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    Peters Canyon Hike

    4.4 (386 reviews)

    Peters Canyon Hike Photos

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    Danny F.

    One of my favorite places to go hiking and just walking around. The paths are wide and there are many different paths to choose from with shade.

    RedMoon 6.

    This park has amazing hikes, I did the entire park finally. Great views and friendly people. There is convenient parking with a $3.00 fee. There was this awesome girl who was leaving while I was driving in and she was super kind enough to give me her parking pass!! What a lovely person! Sorry for the horrible pictures :(

    Becky C.

    Great spot for a relaxing hike! Brought my dog, and there was plenty of space to walk and explore. The trail is huge with nice views, and I liked that there were different difficulty levels to choose from. A really peaceful place to get outside and enjoy nature!!

    Coming from the tustin side
    Dr. Amelia H.

    Always a nice peaceful everyday walk. Great to take dogs on the trail too. Swim steep hills going up or down on the orange entrance side and can be a bit slippery gravel. From end to end a good walk for about 5000-8000 steps. Lots of allergens for those that may break out in hives or sneezes as you get closer to the tustin side.

    trail
    Dj M.

    I've been hiking here for years and it's one of my favorite places to go. You can either park at the official "entrance" or down by the elementary school which is where most locals and myself enter the hike. Parking gets packed during peak hours like early morning or right before sunset so plan accordingly. I try to come here earlier in the day to avoid the summer heat -- keep in mind it starts getting hot and sunny around 10 am. There are several routes you can take that vary in difficulty. I find this to be a medium to difficult hike with a good amount of hills and steep inclines. Right now in the summer there's a lot of flys, the plants are dried out, and it's all sun on the trail. But don't let that discourage you! If you're looking to break a sweat and get a good workout in, just come early. During the spring this trail is so beautiful with greenery, flowers, and of course bees. It's also a dog friendly hike, just watch out for rattlesnakes and coyotes.

    Mohammed N.

    Hike was great. Great place to walk around and hang out pretty cool place to chill and walk

    Steven N.

    Peters Canyon has been a staple in the community. I have been going to hike here at least since 2010 and while some things have changed it remains clean and beautiful. This is a great beginner hike for someone who wants to just network the park. There's hills that get your blood pumping sprinkled around. Watch out for wildlife and be aware of your surroundings. After the heavy rains, Peter is as lush and beautiful as ever. Native Wildflowers are scattered about and the park is filled with color. After remodeling the side closer to the free street parking (I prefer the $paid$ lot), I think it has become way more baby stroller friendly. We use a BOB jogger all terrain pro and it handles this hike easy. This is an amazing hike.

    Nancy S.

    Created a hiking group this New Years and this was our first hike of the year! We enjoyed over 5 miles of hiking, nature and trails! Dogs welcome too! Lots of different trails and loops. Many access points as well. Highly recommend for solo hikes or group hiking. There were even some bicycles on the trails. It was a great hike to start off the New Year! Will be back! Don't forget to pay for parking before you go. There are two pay stations available. Or get a parks pass from your local library!

    Beautiful sunset hike.
    Judy C.

    It was Saturday around 530pm. Was planning to park on the south side but all the street parking was taken. Drove to the north side parking lot, plenty of parking and the machine said "$3 to park until 5pm" so I assume it's free after 5. Only had about an hour (before 8pm sunset) but it was enough to do a loop CCW around the reservoir. Trail was a mix of easy and moderate. Saw a lot of wild rabbits. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of flowers and plants. It was pretty with the reservoir and sunset backdrop. Only came across 10 people, maybe because it was pretty late. Got back to the parking lot around 802pm and one gate was closed already. Saw the park ranger pulling up around 810pm so guessing he was closing the other gate shortly; there were still a few cars in the lot, wonder how long he sticks around. Nice evening, will check out the south side next time.

    Erika R.

    Peters Canyon Hike is a fun, easy local hike! It's near roads and homes so you don't feel so isolated and feel like you're in the depths of nature. I felt safe when I did quick solo hikes. My phone also never lost service so I was able to listen to music without any problem. Parking is $3 which I don't mind since it goes towards Peters Canyon! The parking pass is good for the whole day until closing. Actual restrooms are available by the parking lot which I thought were pretty clean. There are many different trail options with various levels of difficulty which you can enter pretty much anywhere from the parking lot. The pathways are labeled with difficulty level and arrows. It's pretty fun to go all different ways and see which path you end up on. Be prepared for dirt roads, some steep hills, possible mud if it rained, horse/dog poop and the sun shining! This hike is kid and dog friendly! Like I said, I've always felt safe here. There are always plenty of other hikers when I've gone. I have yet to encounter a wild animal. Poison oak signs and "stay on trail" signs are scattered throughout so you should obviously stay on the trail for your own safety.

    Walking
    Brenda A.

    Nice hiking trail!! I would say it's fairly easy with two tough hills. I saw people running up them so it might just be me who is out of shape lol. The hike took us about 1 hr to complete. Saw some kids jumping into the water reservoir, saw some mountain bikers, lots of joggers, and bees! Careful for snakes! We didn't see any but there were a few signs. There is NO shade.. come prepared! Loved it

    Javier R.

    Definitely a strong 4.5 location. There's a north side with paid parking and a south side with street parking, with lower lake dr being a great location to park if the north is busy. Round trip from n to s can be around 4.5 miles to 5.5 miles. A variety of trails, inclines of 2° to around 15° rolling hills, long hill climbs, many rest area with benches and delightful picturesque sceneries. Great for bike riders, joggers runners hikes and walks. Pet friendly with leash and please bring comfortable workout shoes and water and clean up after yourself. Many small trails makes the adventure fun, exhaustive and complete. This trail can extend towards the north, Irvine park or to the south towards the river paths in Irvine. Whats missing is a park for the kids or possibly warer stations.... beyond that, a great place to chill out ... Get to it slow poke!

    Sandy B.

    Great hiking spot with entrances in both Tustin and Orange. Tustin has free parking and Orange has a pay kiosk lot. There are paths, hills, and lots of photo op spots. Dogs, horses, bikes, and walkers all share the paths together.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Peters Canyon Hike Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Peters Canyon Hike

    Can dogs be off-leash?

    OC Parks says dogs must be on a leash.

    What time they close?

    It closes at sunset.

    Is this trail closed right now?

    No, it is not.

    Is the parking lot closed? If so, where do you park?

    The parking lot is located at 8548 Canyon View Ave, Orange, CA 92869.

    Are the trail closed right now due to the pandemic?

    It was closed the first week this thing started but there was still a lot of people. I went last weekend and they opened it up again.

    Is there any shade along the trails or you're always under the sun?

    Not along the trails. There's a few spots before/after big red (depending on which way ur coming from)

    Has anyone backpacked this loop? I want to take my kids for an overnight but can't find any campsite info.

    The park closes at sunset. Not aware of anyone camping in the area. I would not suggest camping there, no camp sites and a natural wildlife habitat. Many coyotes, snakes, raccoons, bobcats etc. I would suggest to check (www.alltrails.com) for more… 

    Do you knw if they close at a certain hour? can you go any time during the day?

    7am to Sunset. When walking back in the dark make sure you have a flashlight. People typically use there cell phone as a light but make sure it is charged.

    How do you find which trail is the easy trail? Is it clearly marked?

    The trails are marked but unsure which is an easy trail. I would always suggest to start at the South Entrance (Tustin). On the way back you can cut down and take the flat way back which is much easier versus the same hillside you went up. I would… 

    Are there any snakes or dangerous animals along the trail?

    No. I haven't come across anything dangerous, and I hike here pretty often. You will see warning signs of rattle snakes, but don't worry. Enjoy and have fun exploring!

    How long is the hike?

    The hike up to the top and back down takes me maybe an hour, at most? There are a lot of detours on the hike to shorten it, but I take the main route and it's usually about an hour with a few stops. There are also plenty of ways to extend your… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Peters Canyon Hike

    Park along the side or on the school lot (during non school hours) +A couple of trails that you can take.

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    Black Star Canyon Trail

    Black Star Canyon Trail

    4.4
    (393 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    Love it! It's a lot of climbing over rocks but it's great exercise. The best part of everything is…read morereaching the falls and eating a good sandwich. I do notice that many people leave their trash behind in this particular trail. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TRASH! You'll definitely get a good nap after getting home.

    First time visiting Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park to check out the "falls" and it was just as…read moreexpected. By doing a little bit of research, we learned it was best to go early - my husband and I got there at 7:45am in October on a Saturday and the lot was already starting to fill up. When we left at 11:30, the lot was very full. There is technically plenty of parking but the busier it is, the farther you would have to go just to get to the trailhead. We had a very good weather for hiking. It was overcast for the first hour or so, and there is shade when hiking along the creek, and it was partly cloudy on our way out. If hiking during the afternoon, I would recommend bringing twice as much water as you think you would need. Overall, the trail was long but not too difficult. The first 3 miles are fairly easy/moderate and only the very end being somewhat difficult because it is steep. We think the total hike was about 7-8 miles round-trip and took 3.5-4 hours at a moderate pace. In October 2025, the falls and creek were dried out after a hot summer and only one storm in months. It made crossing the creek a non-event (only a little mud and puddles in a few areas), but it also meant the waterfalls were non-existent. The trail was still very scenic and a fun hike. The end of the trail is still very beautiful when dry. Note, there are lots of mountain bikers so be alert and stay to the right side of the trail. No bathrooms, trash cans, or water fountains but still very clean; thanks to the regular hikers who help to clean up the trails. Please be kind to others and respectful to nature. Pack it on, pack it out.

    Photos
    In the bush
    In the bush
    Big back hiking club
    Big back hiking club
    Black Star Canyon Trail

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    Red Rock Canyon

    Red Rock Canyon

    4.7
    (135 reviews)
    7.7 mi

    Red Rock Canyon is located in the City of Lake Forest. Who knew one could view glimpses of red rock…read moreformations and plateaus in Orange County? When we arrived around 8:30 on a Saturday morning, the paid parking lot was already full. There are very few parking spaces overall in the paid $3 lot. We ended up as Ralph's customers that morning and found a couple of last-minute items that we needed before starting our hike. It was a nice and cool morning with a slight breeze, which was perfect to kick off our hike. We opted to take the easy trail, Borrego Canyon Trail. There is a lot of soft sand through out parts of the trail, similar to a beach like sensation for your walking pleasure. It also felt like a magical forest during some areas with trickling streams. We also experienced some parts full of various sized rocks. This is NOT a child- friendly trail for little ones. As we approached parts that were more desert like, we got closer to the red rocks. There was much anticipation to the end and the trail concludes with what feels like a small dead end as you gaze into the view of the towering red rocks. Going downhill was much quicker and fun. It was an easy trail with some sections that forced me to go slower as I didn't want to slip on some small rocks. There was so much positivity coming from other hikers and bicyclists. So many good mornings shared, it was contagious. Bicyclists are one-way so they are only coming from behind you and so many were thankful for us moving out of their way. I've never experienced such polite and friendly trail enthusiasts. I'd love to return to experience this beautiful trail again.

    What a great hike! The shade was wonderful, and everyone on the trail was so respectful of space…read more(thank you, bikers). It gets a little narrow as you get closer to the rock formations, but still highly recommend either way.

    Photos
    I'm definitely on Mars!
    I'm definitely on Mars!
    Red Rock Canyon
    Red Rock Canyon

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    Santiago Oaks Regional Park

    Santiago Oaks Regional Park

    4.6
    (357 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    You'd have to come really early to find parking and it'll be paid parking if you park at the park…read more I came around 8ish AM and the parking lot was already full, so I had to park residential. Parking at residential isn't bad, it's just a slightly longer walk back to your car. There are multiple trails you can go to and some trails have shade, most don't. The trails are great and definitely a workout if you do difficult trails. Tip(s): - Come really early to find a spot to park, otherwise, the parking lot can get full and you'd have to park residential - Pay to park at the park or free to park at residential

    Santiago Oaks is definitely only of the best and most expansive places to hike in OC. Also it is…read moredog friendly on all trails! Parking is $5 on weekends and the parking lot is quite small and fills up quickly... I recommend leveraging the few other access points in other parts of the park where there is free neighborhood parking. You can look up these access points on AllTrails but the two most popular ones are: 1) Parking at Anaheim Hills Elementary School (you can park here on the weekends). From here you can access a plethora of trails. 2) Also parking at Anaheim Hills Riding and Walking Trail (look it up on Google Maps). From here, most people do the Weir Canyon Trail loop. There are so many interconnecting trails you can explore this place over multiple visits. There are also a lot of mountain bikers (many of which go very fast) so be aware of your surroundings and don't assume they will slow down for you. Especially if you have a dog, watch out for your leash or bikers zooming past you. Overall the views here are incredible and I never feel like it gets overly crowded. It is a very immersive park. There are a wide variety of trails ranging from very challenging to easy.

    Photos
    In the visitor center!
    In the visitor center!
    Beautiful trails throughout!
    Beautiful trails throughout!
    Walking across the creek.

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    Walking across the creek.
    El Moro Trails & Crystal Cove State Beach

    El Moro Trails & Crystal Cove State Beach

    4.4
    (214 reviews)
    13.0 mi

    Today I drove down from Los Angeles to visit these beautiful trails. I wanted something peaceful…read more The trail was quite sunny at 9 AM so I was a little bit disappointed at that. Make sure you wear a hat. The weather was lovely though overall because there was a breeze coming in from the ocean. The biggest disappointment was that there were several E bike riders and not only were they loud but very fast and disruptive. There is a sign that says no E bikes, but nobody was enforcing that.

    Excellent hiking trails with vast ocean views, great birding opportunities, and access to the…read morelovely Crystal Cove beach after your hike - very nice place to enjoy nature and get some fresh air! I could even see all the way to Catalina last time I visited. The El Moro Canyon trails are found inside Crystal Cove State Park and there are quite a few of them. They're well maintained with lots of info signs so they're easy to follow - but they're also all on AllTrails. I did the Short Loop Trail on my last visit which ended up being just over 3 miles long with 500 feet elevation gain. Most of the gain is in the first part as you take the "Poles" cut through and it's a real butt burner - but fun and worth it! A great workout. The birding is excellent here - you get a nice mix of riparian habitat and coastal birds as well. After my hike, I relaxed at the beach a bit and it was a lovely way to wind down. There are some tide pools at the north end and plenty of space to relax on the sand as well. There's a pedestrian underpass to get to the beach so you don't have to cross busy Hwy 1 - and this is the most unpleasant part of the park - you have to wade through some pretty icky standing water to get to the beach. It's ankle to calf deep and the ground is very uneven so I highly recommend water shoes - who knows what's submerged in there :P But everything else about the park is great - lots of clean bathrooms, outdoor showers to rinse off the salt and sand, shaded picnic tables, a huge amphitheater, and plenty of paved parking. Day use fee is $15 and you can pay by QR code or at the entrance.

    Photos
    These cacti are about to burst into blooms!
    These cacti are about to burst into blooms!
    Blooming cactus along the trail!
    Blooming cactus along the trail!
    Anna's Hummingbird along the trails!

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    Anna's Hummingbird along the trails!

    Peters Canyon Hike - hiking - Updated August 2026

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