Bommer Canyon Trail Hike Guide

In This Guide	Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the Bommer Canyon Trail Parking for the Bommer Canyon Trail Insider Hike Tips and Recommendations
Total Distance (?)	4.8 miles (7.7 km)
Other Options	2 miles easy and flat
Hike Time	2 (Total)
Difficulty (?)	Moderate
Total Ascent (?)	900 feet (274m)
Highest Elevation	1,010 feet (308m)
Fees & Permits	Free
Dogs Allowed	No
Alerts & Closures (?)	Bommer Canyon
Park Phone	949-724-6835

The Bommer Canyon Trail, a natural oasis nestled within suburbia, offers a little bit of everything. This easy hike showcases natural beauty, has lots of wildlife spotting opportunities, an interesting history, and sweeping vistas as you approach the highest point in the San Joaquin Hills. The full 4.8 mile hike includes some uphill, but if you want to do something easy, I’ll show you an easy 2 mile option that’s flat and great for families. Bommer Canyon is a National Natural Landmark and California’s first Natural Landmark; it’s worth visiting.

Where is the Bommer Canyon Trail?

The main trailhead is in Irvine, CA. Use this address:
6400 Shady Canyon Trail, Irvine, CA 92603

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 3 — The entrance can be easy to miss, look for this sign out front.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 4 — The main trailhead parking lot is small and fills up quickly with hikers, locals, and mountain bikers.

Bommer Canyon Overflow Parking — If there’s no parking in the main lot, head down to the Turtle Rock Community Park and then walk up from there.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 2 — You shouldn’t have a problem parking at the Turtle Rock Community Park, the lot is huge. There are also bathrooms here.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 7 — The main trailhead has bathrooms and water fountains.

Gear For the Hike

This is an easy trail where you can get away with fitness clothes or light hiking gear. Good trail shoes will help on the dirt, and trekking poles can help on the steeper climb at the end. Bring 1L of water. It can get hot in the summer; there isn’t any shade.

Altra Lone Peak 5
For most people, the Altra Lone Peak is a solid choice that will leave your feet feeling great at the end of any hike. The feel is cushy and light, and if it had a car equivalent, this would be a Cadillac or Mercedes Sedan. The grip is great and they’re reasonably durable for this type of trail runner, which I think is better in most conditions than a hiking boot, and here’s why. The downside of this shoe is that it won’t last as long as something like the Moab 2 (see alternate footwear choices at the bottom of my gear page). I’ve been using mine for many miles and my feet always feel great. Watch my video explaining why they are a great shoe here.
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Latest Price on Women’s Shoe – REI | Amazon
Latest Price on Men’s Shoe – REI | Amazon

Stay Safe Out of Cell Phone Range
If you’re not familiar with the Garmin InReach technology, it allows you to send and receive text messages where you don’t have cell phone signals. You can also get weather reports and trigger an SOS to emergency responders. Even if you don’t have an emergency, sending a quick message telling a loved one that you’re okay or are running late is well worth the cost. The Garmin InReach Mini (REI | Amazon | My Review) fits in your palm and weighs next to nothing.

Gaia GPS Mapping App
Smartphones are not backcountry instruments, but almost everyone has one today. And they all have GPS onboard. So I recommend getting a good GPS hiking app like Gaia GPS that supports offline maps. Just make sure to put your phone in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. GaiaGPS not only has smartphone and tablet apps, but also an online planning tool. You can drag the GPX hike tracks from my (or any) guides into the online map and they will sync to your phone. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get up to 40% off here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.

Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated July 2021.

My July 2021 Top Gear Picks

No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps keep the website ad and promotion free. There is no cost to you.

Bommer Canyon Trail Maps

Overall the trails are well-marked and well-maintained. Please stay on the trails and respect the signage.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 1 — Help the park restore the area by staying on the trails and heeding any warnings.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

If you try to download the GPX file and your browser adds a “.txt” or “.xml” extension to it, simply rename it as a “.gpx” file.

How are you going to navigate this hike?
To start, you should always have a paper map and compass. And it helps to print this guide out or save it on your phone. I highly recommend a GPS as well. I use the Garmin Fenix 6 Smart GPS watch ( REI | Amazon | My Review) with maps (or the more affordable Garmin Instinct). The GPS smartwatch is nice because it’s rugged, works if your phone dies, and also has a billion other features like sleep tracking, workout recording, etc.

Elevation Profile

Bommer Canyon Trail Elevation — Here’s the one-way elevation profile. The main climb is at the end of the hike. If you do the short option to mile 1, the climbing is undetectable.

3D Map

Hike Brief

Govenor At Bommer Canyon — Here’s how Arnold Schwarzenegger likes to hike Bommer Canyon, in a suit and tie. Photo LA Times

You’ll be hiking through the San Joaquin Hills, which were once underwater, but have now been pushed up from tectonic action. When the 73 Toll Road was built (which you see at the end of the hike), they actually unearthed 5 million year old fossilized whales.
Bommer Canyon was part of a Mexican land grant. When the Americans took over, the Irvine family eventually acquired it.
Bommer Canyon became the center of the Irvine cattle ranching operations, called “Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp.” Every spring all the cattle that roamed over what is now the greater Irvine area were gathered here in a roundup. The cattle camp remained in operation for almost 100 years (1870s-1970) until the Irvine family realized that there’s more money in real estate than cows.
The entire Irvine Ranch area became a National Natural Landmark in 2006, and then the first California National Landmark in 2008, when Arnold Schwarzenegger hiked here as part of the designation ceremony. The Natural Landmarks Program “recognizes the conservation of sites that contain outstanding biological and geological resources.”

XX Hike Directions

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Video Directions

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Turn by Turn Directions

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 5 — The trailhead is behind the building where the bathrooms are.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 6 — There’s a cool mosaic on the building that you can grab a photo with.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 8 — Head through the gate to start the hike on the Bommer Meadow Trail.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 9 — The trail junctions all have signs that tell you which trail that you’re on.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 10 — The trail meanders up Bommer Canyon, through the old cattle grazing area.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 11 — The trail crosses a bridge.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 12 — And then another.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 13 — When you get to the junction, make the hard right onto the Nature Loop.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 14 — The trail is fenced in to protect the habitat. The park is in the process of removing invasive weeds and plants before introducing native species back to the area.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 15 — The trail gently climbs up Bommer Canyon. Look back for nice views into Angeles National Forest and Mt Badly in the distance.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 16 — As the trail climbs, you’ll also see the 73 Toll Road at the top of Bommer Canyon. If you’re doing the full hike, you’ll be hiking up to that point.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 17 — The trail winds down some switchbacks to a hill and a bridge. Cross the bridge.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 18 — Once across the bridge, follow the trail around an open area.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 19 — You’ll pass the Bommer Nature Garden, which has relics of the old cattle camp inside. It’s open by appointment only

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 20 — Head around to the road and cross over if you are doing the full hike.

If you are doing the shorter 2 mile hike, simply go back the way you came from here.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 21 — To continue on the longer hike, cross the road and start the Bommer Pass Trail.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 22 — There’s a small uphill as you loop to the right on the hill.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 23 — From the top of the Bommer Pass Trail, you’ll be able to see the West Fork Trail climbing the hillside in the distance. We’ll be climbing that trail later.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 24 — Bommer Pass Trail heads downhill to its end.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 25 — Go past the East Fork Trail.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 26 — And right after that, make the left onto the West Fork Trail.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 27 — After a short flatter stretch, make the hard left and start hiking uphill. On the right you’ll pass the start of the Turtle Ridge Trail.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 28 — The trail is steep but doable.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 29 — Take breaks to turn around and look back at the incredible views into Bommer Canyon and beyond.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 30 — At the top of the climb, go through the gate.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 31 — Then hike under the 73 Toll Road.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 32 — The trail will loop up to the left as it joins Ridge Park Rd.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 36 — You’ll get sweeping views from Saddleback Mountain to Mt Baldy.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 33 — When you get to the trail junction, make the hard right to the trailhead.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 34 — Here you are, at the top! Check out the trail map, relax, and get ready to head back down.

Bommer Canyon Trail Directions 35 — There’s a cool trailhead sign here that makes for a good photo.

From here you just return the same way you came up. If you need water or a bathroom, just visit the park across the street. This trailhead is popular spot for local to access Crystal Cove State Park, as there’s no entry fees or PCH traffic.

This guide last updated on March 23, 2021. Did something change on this hike? If so, please contact me and let me know. I'll update the guide.

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