Whiting Ranch Hiking: Red Rock Canyon

4.2 miles - Easy Effort
1:45 Hours (Total)
470 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 1,262 feet
No Dogs Allowed

There's a few Whiting Ranch hiking options, but Red Rock Canyon is the most popular for a good reason. The gently climbing trail makes it way up a oak woodland canyon, eventually ending in a smooth red rock canyon like you'd see in Arizona (but unique to Orange County). Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is rich with wildlife. I often see squirrels and lizards, and less often deer. The hike is mellow, easy, and is great for families.

In this Guide:

Turn by Turn Hike Directions
Whiting Ranch Red Rock Canyon Trail Maps
How to Get to Whiting Ranch Red Rock Canyon

Quick Links:
Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

Mule Deer Red Rock Canyon — Keep your eyes open for mule deer around the trail. I see them at the Red Rock Canyon hike almost every time I do it. Early mornings are a good time to spot them. Photo Dcrjsr

Unfortunately, Whiting Ranch has been the location of some mountain lion attacks in recent history, mainly because of the abundance of mule deer, and you'll see lots of warning signs at the trailhead. I realize it's scary, but your chances of being attacked are incredibly miniscule. For peace of mind, you can bring bear spray, which also works on mountain lions (and humans). Please don't let a fear of mountain lions stop you from doing the Red Rocks Canyon hike.

Sunset is a great time to do this hike. When the sun is low, it hits the exposed sandstone red rocks and fills them with even more color.If you don't hike it at sunset, come here as early as you can. This hike is popular and gets crowded.

Where is Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park?

Use this address for the Red Rock Canyon hike trailhead: 26701 Portola Pkwy, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 2 — The parking lot at the trailhead is large but fills quickly. This trail is popular with hikers and mountain bikers.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 3 — Pay at a kiosk and leave the ticket on the dashboard of your car.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 6 — There are bathrooms at the trailhead, but none along the trail.

If the parking lot is full, you can try the shopping center across the street. But I didn't say to do that.

Gear For the Hike

You don't really need any special hiking gear to do this hike. Workout gear is fine for this one. Just make sure you have some water, it can get hot during the day.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Whiting Ranch Red Rock Canyon Trail Maps

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Whiting Ranch Hiking: Red Rock Canyon 3d map — The hike winds it's way up through residential neighborhoods on the Borrego Canyon Trail. After that, you're in Whiting Ranch park proper.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 8 — The trails are well marked and pretty easy to follow on this hike, making it great for beginners.

Whiting Ranch Red Rock Canyon Hike Directions

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 4 — The trailhead is on the right side of the little plaza at the end of the parking lot.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 5 — If you'd like a map, check the box on the trail board.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 7 — Here's the start of the hike. Head through the signs and onto the Borrego Canyon Trail.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 9 — The Borrego Canyon Trail is wide and shady as it makes its way through the oaks.

There are mountain bikes on the trail, but they can only go one way on it (in the same direction you are going).

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 10 — There can be small water crossings on the trail, depending on the season and rainfall. You should be fine to just hop over them.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 11 — When you get to the wide-open area, keep going straight. Stay on the trail; there is poison oak in some areas (off-trail).

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 12 — You'll start to see some houses up on the sides of Borrego Canyon in this narrow stretch of Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. It's amazing that the trail goes through suburban Orange County. It feels like it's a world away.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 13 — Avoid any small side trails. The Borrego Trail is wide and straight.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 14 — Although the trail has a gentle (and almost unnoticeable) uphill, there are a handful of small rises, with this one being the worst (and pretty minor).

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 15 — When you get to the big intersection with the trail board, you're going to make the right and then follow Mustard Road as it makes a quick left.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 1 — As you go through that intersection and pass the trail board, you'll clearly see the Mustard Road trail continuing left.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 16 — A minute or two after the junction, head ot the left at the next junction and go straight through past a bench. Don't make any hard left turns here, just straight through for a minute until the next photo.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 17 — The trail passes a bench and then the official Red Rock Canyon Trail comes in from the right. Go straight.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 18 — You'll be in a wash for a second, then make the hard right out of the wash onto the Red Rock Canyon Trail.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 19 — After that series of intersections, the trail becomes well defined and easy to follow again.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 20 — The tree cover thins out and you'll be able to get glimpses of the red sandstone in the distance as the trail winds around and crosses some washes. Not far to go from here.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 21 — You'll also start to see more "Stay on the Trail" signs as you enter this fragile ecosystem.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 22 — Some sections of the trail can be a bit rocky and can get wet after a rain.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 23 — And soon everything turn red as you emerge into Red Rock Canyon.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 24 — This is the end of the hike. You can admire the surrounding sandstone cliffs from this vantage point. You'll also see lots of signs letting you know that the trail ends here and not to climb on the fragile rock.

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 25 — You can continue for a few feet but the trail up the canyon is blocked as well. Respect the signs.

From here, just turn around and go back the way you came!

Red Rock Whiting Ranch Hike 26 — The Red Rock Canyon area is a fragile ecosystem, and there are many signs asking you to please stay on the trail and respect the land. So please do. If you go off trail, you can be fined, but more importantly, you ruin this special place for future visitors. And recently there has been talk of shutting down Red Rock Canyon completely to protect it from people not following the rules. If you see someone breaking the rules, please give them a friendly reminder that the rules apply to everyone.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.