Oak Canyon Nature Center — Attraction in Anaheim

Oak Canyon Nature Center is a beautiful park with many opportunities. You can go on a walk through the beautiful Oak trees or go on a hike through the mountains. They also have a summer day camp for children 5-12. The children are split up into four groups; Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green. They are split by age. In those groups they have many activities that they do. They learn about how to survive while in nature, they learn about history, play games, and do arts and crafts. You can sign your child up by week. Everday they sing a variety of silly songs. On Thursdays they have a bead hunt and search for the special bead. They also go on a magnificent hike and eat their lunch at the destination. On Fridays they put on a "Pow Wow" for the parents, which includes a song by Red group, a presentation by Blue group and plays by Yellow and Green group. The children read and preform sign language to a closing and opening saying. Oak Canyon Nature Center also has a program there for teens; 12-14, it is called Zombie Camp. Zombie camp teaches kids archery, how to make a makeshift oven using the Sun, and how to put together a first-aid kit. They also play games like capture the flag, Nerf gun battles, and a shelter building contest. Although if you want to have your teen and child in the same camp at the same time you can have your teen volunteer at the kids summer day camp. There is also a beautiful museum for families to look at and Nature nights that they can attend. Nature nights are nights where you can come and learn a fact about nature and you may go on a hike, so bring...

A beautiful setting of nature at the Nature Center and extending park trails! It’s an educational experience for young and older visitors to learn about the local wildlife. A short hike of under two hours may be done here, even when the Nature Center is closed. Access is thru the lower trail from East Walnut Canyon Road. There’s both compacted and powdery dirt trails within Oak Canyon Park. The trails continue up through the canyon and into the right and left flanks, further extending up along the sides to and from pathways, connecting thru with residential neighborhoods. The northeast Roadrunner Trail passes high up near cave like formations, winds and traverses up near the Walnut Canyon Reservoir’s Periphery Road paved trail, a separate hike itself, or can be included... endurance and time permitting! The parking with main entrance can be accessed via Walnut Canyon Road, just past the Anaheim Hills Golf Club. There’s picnic tables and restrooms at the parking lot. Oak Canyon Nature Center Trails are open everyday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oak Canyon Nature Center Visitor’s Center has information, park staff and interesting exhibits. Posted access hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There’s no charge for admission, tho a $5.00 donation is suggested and appreciated! To access the Walnut Canyon Reservoir trail, take the steps up from the highest point of the Roadrunner trail to the Reservoir Periphery Rd. Additional exhibits with upgraded signage has been added for more informative...

This nature area is a peaceful retreat from urban city life, up in the Anaheim Hills, really close to Anaheim Hills Golf Course.

The nature trail starts from a large dirt parking lot and skirts the Oak Canyon Nature Center & Ampitheatre, beneath the boughs of some large oak trees. You're greeted with views of a gently flowing stream, interspersed with miniature waterfalls, which cascade into tiny pools. There are 2 trails here, the Stream Trail and the Quail Trail.

I prefer the Stream Trail, which veers to the left off the main trail, and is marked by signage. It follows the stream, with the cool shade from Oak trees becoming much coveted on hot days. I've seen Snowy Egrets, Wood Ducks, Acorn Woodpeckers, California Quail and a myriad of small bird species here. I also noticed a pretty sizable beehive in a hollowed out hole of a large oak tree.

The Quail Trail, veers right off the main trail, heading slightly upward beneath an Oak canopy. After a short distance, you'll come out of the shady oaks and move away from a wider stream bed, into a more arid environment. As you begin climbing the hillside, you'll notice quite a few cactus just off the trail. The advantage of this trail are the nice views of Anaheim Hills from a high...