Serrano Creek Park

Definitely a hidden «park» in the midst of the residential & commercial areas of Lake Forest. I put the word «park» in quotation marks because this is not a typical park. The playground area is small, a couple small play structures and maybe 2 swings. Sand in one area for kids to play in. The real attraction is the riding trail that runs alongside the park. We spent a couple hours there and saw 4 horses go by & each time the riders would stop for the kids & let them pet the horses. My kids were really excited about that! You can follow the trail up to a gate where the horse stables are and watch the horses relax. There is also a small stream running next to the park, we went exploring & didn’t see much, but it was a nice change of pace from our typical days at other parks, a lot more nature here!

Loved to see people horse back riding along the play area. Children of all ages rushed up to see the horses! My 2 year old loved playing in the 2 play areas; one of them is a little dangerous for such a little one… you climb the stairs then there is a fake rock for you to cross over in order to get to the slide. There is no handles or barriers from falling. I’m sure fine for older kids.
There was a nice shaded area with park benches, but someone was having a birthday party. Also bathrooms were close by… looks decent from the outside, I didn’t go in.

I really enjoyed the beauty of this park! I love all the eucalyptus trees! I came here with my parents, my son and daughter-​in-​law and my granddaughter My granddaughter (3 ½ yrs old) had a lot of fun on the playgrounds. It is a very peaceful place to go and enjoy with family or alone time.
The one thing I did notice that I think needs to be addressed is the bathrooms! When I first walked in I was overwhelmed with a very nasty smell! They definately need an over haul cleaning; maybe some painting for the walls…

I just had my son’s 1^st birthday party here, with a large gathering of family & friends. We were worried because it was so hot this past weekend but the park shelter & trees supplied a lot of refreshing shade! The shelter provided several tables & the playground was great for kids of all ages, the bathrooms were clean & there are trails right next to the park to go explore, walk your dog, take a stroller, etc.
Great great park for a party!

«Now shall I walk or shall I ride?
‘Ride,’ Pleasure said;
‘Walk,’ Joy replied.»
–W.H. Davies
Serrano Creek Park has three unique parts to it.
1. A great playground for kids.
2. A hidden creek-​side stroll
3. A unique and vast eucalyptus grove
Serrano Creek Park is a 1-​mile long park that runs parallel to a small creek and Serrano Road between Trabuco Rd and Bake Pwky.
Toward the eastern side of the park, kids can frolic in a fun, well maintained playground:
Unique playground attractions:
As you traverse the trail the leads past the park, you transition to the creek-​side area of the hike:
Gorgeous reeds by the creek:
Lot’s of shade for walks /​jogs on a warm day:
The creek:
As you get closer to the .70 mile mark, and the western end of the park nearing Bake Pwky, you encounter a huge eucalyptus grove:
Just missing a few giant pandas!
This is a great park to walk, jog, and play in! Worth a visit.

This is one of the largest parks in Lake Forest. With mature trees and good sidewalks it’s a very nice, wooded walk. Keep in mind that coyotes have been observed in the park and adjoining Serrano Creek so it’s wise to avoid this park in the early mornings, evenings and at night.

Such a peaceful retreat!
Hidden from all the city lights and noise, this park is great if you’re looking for a place to relax. The smell of Eucalyptus trees just adds to the effect. Don’t come to the park expecting a lake, or an huge play ground. If you’re looking for a peaceful trail, this is the park for you. The trail is really long btw.

Usually take the kids I nanny here. It has a nice variety of things to do, but it lacks more playground equipment. They recently added another slide area, but it just doesn’t feel like a lot. What I enjoy about going here is if you’re tired of the park, you can take a long walk either on the sidewalk or the horse trail located parallel to the cement path. Wish they would add more.

Beautiful peaceful park.

Just had my daughter’s 4^th birthday party here and it was a great experience. The park is beautiful and while it was in the 90’s there were many trees and lots of shady areas, so no one was really complaining about the heat. This park must be popular for summer parties because we had to reserve the shelter about 3 months in advance. As a Lake Forest resident it is a great rental fee. I believe non-​residents pay more, but I’ve heard from other people that their cities don’t allow you to reserve the shelter space, so I would personally rather pay to make sure the space is mine. They post your name in advance, so other people know the shelter is reserved for the day. I probably wouldn’t recommend this park for children over 11 or 12 as the play equipment seems on the younger side, and there isn’t much of a green area to play games and run around, but I did not need to worry about that for this party. My only gripe was we were told the trash from the night before was suppose to be emptied very early the morning of my daughter’s party and apparently they did not come by until around 10:30, which was the exact start time of our party. The park ambassador happened to come by during our party time and I was able to address my complaint to her. The bathrooms aren’t terrible (I’ve seen worse) but during summer heatwaves they could use a little extra cleaning. Overall, it is a lovely park and a great location to host a birthday party for little kids.