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Wild and scenic places on this website in Central/Southern
California, from North to South including counties of Tulare, Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego.
In addition to hiking many of these areas also include camping,
picnic areas, mountain biking trails, horseback riding trails, wildflower viewing, tide pool viewing, wildlife &
bird watching and beaches.
Click any picture or link below for more information. |
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Tulare County
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Kern County
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| Sequoia National Monument, Trail of 100 Giants |
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| Lake Isabella |
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| Gaviota State Park |
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| Refugio State Beach |
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| El Capitan State Beach |
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| Douglas Family Preserve & Arroyo Burro County Beach |
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| Carpinteria Salt Marsh |
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| Carpinteria State Beach |
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Ventura County
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| San Buenaventura State Beach |
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| Santa Clara Rivermouth Beach |
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| McGrath State Beach |
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| Ormond Beach & Wetlands |
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| Wildwood Park & Paradise Falls |
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| Anacapa Island |
Anacapa Island
Smallest of the Channel Islands, activities include scenic/wildlife cruises, tidepool and water
sports landings.
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| Santa Cruz Island |
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| Santa Barbara Island |
Santa Barbara Island
The smallest of the Channel Islands but still has over 5 miles of scenic hiking trails.
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Angeles Forest/San Gabriel Mountains/Los Angeles County
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| Sturtevant Falls |
Hike three miles along a beautiful flowing creek down to Sturtevant Falls.
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| Hungry Valley Wildflowers near Oak Woodland Preserve |
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| Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve, 4/12/08 |
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| Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland Park (click pic for more info) |
Near Tejon Ranch, the I5 and Hwy 138. Known for it's
spring wildflowers. Several lakes, hiking, camping and an off highway vehicle park. Deer can usually be
spotted on the back roads. Only 20 minutes away from the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve. Also
visit nearby Tejon Fort Historic Park, a restored fort from the 1850's. Historic road Old Ridge Route running from
Hwy 138 to Castaic Lake through the backcounty is only minutes away.
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| Malibu Creek State Park |
Malibu Creek State Park
Very scenic with a lot to do! Camping, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking are among the
activities. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed at this park. Year round running streams, lakes, grasslands
and groves of trees are found here. Miles of trails, most are not difficult with very little altitude gain. I
have pictures of Malibu Creek, the Rock Pool and Grasslands Trail, click on the picture or the link above.
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Topanga State Park
36 Miles of trails through groves of live oaks, grasslands, canyons and views of the Pacific Ocean.
Activities include free guided nature walks, camping, picnic areas, hiking, horseback riding trails and mountain biking trails.
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| Abalone Cove, 3/21/08 |
Many trails with fantastic ocean views, nature preserves, beach
access, tidepools and spring wildflowers.
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| Malibu Lagoon State Beach |
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| Solstice Canyon Waterfall |
Solstice Canyon Park
Creekside trails, picnic area, two waterfalls, trees and shade. Also includes historical
ruins of early canyon residents with plenty of interpretive signs.
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| Corral Canyon |
Corral Canyon & Sara Wan Trailhead
Creekside trail, loops around the hillsides. Ocean views. Seasonal trail through small
wetlands habitat, under PCH to Dan Blocker State Beach.
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| Point Mugu State Park |
Point Mugu State Park
In addition to scenic beaches, miles of trails, many with ocean views and/or connecting to other
Santa Monica Mountain areas. Waterfall and creekside trail (seasonal).
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Orange County Foothills & Cleveland National Forest:
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| Holy Jim Falls, 3-15-08 |
Fun drive 5 to 6 miles out bumpy unpaved Trubuco Creek Road and then hike 1 or 2 miles to
the falls. Beautiful area, trail crosses a running creek numerous times before you get to the waterfall. Popular
for hiking & mountain biking.
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| Rinker Grove Trail, Santiago Oaks Regional Park |
Hiking, mountain biking & horseback riding trails. Also popular for bird watching. Has nice
picnic area, nature center & trail in addition to a number of trails which connect to the Anaheim Hills trail system.
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| Peter's Canyon Regional Park |
Part of the Mountains to Sea Trail, many paths around the lake, popular for hiking, mountain
biking and horseback riding. Small picnic area by the parking lot.
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| Black Star Canyon |
The road running through the canyon ends in Corona and along the way connects
to many Santa Ana Mountain trails including Main Divide. Popular for mountain biking and hiking.
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| Laguna Coast Wilderness Park |
Near Laguna Beach, Pacific Coast Highway, Crystal Cove State Beach and Laguna Canyon
Road--the Laguna Greenbelt. A number of Wilderness Parks and trails including James Dilley Preserve/Barbara's Lake,
Woods End, Aliso-Woods Canyon, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, El Morro Canyon/Crystal Cove State Beach. |
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| Donna Oneil Land Conservancy |
Guided hikes and nature walks through a 1200 acre wilderness reserve located
on Rancho Mission Viejo.
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| View of Bolsa Chica Wetlands from the Mesa |
Located in Huntington Beach, bird watching is very popular here. Upper mesa above the wetlands
has several trails with great views of the area, spring wildflowers and wildlife.
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| San Clemente State Beach |
San Clemente State Beach
Bluff top trails with great ocean views, beach trails, day use/picnic areas, camping and beach-going. |
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The map below shows the locations of all Orange
County areas described
on this page.
View Larger Map
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| Limestone Canyon |
Located in Irvine Ranch Land Preserve along Santiago Canyon Road. Pictures
of Dripping Springs prior to the 2007 Santiago fire. More recent pictures of Limestone Canyon from Santiago Canyon Road.
Guided only hikes are again available in this area--if you can find them.
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| Silverado Canyon, Maple Springs Road |
Pictures before the fire and current pictures. Landscape has recovered well.
Enjoyable creekside hike, paved forest service road with stream crossings.
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| Santiago Creek running through Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary |
Recent pictures of the areas not burned and Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
which was not burned and is now opened.
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San Diego County
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Torrey Pines State Reserve
Scenic overlooks, beach bluffs,
rock/sandstone formations, tidepools,
beaches
and numerous hiking trails.
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| San Mateo Campground, San Onofre State Beach, 3/26/08 |
Overview page with pictures & descriptions highlighting everything
you find at San O including camping, places for bicycling or hiking, the walk from San Mateo Campground to
the famous Trestles surf, natural preserve and lagoon.
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| San Onofre Bluffs |
Day use areas, camping, beach access trails and beautiful ocean views.
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| Trestles Beach |
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To find more trails for areas not listed on this site see Links page under "Trail Information".
Things we have to say:
Warning: All areas described
on this site have dangers including rattlesnakes, poison plants, poison insects, coyotes and mountain lions. Please
see the Safety page.
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