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.

I live on Vista where it's very hilly and so it can be challenging. I just discovered this trail…read moreand it's wonderful. Don't have to worry abouts cars, traffic lights. It's all paved and relatively flat. Great trail!

I'll update this later once I've explored the path more, but for now, it's a beautiful biking trail!read more

We arrived around 8 AM on a Sunday, and the main lot was already full, but there's an overflow lot…read moreabout 400 feet away where we were able to grab the last spot. The trail itself was pretty quiet. We passed a few people here and there. It's very well maintained, though there aren't any signs or clear directions at certain points, so I'd recommend using AllTrails to stay on track. Also worth noting, there are no trash cans along the route, so plan accordingly. The trail is technically listed as not dog-friendly, but we did see a couple of dogs along the way. We did the 4.5-mile overlook loop. There were a few sections that were a bit steep, but overall it's a fairly easy hike with mostly flat terrain. There's a lot of greenery throughout, and the creek adds a really nice touch. It's a really scenic and peaceful setting. It took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. We went on a cloudy day, which ended up being perfect for the hike. Overall, it's a beautiful, well-kept trail and definitely worth checking out.

What an incredible trail! The mix of flowing water and those scattered rock formations makes every…read morestep feel like a little adventure. Going around 10 in the morning sounds perfect for soaking in the peaceful vibe without running into many people. It's a relatively easy route with plenty of spots to pause for a picnic, making it the perfect way to connect with nature and start the day surrounded by quiet beauty.

Great hiking experience. Don't underestimate it though, it is a medium distance hike. Watch out for…read morerattlesnakes and coyotes. Amazing views of Carlsbad

It's not that bad for kids. Too many ants and dog poop. For kids it's awesome as they can enjoy the…read morewalk as it's not too hard for them either. Very nice view

Best Hike I've done in the Temecula Area! I have yet to do the longer trail. However this hike was…read moreunforgiving! So worth it! Definitely 25-30% incline. Be careful going back down. Make sure your shoes are tied. I forgot to bring something to help with the sun so don't forget that! Bring enough water! Very easy to navigate through. A very popular Preserve. One of my fav's

Came down from a hike at monserate with handfuls of trash. Someone even left their name on their…read morelitter. Shame on u Sol.

Somewhat an easy hike. I saw couple of families with young children. No dogs allowed. I wore hiking…read moreboots and glad I did due to mushy uneven ground. There are abundant amount of signs informing guest of replies, bobcats coyotes plants etc etc. My fave signs were the ones with history and pics from 1900 along w QR code for further reading. Hike was about 2 miles and took an hour.

Great for trail running and feeling like you're on some kind of urban adventure. The 3 round trip…read moretrail trail starts by a landfill sight, but quickly leaves that behind and meanders along a relatively overgrown trail which follows a stream. You eventually come to some falls that are partially obscured by vegtation, but that sound is a great reward for the walk. I imagine this trail is only worth it when there has been some rain, as it was soo green, but by Summer that will all be gone. Make sure to wear pants as the trail is literally overgrown in some spots, and you can never be too cautious with ticks everywhere (we found one on our canine companion).

Its a beautiful trail, my only complaint is the road noise from I-5 makes it a little hard to hear…read morethe birds in the lagoon. Very dog friendly for leashed dogs which is a huge plus. Will try to go closer to the morning when hopefully the lagoon isn't as backlit for photographs.

This was a really chill and easy hike. I've been wanting to start doing more hikes, but since it's…read morebeen a minute I want to start slow! This was perfect and had great views. It was a bit confusing at some points on where to go, so I recommend using the self guide option on your phone...( I will be using that the next time) Overall, I really enjoyed this little hike.

I still love this walk. It pretty flat and easy. It was a bit muddy a few days after the rains but…read morewe managed to walk around the edges. In the summer months it's best to go early because there isn't much shade and it can get hot. It wasn't that crowded even on a weekend day and parking wasn't bad. We started on the Gabbiano side but I usually start on the opposite side. Both are nice. The visitor center is a cool spot to check out and it has lots of info on the area. They also do presentations you can attend.

I was staying at the Aviara Resort and really appreciated how the shuttle drops you off at the golf…read morecourse which is right next to the lagoon. I had a wonderful morning walk on this trail maintained by the foundation. The QR codes contained interesting information along with signage along the well marked path. Please stay on the path! The birds and wildlife were amazing and it was nice to see others enjoying the beauty. The access to the lagoon is free and the nature center accepts donations.