Hikes In and Around Orange County

There is an Orange County hiking trail for everyone, from challenging mountain hikes to hidden waterfalls to pristine coastal trails with ocean views.  Cleveland National Forest in the east is a vast treasure trove of primitive hikes away from the malls and developments in Orange County. Because the area is somewhat affluent, the Orange County Parks Department is one of the best in the USA.

Name Distance Level Location Climb Dogs
Saddleback Mountain Hike (Santiago Peak)15.8HardCorona4200Y
Hike Weir Canyon Trail3Easy500Y
How to Hike Black Star Canyon Falls7ModerateSilverado820Y
Hike Santiago Peak & Modjeska Peak From Maple Springs16HardSilverado3500Y
Barbara's Lake Hike (Laguna Beach)2.9Easy Laguna Beach370Y
San Juan Trail to Sugarloaf Peaks13.9HardLake Elsinore3020Y
Hike the Bedford Peak Trail (Orange County)7.2HardSilverado2050Y
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Hike7.5ModerateLaguna Beach1190Y
Sitton Peak Hike9.6ModerateTrabuco Canyon2130Y
Upper Hot Spring Canyon Waterfall Hike2.8Moderate Lake Elsinore450Y
Hike San Mateo Peak (Cleveland National Forest)4.6ModerateLake Elsinore1100Y
Tin Mine Canyon Trail Guide5EasyCorona820Y
Hike Holy Jim Falls Trail3.4EasyCorona600Y
Hike Los Pinos Peak (Orange County)5.4ModerateLake Elsinore1480Y
Redwood Grove Hike Guide (Carbon Canyon - Brea)1.5EasyBrea50Y
Morgan Trail Hike (Cleveland National Forest)10.5ModerateLake Elsinore1500Y
Hike Mt San Jacinto Peak on the Deer Springs Trail19Very HardIdyllwild5400Y
Bane Canyon Loop Trail - Chino Hills State Park8ModerateChino Hills1400Y
Dripping Cave Trail Hike5EasyAliso Viejo400Y
Bommer Canyon Trail Hike Guide4.8ModerateIrvine900Y
Tenaja Falls Trail Guide7.5ModerateMurrieta1000Y
Beeks Place Hike From Black Star Canyon16HardSilverado2240Y
Hike the Chiquito Falls Trail9.6HardLake Elsinore1800Y
San Juan Loop Trail Guide (CA)2.1EasyLake Elsinore440Y
Hike the Mt Rubidoux Trail (Riverside)3ModerateRiverside560Y
Buck Gully Trail Guide5.2EasyCorona Del Mar460Y
Hike Coal Canyon Trail10ModerateCorona1840Y
Santa Margarita River Trail5.7ModerateFallbrook630Y
Crystal Cove Red Route Hike9.2HardLaguna Beach1600Y
Top of the World Hike (Laguna Beach)2.4HardLaguna Beach890Y
Car Wreck Trail (Laguna Beach)3.8ModerateLaguna Beach950Y
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Hike4.5EasyHuntington Beach20Y
Quail Hill Trail2EasyIrvine164Y
Crystal Cove "Best of" Hike9ModerateLaguna Beach1140Y
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve Hike3EasyNewport Beach120Y
Hike Indian Truck Trail to Santiago Peak21HardCorona4910Y
Caspers Wilderness Park - Hike San Juan Hot Springs10.5ModerateSan Juan Capistrano830Y
Modjeska Peak Hike15HardTrabuco Canyon4820Y
Peters Canyon Hike5.9ModerateOrange650Y
Whiting Ranch Hiking: Red Rock Canyon4.2EasyFoothill Ranch470Y

Best Orange County Hikes

  1. Crystal Cove State Park
  2. Saddleback Mountain (Santiago Peak)
  3. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
  4. Whiting Ranch Hiking: Red Rock Canyon
  5. Sitton Peak

Best Orange County Hikes For Families

  1. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Hike
  2. Dripping Cave
  3. Quail Hill
  4. Hike Holy Jim Falls Trail
  5. Whiting Ranch Hiking: Red Rock Canyon
  6. Peters Canyon Hike

Best Orange County With Ocean Views

  1. Crystal Cove State Park
  2. Saddleback Mountain (Santiago Peak)
  3. Sitton Peak

Toughest Orange County Hikes

  1. Modjeska Peak
  2. Indian Truck Trail to Santiago Peak
  3. Saddleback Mountain (Santiago Peak)
  4. Bedford Peak