Located on the very eastern edge of the city of Orange, Santiago Oaks Regional Park runs alongside Santiago Creek, Orange County’s main tributary to the Santa Ana River.
This secluded 1,269 acre park – located close enough to most east Orange neighborhoods to walk to, including Orange Park Acres and Villa Park – offers family-friendly nature well within the reach of everyone. There is a mature forest, Santiago Creek, wildlife, and trails for virtually every level of hiker, mountain biker, and equestrian.
Unlike nearby Irvine Regional Park, Santiago Oaks is less of an ‘entertainment’ destination park; you won’t find a zoo, trains, or large open maintained grass areas for parties. It’s a wilderness park. Santiago Oaks calls to the adventurer’s spirit within; the park does offer a cozy amphitheater, BBQs, picnic tables, playgrounds, and an interpretive programs/nature center, but the draw – the beauty – of Santiago Creek are the trails. A vast interconnected series of trails stretch throughout the park offering technical trails for all skill levels, and rewarding the hiker, biker, or equestrian with inspiring views of Orange and the unspoiled foothills surrounding the city. The park trails also connect with the Anaheim Hills Trail System.
Santiago Creek connects with Irvine Regional park through it’s trail system, and there are maps available that detail were the trails lead. The map can be somewhat confusing, but the trails are all clearly marked and easily navigated. Pay attention to trail crossings and you won’t end up on the wrong trail.
Although the park is embraced on three sides by suburban Orange, once you leave the parking area and head onto the trails, you’re immediately removed from the sense of urgency that city living presents. The trails are quiet and peaceful, even on weekends.
The nature center offers programs, activities, and exhibits that are informative and entertaining. Group programs are available through the park office, and Park Rangers – whose knowledge of the park is GREAT! – have presentations, films and nature walks that explain parts of the park and the park’s history that you may miss if you just hike through.
I’ve been to the park numerous times, and there is always something new; you can’t hike or bike all the trails in one day!
There are a few ways to get to the park: the Windes Drive entrance, through Anaheim Hills Elementary School, or by taking the trail from Irvine Regional Park.
The Windes Drive entrance is $3 on weekdays, $5 on weekends, and you’ll get a map of the park from the Park Ranger. Parking is somewhat limited (which is great!). Windes Drive doesn’t look like a road to the park; it’s a street that runs through a neighborhood and ends at the park entrance. The first time I drove down the road, I thought I’d made a wrong turn, or that my GPS was sending me off on an another wild goose chase.
Parking at Anaheim Hills Elementary School is free, with the caveat that you can’t use the school’s parking lot during school hours or when there’s an event one the weekends. There’s only a trailhead entrance to the park here.
Irvine Regional Park has parking, but it’s $3 during the week and $5 on weekends. And you’d still have to hike all the way over to the park. It’s a nice walk, but I’d recommend just using the Santiago Oaks parking instead.
The park has all kinds of trails for all skill levels. Whether you’re a hiker, mountain biker, equestrian, technical trail runner or just someone looking for a nice evening or morning walk, there is a trail for you at Santiago Oaks.
One thing I’d recommend – as a hiker – is a good hat, water, and some sunscreen. After you get past the park entrance and the mature trees that grow along Santiago Creek, you’ll be in the vast Orange County wilderness (read: “Not much in the way of shade.”). It can get hot by midday, and that heat lasts well into the afternoon, not usually cooling off until after 5 or 6 pm, especially in the late summer weather we’ve been having lately.
The park is very dog-friendly. There are trash cans, bags, and plenty of places for you and your pooch to wander. Make sure you bring bags, as they might not always be stocked. There are horse troughs and plenty of places to get water for you and your furry friend, but do bring a bowl.
For mountain bikers, there are some terrific trails and some awesome downhills. Not being a mountain biker, I can only relate what I heard from the guys straddling the metal: Hawk and Bumblebee trails are two you want to hit.
Finally, there is wildlife here. I see more beetle wandering across the trails, but I’ve also seen (and heard) coyotes early in the morning, bobcats in the afternoon, and snakes off the trails. Treat nature like nature – it was there first.
Some notes:
The park is open from 7am to sunset, with park office hours being from 8am to 4pm.
The park is closed during or after a good rain for up to three days.
Group events are welcome, call ahead to schedule and find out about amenity availability.
You can find out more HERE.