The 12 Hours of Temecula is a fantastic mountain biking event put on by So Cal Endurance in the…read morehills east of Temecula 3 times a year. The race is a 6 hour or 12 hour relay format, with each person running about a 10 mile loop before handing off the "baton" to the next rider, unless you are going solo. Teams can be anywhere from 1 to 5 people, with special classes for older and younger riders, women, and juniors. I did the November 2013 event for my first mountain bike race ever, with a team of three friends in the Salty Dog category (or as I called it, Old Fart, with a combined tam age of 180), and another group of friends was there as a 3 man team. We all had a blast on the course. The organizers do a great job in keeping everything flowing smoothly, making sure all the riders are safe, and updating the standings throughout the day. There are lots of vendors there with bike demos, light demos, parts, and repair help. We camped the night before and after the race at the resort, which worked out great. We are already getting ready to put together our team for the January event.

Nice place to walk dogs although trails Re marked no dogs at many spots . We could not quite figure…read moreit out as so many braided trails

Ooh there's something for everyone here- a super wide bike trail, mountain bike paths up in the…read morehills, paved areas to explore, and lots of hiking. It's even all-ages and dog-friendly. I actually started at the Cove trail around the way from here, but it was much too crowded. This one was an unexpected find while driving and quite empty. There's several access points all along Avenida Motezuma, and parking in the neighborhood is plentiful. If you want to hit the beaten path, someone made stairs on both sides of the creek so you don't have to climb the steep gradient. Overall, a very beautiful area. I look forward to returning. Pros: - super clean - wide paths - dog-friendly (even a doodie bag station and pet-friendly water fountain) - all levels of expertise - lots of parking Cons: - didn't see restrooms

This is one of my go-to spots when I want something simple but still feels like real nature. The…read moretrails are fun, not too hard, and good for families, but still enough hills to keep it interesting. Not ideal for strollers unless you've got something built for rough terrain. The oak trees are a huge plus. There's actual shade here, not just a few patches, which makes a big difference in this area. If you hike out far enough you'll find old abandoned houses and structures, which is honestly one of the coolest parts. It gives the whole place a bit of history and something extra to explore. Also great for horseback riding and a solid spot to bring food and picnic without dealing with crowds. Simple, quiet, and worth going back to.

Water canyon trail - No shades Several trail no shades…read more Lots of horse tail grass not good for dogs Dirt roads/ pebbles and incline. Don't know what I was thinking, woke up and dragged my husband and my daughter on the hottest days to decide to hike lol!!! Be sure to wear a hat and bring water , this particular trail is my least favorite. I don't recommend to bring your fur baby , if you do. Please be careful this area has lots of over grown horse tail grass, it is so harmful to your fur babies. I would recommend to come during winter and cooler temperatures.

A true hidden gem in Southeast Riverside. Not far from UCR, I'm surprised this trail is as rarely…read morecrowded as it is. I've hiked this trail at least 10 times. It's challenging enough for a quick workout, and it has enough routes to allow for short, medium and very long hikes. I start at the nature center and hike up to the park, then head back. I find the scenery just incredible. You get pretty good immersion in the hiking experience, despite being located right off a roadway (the entrance is, anyway).

By foot or astride a mountain bike, this is the little-big getaway I needed that's not too far from…read morehome but feels like getting away from society at the same time. Sure, housing encroached on the east and west flanks but the steep hills, ravines and canyon itself ensures you are immersed in nature with the façade only occasionally broken by a plane lifting off from the nearby air force base. Top reason to go? No crowds or kids. Seriously, I've seen people turn back after ascending the first hill, which comes almost immediately. Unfortunately, this didn't prevent graffiti schmucks from tagging rocks inside of 100 yards, something that happened between my third and fourth visits. You'll need a lot of water and a good wide brimmed hat because there's virtually no shade. Plus, a decent set of hiking boots is important. It's also possible to get lost so I recommend using the AllTrails app for the satellite views and topographical maps to see where the trails are. While fitness apps such as Strava are useful, you won't see the map as easily so running both makes sense. Sun block too, definitely need to reapply after 45 minutes to an hour. "Do what thou wilt": there are so many trails and possible loops just do what you want and have fun. The rattlesnakes are awake now so keep off the rocks on the hilltops, you'll likely see their trails in the dirt. There are tons of lizards too, all sizes and colors, plus hummingbirds, hawks, and ravens. We saw a raven pluck a small ground squirrel from some rocks by its tail and could hear its squeaks. Sad, but that's nature. You won't go as far as you think for the same output of energy as, say, Mt. Rubidoux. This is more rugged and rustic, hence fewer people and dogs. It's taken me four visits to exceed three miles that felt like six or seven. Nevertheless, it's a challenge and so picturesque. Next time I'm hoping ascend Rattlesnake Peak at 1608 feet, tucked dab smack in the middle of the wilderness. I typically use the Central entrance but there are others available, just use the app to locate them. I don't recommend being out there after noon on days over 80 degrees, either go early or after 5pm. If you go later bring a headlamp just in case you take longer getting back than expected. Not for the faint of heart, which is why it's becoming my top training ground for more difficult and longer hikes in the mountains.

Located in Mount Laguna (Not in Rancho Bernardo as the Yelp page states), this is a network of…read moretrails that ends up at or around Big Laguna lake. Hiking wise there are three approaches. From the south up, from the north down (my entry point), and from the side ( though a privately managed campground). From a milage perspective, expect around 6-8 miles total if you do a full loop from the north or south. Of course just walking to the lake and back will put you around 4 miles using the most direct trails. Family-friendly, but these trails are heavily used by mountain bikers. Ideally, these trails are great for both hiker and biker. Know the unwritten social rules of the road before biking/hiking here. Always put your head on a swivel. Some bikes go very fast. Always have an adult in front and behind the kids if you're hiking as a family. If you're a biker, have a bell on your bike and if you're in a group of bikers be sure to let hikers know if there are more bikers trailing behind you. These rules seemed to be understood by most people on this trail. NOT PUP FRIENDLY. Unless you go during December through March don't bring your dogs. The afternoon that we visited (early June) is was about 80 outside and there were several dog rescues that were performed. We assisted in one of them. Wasn't uncommon to see dog owners carrying their dogs during the final stretch. Altitude plus moderate sun/heat exposure is what defines this trail. Plus ticks and snakes. Keep the pups at home. - lots of snakes here. Stay on trail.

It's a fun trail, not very difficult. The lake looked like it could use some TLC. There are lots of…read morecamping sites near by so good for the family.

I'm really only familiar with the very northern portion, near Lake Elsinore, but apparently,…read moreCleveland National Forest has separate sections in northeastern and eastern San Diego County as well. When I was a kid, we used to go to Mammoth Lakes every summer. It was there, in the eastern Sierra Nevada, that I got very familiar with National Forest signs and their iconic style. As I grew older, I started to notice National Forest signs in Southern California as well, but whereas Inyo and Sequoia National Forests were or at least contained actual forests, Angeles National Forest seemed to be mostly mountains with trees scattered about. Shouldn't a National Forest be breathtakingly or at least in-your-facingly foresty? Well, Cleveland National Forest is breathtakingly foresty, but maybe not quite in-your-facingly. And that's fine. The northern portion is tantalizingly close to most of suburban Orange County, but it can feel like another part of California, if not a completely different state. I've probably spent the most time in Silverado and Trabuco Canyon, which are on the western side of the ridge, but it's also fun to drive on the 74 all the way from Lake Elsinore to its interchange with the 5 in San Juan Capistrano. It's definitely a mountainous drive with at least one very serious hairpin turn, so plan accordingly, but it also feels fast, like the quickest way to get from the bland Inland Empire to the glitzy end of Orange County. That trip on the 74 was also the first place outside of the Sierra Nevadas in California that I had seen road reflectors embedded below grade into the asphalt so that snowplows wouldn't damage them. Seriously, there are snowplows in Orange County. Who would have thought that existed as a normal thing? It's a National Forest. Feel free to enjoy it, but pay for what you're supposed to pay for, take all your trash with you when you leave, and don't be a jerk driver on the scary windy roads. Hiking can be gorgeous, but remember that this also prime habitat for rattlesnakes, mountain lions, bears, and coyotes. Again, plan accordingly, and maybe leave your pets and very small children at home.

Cleveland National Forest is a stunning escape with beautiful trails, peaceful views, and plenty of…read moreadventure. Perfect for hiking, photography, or just relaxing in nature. The sunsets are unforgettable, can't wait to visit again!

We live here for almost 8 years and love it, love neighbor , our garden and lot of birds in our…read moreyard even though so hot in the summer

Great trail for mountain biking. Takes several hours all up hill to reach the fork. About 7 miles…read moretotal and about 2700 feet elevation. So bring water and a snack. The road is a fire trail that as you get towards the top it's rocky and sandy. But as you can see from my pictures the climb is well worth it

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is located in Lake Forest and spans 2,500 acres. There is a very…read moresmall parking where it costs $3 for a day pass (they take both $1 bills and credit card). Beware of parking at the adjacent parking lots because they are pretty strict about not parking there for hikers. There are a variety of trails at differing difficulty levels and there are select trails that are multi-use where cycling is allowed. We went on the Borrego Canyon Trail and the Red Rock Canyon trail that was a total of two miles one way. There was some shade from the tall trees but some parts were in direct sunlight. There was a good amount of flat land and didn't have too much of an incline. When you get to an intersection with multiple directions just keep going straight and follow the signs for Red Rock Canyon. You will know when you're at the end when you see signs and rocks all around you. The red rocks really reminded me of the hikes that I went to in Arizona and it was cool to see that in California. Overall it took about one hour one way to get from the parking lot through Borrego Canyon Trail and to the end of Red Rock Canyon. Overall it was an easy and enjoyable hike.

My friends and I have been into hiking lately, and decided to hike here when it was nice and sunny…read morea few weeks ago. We did the serrano road and line shack loop, which was about 3.4 miles total. We arrived at around 8am, and spent about 1.5 hours on the hike, walking a moderate pace. I really liked that how this trail was easily marked and flat. There was also plenty of shade, on the trail, so even as the sun came up, it was still pretty cool. There's some elevation on the trail, but overall, I'd say it was pretty easy to causally walk and talk. When you get to the peak of the trail, you can oversee the Foothill Ranch area, and it looks gorgeous! We followed the parking instructions on AllTrails, which led us to a church parking lot, which connects right to the trail. I did see that this park has other more difficult hikes, so I'd definitely go back for another one!

This is a hidden gem of the valley. What an amazing place to take the family for a day outdoors,…read morehiking and picnicking. It's well kept up and clean. I appreciate this lovely place to experience nature.

Excellent place to hike. Beautiful views. Just watch out for mountain lions. It would probably be…read morein your best interest to carry some bear mace bare minimum.