentleman in an electric car drove down the hill picked V up and took her to the top of the hill. The visitors center was open and we enjoyed learning about local fauna. We had a delightful time. read more

I went here back in 11th grade, and I'm amazed at how much time flies by. My memory gaps are so bad that I had to read my previous review of this place. Honestly, I find this place more intriguing than the Peters Canyon place. This place has more wildlife and this place has some interesting stuff, such as the fact a huge grapevine took down an entire tree. I've never seen that before. Like how crazy is that? There's areas where trapdoor spiders live, poison oak near rivers, and so on. read more

Needed to be in nature today to feel grounded and be one with nature. I love this hike especially when it's hot out, because the trees cover the path as you walk. It's beautiful the sound of the water, the swaying of the trees, the birds chirping and the squirrels and ducks and wildlife everywhere. Lots of flying things lol, they have small bridges to walk over too and the stream of water you can hear throughout the walk. Such a beautiful simple easy hike with shade. They have different paths you can take as well. It's wasn't that busy today, if you have dogs though don't bring them they are not allowed on this trail. They also offer night walks as well. The path does have a lot of small ditches everywhere so just watch out for them. Especially if you have walking issues like I do lol. If you want a simple quiet easy hike, try this trail. It's beautiful, clean, and full of lots of nature and beauty. Have a beautiful day :) Aloha read more

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There are some great views this time of year (April) Lots of wildflowers are Visible in the distance from the park and the adjacent Oak Canyon Reservoir. Check it out if you are nearby!! read more

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I love this nature trail! like that it's not just a flat trail but you'll come across different paths of grassy areas, rocks, hear sounds of running water, birds chirping, & see wildlife as well! This is a perfect trail for beginners with parts of shaded areas & family friendly too. Parking is free but they take donations. read more

This was the perfect family outdoor activity with our 1 year old. The are multiple trails ranging in lengths. There are restrooms by the parking area. Unfortunately, we went on a holiday so the nature center was closed. But, across from the nature center, there's a small children section with a snake, butterfly, egg, turtle, and tree trunk for kids to interact with. My daughter loved this part! It was very family friendly and there were lots of other kids and families there the day we went which was nice. We would definitely come back to visit the nature center. (: read more

It was an easy/ moderate walk no hiking with plenty of shade and nature to look at. There is a nature center and plenty of creeks. read more

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We visited Oak Canyon Nature Center for a hike and had a great experience. We arrived on a Sunday morning around 9 am and found plenty of parking spots both in the small parking lot and on the street. However, by the time we finished our hike around 10:30, the parking lot and street parking were almost full. I highly recommend arriving early, especially if you plan to hike the narrow trails up the hill. Oak Canyon Nature Center is a perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely hike or get a good workout. Just remember to arrive early, especially if you want to explore the more challenging trails. The refreshing smell, diverse bird and plant life, and free parking all add to the wonderful experience. The variety of plants in the area made me feel like I was walking through a forest in Portland for a few seconds. read more

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Take your family and get out and enjoy nature. This place is great for walking some trails. A lot of trails are shaded by big trees. So even on sunny days get out and enjoy it. read more

No dogs allowed. From the parking lot it looks beautiful, flush and has clean toilets. read more

Oak Canyon Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Anaheim, California

A great outdoorsy place that's close to everything but makes you feel like you are away surrounded by nature. This is perfect for little ones to explore nature thats enclosed & shady. All of the trails loops around so you can't get lost. Lots of people come here to take their family/ little ones pictures. They even have activities & birthday party packages which you can book that includes a hike, activities & goodie bags which you can book. Parking is limited so come early/ you can park on the streets. Be sure to read the signs or your car will be towed. There are restrooms at the center & at the parking lot. read more

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Feels like you're in the forest but you can't get really lost since you're surrounded by homes.

January 15, 2024 for those of you visiting Oak Canyon Nature Center, please know that due to current park restoration and nature center renovations the PUBLIC RESTROOMS are closed. From the look of things, I am guessing the restrooms will be closed for a few weeks. read more

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The park staff are lovely. During Halloween they pass out candy (which was a lovely surprise). I enjoy watching camp activities they host in addition to archery lessons. This park has very well maintained bathrooms (what a relief)! overall, this park is amazing, easy for children, and highly recommended! Come give this location a visit! You won't regret it read more

Came for a family hike recently, nice to see they are under construction and remodeling the area buildings and gazebo area. It was slightly muddy but still a great hike. Many side trails and one even connects you to the Reservoir (where locals come and walk around the water with a track like setting) lots of nature and mushrooms everywhere. Kids had fun. Saw that they offer night hikes which is near. Will have to come back to do that. Come try this spot! read more

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It's a beautiful nature center. There's a lot of shade! It's a great escape from the city.

What you think is a small trail, ends up miles of hiking adventures in Oak Canyon Nature Center! The Good: So much to see if buried in Anaheim. Most trails are easy, some are steep, and slippery after a rain, but I would say it's rather easy. Many different trails to hike, some take you up to Walnut Reservoir but most will loop around and take you back to the nature center The Bad: parking is a little tiiiiiigght The Ugly: it's under construction right now but it's only temporary. read more

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The trail is mostly shaded and are clearly marked and easy to follow. Some trails do feel like you could get lost, but they all end up in the beginning as long as you stay on the trail. And watch out for poison oak! There are plenty of splits along the trail, and it's easy to get turned around. Parking is free and the park employees are friendly and helpful. read more

Oak Canyon Nature Center is one of my favorite places to go on a hike or walk. One of my favorite things about this place is that it's rarely crowded when I go. If you go there early you'll get a great parking spot. In addition, several of the trails have some shade which I love! The bathrooms are clean with a working toilet, sink, and hand dispense. The entrance is free, but a donation is very welcomed :) read more

Oak Canyon Nature Center - Beautiful greenery! - Parks Near Me - Anaheim, California

Our photographer took us here today for a quick photo shoot and it's a nice area with plenty of shade. We caught the lighting at a good time between 5:30-6:00pm. No one was around on a Monday afternoon so it was perfect! read more

I just visited here for the first time today and I loved the atmosphere! Very lovely. Lots of paths to take!

This place has been on my to-visit list for a while now. My friend & I visited Oak Canyon Nature Center for a hike & had a great experience. We found plenty of parking spots in the small parking lot. Parking is limited so I do recommend for you to come early. You can also park on the streets. Just be sure to read the signs or your car will be towed. There are restrooms at the center & at the parking lot. Oak Canyon Nature Center is a great place for casual hikers, families & leisurely hikes. There's several trails with different difficulty levels. In my opinion, I think the more difficult trails weren't that bad. We took the Roadrunner Ridge trail, which looks a bit tough, but it wasn't that long. I would say it would take about 25-30 minutes to complete & it will take you back to the entrance. You will see a snake statue, a log & a cracked egg statue once you reached the end of Roadrunner Ridge trail. Roadrunner Ridge is a steeper trail & the path is very narrow. Lucky for us, it wasn't a lot of people since we came on a Friday morning. So, if you're looking for a good hike, I very much recommend this place. This park is well-maintained. And for you dog owners, sadly, dogs aren't allowed on the trails or at the Nature Center. I love most about this place is that there are tons of shade which is great for sunny/hot days. This is a truly hidden gem! Please come visit this place! read more

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This place is a bird lover's dream. There are a ton of bird feeders near the entrance that attracts all kinds of birds including some squirrels and ducks. Saw a lot of goldfinches at these feeders. Relatively easy trails, good for beginners. Appropriate for families. This park is well-maintained and they don't allow dogs. Left at 6 pm but noticed the parking gate and restrooms were still open. read more

Oak Canyon Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Anaheim, California

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