Peters Canyon Regional Park

I’ve been here on several occasions. This is decent beginner hike. The trail is smooth for the most part, nothing too crazy or difficult. If you are only interested in sightseeing you should know the views are average, not breathtaking This is a really good place to get a run in though. Nice six mile loop. «Big Red» the one really steep hill on this trail can be a good challenge if you attempt to run up the whole way. Good cardio if you decide to do repeats on it. Overall it is a fun place to get a good walk/​run in. Not one of my favorite hikes but is definitely worth visiting at least once.

Easy peasy trail good for beginners and intermediate level hikers. It’s hot and not much shade so wear a hat and bring water. I have seen a rattle snake in the middle of the dirt trail so always be wary.

I have been here 4 times. It’s not bad, but definitely not high on my list of favorite hikes or hikes that I can’t wait to return to. The first time I came here was a solo hike. I brought some family member the 2^nd time and thought this would be good since my niece has a young family and figured the trail around the lake would be short and easy enough for them to handle. The third time I came with a friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time and we hiked the whole thing and that gave us time to «catch up». The last time I came here was for an Earth Day 10K.
Pros– easy to find and doesn’t require a long drive to get there; there is ample parking in the lot ($ 3 I believe)…you can also park at the southwestern end at a school (during non-​school hours) or on the street near the school for free; different connecting trails to make your hike suitable to the level of difficulty or time that you have (I have done as little as 2.5 miles here to as much as 6 miles); some steep hills that seemed much steeper when I was running the 10k that gives you a good workout if you choose that trail on the southern side; you can bring your dog
Cons– on the busy side and surrounded by neighborhoods so you don’t get the feeling of really getting away from the hustle/​bustle; no cool destination or view that you must see esp. since the lake is dry

Love it here! Always get a good, long work out here where I end up sweating. The pond dried up unfortunately, it used to be beautiful: tears:

Great trails and a great workout with incline if you chose. People are friendly just be aware of others running or biking. Also great views at the high points and benches and picnic tables. I would like if they had more maps around the park. Bring water and have a good time with your pup

When it comes to hiking, I don’t give local places enough credit. I’d been hearing about Peter’s Canyon for YEARS, but would make the longer excursions to the famed Potato Chip and Runyon Canyon and all for what? A picture? ;)
The great thing about Peter’s Canyon is that you can easily adjust your adventure to what you want. There are some challenging inclines, you can make your hike as long or as short as you want, and you can forge your path as you go without fear that your hike will last for DAYS. This last tidbit is great for people like me who get lost easily because they have an AWESOME sense of direction.
I have to say that the place is well kept. Yes, you will be greeted with an occasional surprise now and then (oh SH*T), but that’s to be expected in the Great Outdoors, yes?
Oh and parking on the weekends can be a B. Definitely go by 7 for the optimal sitch. Early bird not only gets the worm, but doesn’t sweat balls because it gets flippin hot later in the day… even in the «winter» we’re so famed for in Cali. ;)
So go on now. take a hike!

This is such a wonderful place for families or just to go out and venture on your own, enjoying natures cure for everything. Coolest part is that you can make your hike to be easy or hard depending on what you are looking for by simply choosing to go left or right when you come to a fork on the trail. Everyone is nice and out to enjoy the great Cali weather we all love and what Mother Nature has created.
Make sure you bring lots of water and a hat because there are areas without shade along the trails.

I love Peter canyon. I came here on Valentine’s Day and it was an awesome hike/run.Parking is free. It says temporary parking only so just depends on what your definition of temporary is lol
The trail is super long, it was never ending so we turned around after about 45 minutes of hiking. Please bring plenty of water and a hat since there’s not a lot of shade during the hike. I choose this hike over the rattlesnakes at quail trail any day.

This is a beautiful trail — good for all ages and is also pet friendly. It is a huge piece of vacant land and there are multiple trails, so keep an eye on where you parked so you don’t get lost. Also remember to bring $ 3 for parking.
There were a couple warning signs for wild life, but all we saw were birds, bees, bunnies, lizards, and beetles, nothing to fret over. I highly recommend staying on the trail though, because if there are snakes, they’re most likely in those places, so just be smart about it :)
Watch out for bikers going downhill. Just move over to the side when you hear/​see them coming down, they will typically zoom right by you. Bring lots of water! It gets hot and you don’t wanna get dehydrated. Right now is a beautiful time to visit the park, there are so many gorgeous flowers growing and you can smell their vibrant aromas. Have fun and happy trails :)

Love this park. Big enough to have a decent hiking experience without having to drive way out of town.
Park seemed clean and kept up. Plenty of people around hiking that you feel safe and not isolated.

Great trail hiking! Easy parking, dog friendly, up and down hill, streams and small pond (if we had rain). It does cost $ 3 to park but it is well worth it. Bring water it gets warm and there really is not much shade. Don’t forget to climb the tallest hill, you have the best view of OC at the top! Enjoy your hike!!!

Most definitely CALIFORNIA FYRFIT approved location for fitness and fun! If your looking for a new way to work out with a run check us out on Facebook or IG CALIFORNIA FYRFIT or california_​fyrfit_​

My wife and I looked up some nice local trails and stumbled upon this hot spot.
There are many different entrances to this trail so I wont go into detail about that but it’s definitely an easy access trail that doesn’t require a whole lot of effort.
The overall trail isn’t too bad– its clean, open and offers «some» great sights… (most of the trail oversees houses and the 241 Toll road, which kinda sucks if you’re seeking the full nature experience)
Being that this trail is the back yard to many fancy houses in the area it tends to attract a lot of families and small groups… now depending on how you feel about that. it can be a bit annoying if you’re hoping for a peaceful scenic walk.
The trail is perfect if you’re looking for a small challenge. I do recommend some nice hiking shoes not saying that running shoes won’t do, however, there are many uneven areas and rocks that could raise the chance of a sprained ankle.
To wrap things up:
Pros: It’s local, «somewhat» challenging, open, clean, and safe.
Cons: Busy with locals, a bit rocky/​uneven (if you’re looking to run), not many great views.

LOVE THIS TRAIL!
There are so many obstacles and ways for having a good hike, a good run, a good walk on this trail. Honestly, my go-​to trail since its 10 – 15 minutes from me!
There are three entrances that I know of on getting here. One is in a neighborhood that I stumbled upon on. The second is the main entrance where you have to pay $ 3 for parking. Lastly, the other entrance is where the elementary school is! I’m not sure on all the directions of how to get there. But the first and third ways allows you park for free and save $ 3! Thats about the cost of coffee or boba! But if you’d like to support our trails and hikes, I’d suggest the second option for parking.
There are multiple hills you can get to. Once you’re on top, you can see South Orange County, and take in all the sceneries. One of the famous hill is known as ‘Red Hill,’ the hill literally looks red to me and is a very steep incline.
There use to be a lake at the trail, however, due to the drought, the lake is not there anymore. All that there is, is a dried layer of salt floors! Its really sad to see it gone…

If you’re coming here for a great view, you’ll probably be disappointed. The lake is dried up at this time of year (see my photo) and it’s probably the only thing to see.
The trails can be a bit steep, hilly and difficult to navigate. Add to that the $ 3 parking fee and the fact that there is currently no lake, I don’t think it’s worth a trip to hike here. If you prefer a hike with a better view and free parking, go to the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, the Upper Newport Bay in Newport, or Top of the World in Laguna instead.

If Peter’s Canyon’s Regional Park were in NorCal’s SF Bay Area, I’d rate it no higher than three stars. However, ratings should be relative, and this venue is quite serviceable for Orange County.
Equally useful and popular with strolling families, exercise hikers, runners, and mountain bikers, PC can get hotter than the Sahara during summer afternoons, but the temperature usually cools down toward sunset on even the most grueling days, so diehards like me can hike or ride year-​round if they start as the sun rises and/​or sets.
Even in OC, there are hiking venues I vastly prefer, i.e., Top of the World, but for day-​to-​day outdoor activity, it’s hard for me to beat the fact that Peter’s Canyon is within easy walking and riding distance of my Man Cave. Another plus — all of the trails inside PC are totally dog friendly. That means my four-​footed buddy Teal’c never has to don his horse suit to get a decent workout.
Initially, I used Peter’s Canyon just for hiking. When I’m on foot, I usually take a few minutes to walk to the main gate rather than pay the $ 3 daily parking fee.
Tip: There is no street parking that’s less than a 15-​minute walk from the main entrance, so if you don’t live in this part of Orange, it makes sense to break down and pay the $ 3 per day parking fee.
There came a time after I moved to OC when I had to lay off hiking for several months because of a knee injury. As part of my rehab from the injury, I took advantage of my proximity to PC to rediscover mountain biking. PC’s dry, sandy, gulch-​plagued trails can be somewhat treacherous for cyclists, and the flocks of hipsters and families that swarm the trails on weekend mornings can make riding challenging, but if you learn the terrain and avoid peak hours, there are some great bike workouts to be had.
Tip: One of the most dangerous trail segments for cyclists is at the top of the first hill you come to if you’re following the Peter’s Canyon segment of the Mountains to Sea trail toward Tustin. It’s especially hairy when you’re riding toward Canyon View Avenue from the Tustin side. That route requires that you navigate past the nefarious «Jeffrey Dahmer Log». The combination of that dreaded log, the steep hillside it adjoins, and flocks of completely clueless hipster hikers mesmerized by their cell phones (thereby not paying attention to bike traffic) care be deadly.
It’s a rare day that I don’t come to Peter’s Canyon to either hike or ride, and some days I manage to do both! This is great venue for all manner of outdoor exercise, and I recommend it highly.

This was probably the easiest, difficult hike ever! What?. Okay that was confusing haha. Depending on which route you take, it’s a cake walk, take the high hill, well, be prepared if your a beginner like me. The hill will work your calves, quads, and glutes (sexy, well not really) and possibly your sanity (yeah, sexy. wait no, lol). I had to remember to breathe and it’s be over soon. How many more hills? Oh gawd, I went the wrong way. Just keep moving. The end of it, is rewarding. Cause its the end.
I like that this location since its close by, about 45 minutes out. Lots of tress and shade in the beginning, not so much when you take the big hill, I think the sign called it the ‘Big Red’. It’s all sun and hills. Don’t forget sunscreen. It was December and still sunny, no clouds, just beauty! Next time, I’ll try the easy route… maybe.
They have limited flushing bathroom facilities, yay! Parking lot is small and a small fee, which mean, it does get full pretty quickly. Lots of people hiking/​walking/​running, dog friendly (watch where you’re walking), small kids and families, bikers too.
Also it’s close by Tustin Marketplace Or the Marketplace, where lots of food and desserts can be found. Even closer by is the Orange Acre Plaza (?), Pacific Ranch Market (Deli makes sandwiches), and a bunch of other small eatery places; I think there’s a Chronic tacos there? Worth checking out!

I fought the log and the log won.
Cruisin’ for a bruisin’ through tempestuous terrain, turbulent and temperamental, the impassioned brush and unpredictable terrain inhabited my person. For the forceful strokes of generous epidermal tissue, I have to thank the incongruous log and Jeffrey Dahmer was his name.
The untoward log belongs on a tree, why is it placed so unseemly?
Between the gullies, sand, and the Dahmer log, this terrain is punishing for mountain bikers. Although there are cardiac advantages to the uphill climb, navigating the land, runners, walkers and canines requires vigilance.
Nonetheless, I am compelled to recognize and convey immense gratitude to the two female hikers who witnessed my descent from grace and risked their own safety to ensure that of my own. Thank you!
A cautionary tale.

Updated review: this time we started at the south side with the free parking. It’s on pioneer and peters Canyon. You can park on the street or at the school parking lot.
If you start on this side there’s more shade at the beginning which we really enjoyed. The trail had less dog poop on the ground than when we went the first time which is good. They have doggy poop bags at the beginning of the trails too.
We spent most of our time on Peter’s Canyon trail and took the lake view route but because of the drought, the lake was dry.
Overall we hiked about 5 miles in 2.5 hours. Came there early at 830 so it wouldn’t be too hot and luckily the clouds started coming in so at the end of our hike it was mostly shady and cool. That made the hike very enjoyable and loved the breeze when you reach the very top on one of the trails. I forgot what the trail was called but it was the highest one on the hike. Luckily it wasn’t that steep compared to other hikes. You can see everyone of all ages were able to do it.
I’m glad I went back to this hike the second time. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this hike to my friends. Just make sure you wear a hat and lots of sunscreen if it’s sunny and hot.

Peters Canyon Regional Park is a great outdoor exercising ground. The view is breath taking, air is crisp early in the morning and there are a lot of ppl walking, so you don’t feel alone.
Best to arrive early cuz the parking spaces are limited and u might hv to park on the streets. Make sure you hv $ 3 handy for parking fee. You can park there all day until it closes if you like. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring a bottle of water cuz you will need it, and a viser or cap. Great experience!