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    Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

    4.5 (196 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:15 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Dreaded Hill
    Hollyann B.

    Whiting Ranch is popular hiking and mountain biking trail. I set off from a little strip mall with a Starbucks and Wahoo's, but I was quickly fully in nature. Trails are well-marked, and the trails all connect in such a way that it's hard to truly get lost. You may add a mile or five to your hike, but you'll eventually find your way back to your car!

    Jasmine L.

    my apple map originally routed me to a neighborhood, so i would definitely recommend routing to the parking lot that's near ralphs. the parking lot is $3 but you could just park at the ralphs. the hiking trail was perfect. a little dusty, a little stream running through the trail, lots of big rocks and green foliage, uphill and downhill, and shady spots. my friend and i didn't bring water but we were able to walk for about 2 hours before heading back. i'd hike this again with water to hike for longer, but overall this was a very good hike

    Valerie C.

    First time here. The first 1.5 miles is pretty easy and flat. Pretty shady at the beginning of the trail. It's not paved, but suitable for family and bikes. Once you get to the split, you can choose either a moderate or a difficult trail to continue on. Or turn around and head back. It is a really nice morning hike when the temp is in the 60's. I suspect it would get uncomfortably hot during summer. The trail is popular but not crowded. And it's clean. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed. (Even though we saw at least 2 nonservice dogs on the hike.)

    Juan G.

    Cool hiking trail here in Foothill Ranch. Parking is very limited at the park, about 20 spot, maybe a bit more, but not much more. $3 for the day. We parked at the shopping center right in front of the park (Crossing Portola Parkway), by the McDonald's and a Planet Fitness. Plenty of parking there, it's also free. 2 minutes walk from the trial entrance. Very well maintained trail. Easy for the first mile and a half or so (1.45 miles approx.) on Borrego trail. After that it splits and you can choose between a moderate trail (Can't remember the name, but is to the right on Mustard Road) and the hard trial (to the left on Mustard Rd). About 2 and a half miles all the way to the Vista Lookout (1500' Elevation). All uphill once you make a left on Mustard trail and keep going. Definitely a cool spot. No pets. Bikes are ok, they can only go one way, so I don't know where they would end up at!

    Red rock canyon
    Karen L.

    This is a hidden gem, although isn't all that hidden as it gets really busy. I ran into lots of families, bikers and trail runners but still a good trail for the lovely views and ease. I did the Red Rock Canyon trail. Even at a slow pace, you can do this in about 2 hours. No huge elevation gain but some bigger ups and downs as you approach the last half mile. Everything is well marked. It's very cool how you start out in a forest and end up in another world at the end with the red rock formations. There's clear signage that stops you from going further but there are a few steps within the red rock that make for good photo opps. Tips: + Come early for parking. The lot isn't big but nice. Costs $3 and the machine accepts both card and bills. + Some shade but could get sunny so bring a hat and sunscreen. + If you're not much of a hiker, bringing hiking poles can be nice for balance to navigate the rocky spots about a half mile away from the end. Plus the trail was kinda washed out with streams and puddles from the rain.

    Leona W.

    A really nice hiking trail to go with friends/ family. You can go easy or difficult trails. The red rock canyon trail is easy and beautiful scenery. Roundtrip to red rock canyon is 1.5-2 hour depends on pace. Lots of trees on the trail and shading but still bring a hat and sunscreen. Remember don't go right after raining as trail might be muddy or have water puddles. You can park right outside the trail but have to pay $2. Sometimes people parked in front of Ralph's but it is not encourage and might be towed.

    Sallie R.

    Great place for a hike to see the Red Rock Canyon in Foothill Ranch. It's an easy hike which will take about 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. The walk to get there is beautiful. You'll come across little creeks, streams, blooming flowers, unique looking trees, plants, bunnies, lizards, all type of birds, and more. Most rewarding part are the Red Rocks which you don't see everyday in California. It's worth the hike. There was a sign posted stating beware of mountain lions before trails started. Just thankful I didn't see any, since this was my first solo hike. Parking is $3 with spaces between 25 to 30 spots. I recommend visiting in the morning as it gets busy later in the afternoon. Glad I was able to visit when it wasn't crowded. When you have a chance, check it out.

    Saddleback Church Hiking Group
    Michele L.

    Whiting Ranch/Dreaded Hill It was such a beautiful day for a hike on Saturday! It was so green. It made all the butt burning hikes worth it lol Whiting Ranch Staging Area 27901 Glenn Ranch Rd Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679 Parking: $3 Elevation: 900 ft Tip: bring hiking poles and wear hiking boots We had such a fun time with friends and new friends!

    Oak trail
    Ce L.

    Scenic choose your own pace and style hike with some shaded hikes ranging from short to long! We took the shaded path and even managed to see a few female deer grazing along it. The only major thing we had to constantly watch and listen for were mountain bikes. Some are courteous and you can hear them coming, but some aren't so... SO sharp ears will keep you from collision cause by the time they see you coming around a bend it would be too late. A few macro shots of small areas make it seem like large crevasses/canyons and desert for ants lol.

    Jack H.

    Located in Foothill Ranch, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is a great place to hike and mountain bike! The main entrance for this park is located right next to a busy shopping center (where Ralph's is located) off Bake Pkwy. Parking is $3 in the designated spaces, but I see many people park in the adjacent shopping center. These trails get decent traffic, and is appropriate for all ages (saw plenty of young kids, adults, and elderly during my hike) and I would rate the difficulty as easy/moderate, depending on where you're at in the park. Scenery is beautiful along the way, but more so once you get to the top (near the water tank). Nice view of the foothills and Pacific Ocean on a clear day. If you're active and looking for a local spot to explore, I would highly recommend Whiting Ranch. Note, this is mountain lion country, so be vigilant out there!

    Peter H.

    The word "romantic" was mentioned of this trail more than a handful of times. Largely I would think because of the misty raindrops falling on our heads and non-head surfaces, but also because the trail itself seemed to have that effect. Deer were appearing out of nowhere and didn't seem bovvered by hikers. Boulders and pebbles that would still be colorful on a dry, sunny day were particularly eye-catching creating a glistening red, purple and grey backdrop in the rain. Ascending the trail with the early morning fog had the effect of being up in the clouds. With that said, the group of us are somewhat of a sarcastic bunch. Being drenched in romance with mud gumming the soles (soul?) isn't ideal, but I really liked the contrast to the summery weather we usually get. I would say come prepare if it's a cloudy day. This park is one of the more well-maintained ones out there so not a lot of ripping/tripping hazards. There was also a 5K/12K Halloween race the day we went. The amount of people this trail gets keeps the mountain lions at bay, I would hope...All in all, I recommend heading down here while the weather is as pleasant as it is.

    Alexandra P.

    We really enjoyed this hiking trail! It was easy enough to complete with two tween kids, no many bugs, not too rugged of terrain, some shady areas to rest, and easy to find. I would've never guessed this cute little parking lot lead to such a nice trail in such a populated area. It took several hours to complete, but it is definitely a trail that I would explore again. No dogs allowed.

    Kiara D.

    The entry point being located within a shopping mall, we were prepared to be bamboozled by Whiting Ranch's promises of Red Rock, but after a hour or so hike, you are transported to an almost Arizonian landscape. The trail itself is fairly quiet, with a few bikers speeding by. With the heat, the hike can feel rather grueling, so I would suggest packing multiple waters. It's absolutely crazy to know that landscapes like these are present in the Orange County area, amidst the hustle and bustle of business and housing. Truly a hidden gem!!

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    No dogs allowed and paid parking despite being in the middle of nowhere. Not recommended.

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    Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park Reviews in Other Languages

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    Review Highlights - Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

    We took the Red Rock Trail which took us into a narrow river bed and had some cool views of the sand rocks.

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    OC Bike Garage - Head Mechanic Station

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    4.8(363 reviews)
    5.3 mi
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    Watching GCN and other cycling YouTube videos, I've often heard the term "legendary bike mechanic"…read moreused from time to time, and I always wondered what that truly encompassed. I recently took the Park Tool class with Cory, and now I have a better understanding of what a bike mechanic legend is. His extensive bicycle knowledge was very apparent as soon as I saw him tinkering with bikes or my bike for that matter. I am extremely grateful that I didn't procrastinate or pass on taking the course. It was a fantastic experience and I was able to swap and upgrade parts on my bike "myself"--with Cory's support. I am honored I was able to do this with assistance from Cory. Since then, I have decided that, as long as circumstances allow, I will always take my bikes to their shop for servicing. I highly recommend both the course and their shop to anyone. You will not regret it.

    OC Bike Garage is a Lifesaver!…read more I recently bought a Tesway X9 dual motor e-bike and spent two frustrating hours assembling it, only to discover a major issue: the Shimano gear shifter, a part essential to the bike's entire functionality was completely broken and inoperable right out of the box. Feeling defeated, I called OC Bike Garage, and Chris answered. He immediately understood the situation and asked me to email him a few pictures. He explained that Shimano has a great warranty and he could likely fix it, especially if they had the specific part in stock. Cory emailed me saying if I can bring it in they might even be able to get it turned around the same way as they have a Shimano that's comparable but just a different material (chrome). Long story short, I rode the bike down to the shop. Even though I didn't have an appointment, the incredible team there got me in! Cory helped me when I arrived, and they found a slightly different, compatible shifter to replace the broken one. Within just a couple of hours, the fix was done! The service didn't stop there. Since the broken shifter was the last step of assembly, I hadn't had a chance to adjust anything else. Bill went above and beyond and even helped me adjust my brake handles to ensure a perfect fit before I rode off. The entire crew at OC Bike Garage is awesome! They turned a major disappointment into a fantastic experience with their quick, professional service and genuine willingness to help a new customer. If you need any work done on your bike, especially an e-bike, this is the place to go. Great shop, amazing rates, and a great group of people! Highly recommend!

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    OC Mobile Bike Shop - My Son Shaun checking out the Oakley tank!

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    4.8(113 reviews)
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    The company was fast, friendly, and easy to work with. However, I later discovered they installed…read morethe wrong drivetrain parts on my e-mountain bike before I put it into storage. My bike originally had a 12-speed Shimano cassette and chain, but they replaced them with a 10-speed cassette and chain and adjusted the shifter to make it work. At the time, everything seemed fine. After about two years in storage, I took the bike out, cleaned and lubricated the chain, and went for a ride. The chain ended up breaking. When I went to replace it using the factory 12-speed specifications, that's when I realized the cassette and chain were not 12-speed components. It was disappointing because they seemed knowledgeable, and I trusted the work that was done. I would just recommend double-checking that the correct parts are installed for your specific bike before leaving the shop. They have since moved out of my area.

    Called Steve for a quick tune up and tightening of spokes on a relatively new ebike. Easy process…read more Called him to make an appt, Steve showed up on time (actually, a little early) and got to work. Got everything done quickly and easy payment. Competitive pricing, especially for someone who will come to your home and get it done quickly. Have owned many bikes and have gone thru many tune ups and Steve did a solid job. Wheels were tightened, brakes feel like night and day and otherwise everything I expected. Not sure what the complaints are about him working quickly? Just because you drop it off at a shop and they tell you to come back 2-3 hrs later doesn't mean they're working on it for that long....

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    Borrego Canyon Overlook Park - Great place to watch the sunset

    Borrego Canyon Overlook Park

    4.3(11 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Borrego Canyon Overlook Park is a mini neighborhood park nestled in a residential area, overlooking…read morethe Borrego Canyon. It is basically a patch of greenfield with a small playground. The park is so small that the walkway is only on one side of the park. The paved road ended at the far end of the park. Anyone feeling adventurous can follow the dirt trail all the way to the Whiting Ranch park entrance I was told. This quaint park is clearly intended for neighbors' use only as it does not have a public restroom on-site. The best asset of this park is its gorgeous view of the canyon. Clearly the Bond Fire got too close to the park when you see the wooden fence been replaced by iron stakes covered with a orange mesh, and the charred remain of trees on the other side of the fence. As small as it may be, it has more visitors than the other, larger, Borrego Park, about a mile down the hill. It seems to be very popular with dog owners walking their dog(s).

    Small little park that has a great view of parts of Lake Forest and Foothill Ranch. Parking is on…read morethe street, but I've never had any problems finding a spot. There are benches and tables for a nice picnic, and a small playground for kids. I think the best view is actually away from the city and looking down into the canyon. I've never seen people there, but there are trails - I wonder if that's open to the public? Anyway, very peaceful place. I love coming here!

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    Borrego Canyon Overlook Park - Cool nighttime walk pic

    Cool nighttime walk pic

    Borrego Canyon Overlook Park - Another beautiful fall day at the park

    Another beautiful fall day at the park

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    Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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