Santa Margarita River Trail is a beautiful spot for getting outdoors, especially if you enjoy…read morenature and river views. The trail is mostly easy to moderate and great for walking, hiking, or even horseback riding. It's also very dog-friendly, but keep your dog on a leash; simple. There are horses and other trail users beyond you and your dog. Be considerate, which reminds me, pack it in, pack it out. It does get pretty busy, especially on weekends, so expect to see lots of people, dogs, and riders sharing the trail. Parking is free, but it can fill up quickly. The lot fills with trailers. Overall, it's a great place to enjoy nature, just be prepared for crowds if you go during peak times. Also, bring plenty of water and snacks because it can get hot during the summer months. The signage does remind you to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, poison oak, and uneven or rocky terrain. I've seen plenty of poison oak, so pay attention.

Went on 4th of July and got there about 20 mins before the gates opened with only one car waiting…read moreahead of me. I read a few reviews here and figured it was going to be the smartest move since it can get insanely busy, especially on a holiday. Me and the pup started our hike at about 8am and unfortunately because I'm not usually a hiker, I definitely got lost even with a map. I didn't really know there was like 7 different paths you could go on and well I guess I did a little bit of this and a little bit of that and ended up leaving about 3 hours after. It was a pretty one for sure but be careful of dog poop. A lot of dogs on the trail and not a lot of people picking up that poop. Unfortunately, there are not any trash cans on the trail so if your dog has to go, try to do it before the hike instead of on it. I was carrying that bag what felt like forever. The greenery is gorgeous obviously and the water seemed nice, I just didn't feel like going through it to get wet. Fairly easy hike except for some sketchy rock ledges. Other than that, be cool, wear a hat, pick up your dog poop and watch out for the horses.

Great place to take your dog for walks or take family photos. We did both and there were several…read morephotographers taking photos there.

Nice little spot to relax before heading into the Sykes Ranch trails. The park is clean, quiet, and…read morea good starting point for a hike. There's also a surprising amount of local history here if you take a moment to explore. Worth a visit.

Nice park, they just need to put in a restroom! People would stay here for the day if they had a…read morerestroom for sure!

Glen Arbor Park is a pretty enchanting park with an area of trees along with grassy fields and some…read moretunnels. I was staying in Murrieta, and I wanted to go for a hike. This was the closest place that I could find to go for a walk. I saw many doggies here, which was really lovely. I always enjoy seeing doggies. :) I found parking in the neighborhood next to the park. Pretty easy. There's no restrooms here. It's just a nice neighborhood park. I enjoy walking through the tunnels. I was scared at first, but it was actually okay. Haha

Santa Margarita Preserve is a very popular spot for hikers and anyone looking to connect with…read morenature. The preserve has several well-marked, directional trails, which is super helpful in case you get turned around. It does get very busy, and parking is almost always full unless you arrive early or don't mind waiting. The views are beautiful, with lots of flowers along the way. I personally did about 5 miles, but the trails definitely go beyond that. It was a great hike--challenging but enjoyable--and perfect for my dog and me. The trail is dog-friendly, but we did come across horseback riders, so a friendly reminder to be mindful of others on the trail, especially horses, and to keep your dogs under control. Overall, this was an amazing hike and I highly recommend this trail!‍

Nothing less than five stars for this Fallbrook hike. It's got wildlife, a river system, and it's…read moredog friendly! Note: dogs must be on leash due to horse traffic. I'd consider this to be a mild hike, more like a nature walk. There's multiple river crossings throughout to be explored. We crossed at six, which was easily up to my knees. The stream was cold, refreshing, and completely clear. You can easily spot fish and we were lucky enough to see turtles. I also love that there's a sign at the beginning of the hike that lists/dates recent wildlife sightings. It does get incredibly busy here. Despite visiting on a Wednesday the parking lot was completely filled by 10am. Highly recommend arriving early if you want to snag a spot.

Best park ever! We need more of these!!! Zip line ...need I say more! We have three kids of all…read moreages and they all love it here. It's clean and tidy and super fun.

Alright for all of the mommy/daddy parents that take their children to parks, here's a good review…read morefor you! And a park hats actually on yelp!!!! Ok so to start parking is on the street, but this park isn't usually crowded so you don't have to worry about Parking miles away. This park is so clean! It's nice it's not like every other park that's going down hill. Tagged by the kids or gum and nasty stuff all over. If you're an active person this also has hiking trails it's lovely. The theme of the park is like forest it's a tree and goes into the slide which are "tree stumps" the park is for older kids I would say 4 and up, the slides are really steep but my 2 year old loves it. There's a lot of climbing, but if your toddler knows the concept, take them it's fun seeing them grow! This small park also has a shaded picnic area and the whole park is shaded which is lovely! Hope this helped!

Beautiful lake. You do have to pay to enter, though. Current fees are listed here:…read morehttps://rivcoparks.org/regional-parks-campgrounds/lake-skinner-recreation-area The main complaint I have is that people leave trash everywhere - please, fellow Californians, pick up your trash so we can keep this lake beautiful.

Lake Skinner - A Perfect Camping & Glamping Escape!…read more Yesterday, I packed up my two boys (ages 8 & 10) and their friend from school (also 8) for our very first camping/glamping adventure at Lake Skinner--and it was absolutely perfect. We booked a site with just the basics--electrical and water hookups--for only $50, which was all we needed for our tiny camper. The campground was clean, well-organized, and had plenty of open sites with different options and amenities, including a camp store for convenience. Some of our favorite spots were the splash pad and the playgrounds--perfect for keeping the kids entertained. Even if you just come for the day, these areas alone make it worth the trip. The kids had a blast, and it was wonderful seeing so many other families enjoying themselves too. Since we had their friend with us, we left around 8 PM to drop him back home--only about a 20-minute drive to Murrieta--then returned to the campsite, played a few games in the camper, and settled in for the night. With a 6 AM wake-up, we still made it home in time to freshen up, eat breakfast, and get the kids ready for school. (We even packed their backpacks just in case we needed to go straight from camp!) My boys haven't stopped talking about the trip--how much fun they had, how exciting it was to sleep overnight, and how much they want to go back. As a retired Navy Chief (41 years old) now balancing a busy real estate career, this is exactly how I want to spend my free time--unplugging, connecting with nature, and making lasting memories with my kids. Affordable, family-friendly, and packed with fun--Lake Skinner has definitely earned a spot on our repeat list. We can't wait to do it again!

The Morgan Trail is part of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness in the Cleveland National Forest. It's…read morea very easy hike that's 10 miles long depending on how far you wish to go. If you start for Killen road then the first portion is very shady with lots of oak trees. We enjoyed this portion immensely but once the valley opened up and the chaparral changed we turned around. This portion was very easy for our young kids. We will definitely be back to explore some more. There are many trails in this area.

A little hidden gem. The trees surround you, the air is crisp, and the vibe is serene. It is mildly…read morestrenuous that children can complete with breaks in between. Bring a blanket/sheet to rest on and plenty of water and snacks.