Peters Canyon North Trailhead — Attraction in Orange

Peters Canyon Regional Park is a strip of natural California hills, set aside by the County of Orange for hiking, running, mountain biking and equestrian use. Most park visitors are hiking. This park is a hidden gem of natural terrain and wildlife, nestled between urban Orange County communities.

It's a narrow strip of land East/West between Jamboree Road and Tustin Hills and North/South between City of Orange and Tustin Ranch. It measures about two miles North/South and an average of about a quarter mile wide. There is a lake at both ends, although both are usually dry. A stream runs down the middle between the lakes and usually has some water.

It's a very popular hiking place for the locals, especially those with dogs. There is no pavement, all trails are dirt, with some spots of difficult terrain. The park can be extremely busy on weekend mornings, sometimes there is no available parking anywhere in the vicinity.

The park has abundant wildlife. Over the years I have personally seen birds of all kinds including raven, hawks and vultures, lizards of all local types, many types of snake, coyote, bobcat, rabbit and turtle. Spring flowers include mustard, lupin, daisies, poppies, and dozens of others. Fall foliage includes flowers and many wild herbs.

The park is maintained by the Orange County park systems, OC Parks. There is trail info, wildlike info, hazard info and trails maps at both the Northern and Southern entrances.

There are a variety of trails for different levels of skill. There are two main trails going up the length. The mountain-To-Sea Trail is the widest, easiest and most heavily traveled. The East Ridge Trail follows the hilly ridge and is the most challenging. There is also a two-mile Lake loop trail at the North end. A very popular route is "the Hill" at the summit of East Ridge View Trail. It's narrow, steep and challenging, but short. The mail trail, Mountain-To-Sea, goes between the North and South entrances, and is very easy

There are seven ways to enter Peter's Canyon Regional Park.

The Northern, primary entrance (paid parking): 8548 Canyon View in Orange

Main Southern entrance (street parking): The end of Peter's Canyon Road in Tustin Ranch

Two streetcorner pedestrian entrances in Orange: Skylark & Canyon View Jamboree & Canyon View

Two neighborhood entrances in Tustin Hills: The end of Lower Lake Drive in Lemon Heights The end of Overhill Drive in Cowan Heights

A private entrance in the gated community of Vidorra: Near Jamboree and Pioneer in Tustin Ranch

I hike this park every Saturday morning. My usual route includes starting up the ridge, two lake loops and walking out down the main trail. It's 9.5 miles, and 1,800 feet of...

is my first time in here & I loved it! Trails are very clean, is no shade nowhere but is pretty windy so u always fresh! We got a bad encounter (my dogs & me) we were attacked by a boxer dog off leash, the owner a girl couldn't control her dog, behind me was a gentleman aprox 50 yrs old with another 3 little dogs, & the boxer after finally get him off my dogs, went straight to attack the poor guy! And the stupid lady instead to try & leash on back her dog she start arguing & insult the gentleman. I just ask her why she was SO IRRESPONSIBLE!!????? PEOPLE LEASH UR DOGS! PLEASE! Its unfair for rest of people out here. We got lost at the end but a girl named Brooke helps us out even walk us about a mile to exit in the right place. Over all was a great experience. I highly recomend this beautiful place. But bring snacks , lots of water & refreshments, a towel , wipes & sunblock U WILL ND IT! & extra phone battery! Mine barely make it, at some point went off & I miss a mile off track in my map my run , but my forerunner watch catch it so I could record this hike as a succesful workout. Totally kick ass & my dogs too! The boxer got what he was looking for & my dogs gave him a...

Love this place. I would say this terrain is more for runner and hikers and not for the bike people. Parking on weekends was free if you park along the side or at the school lot. We trekked up, cut into the gate on the right, walked a few, and cut into the trail on the right again for an uphill ascent.

Space wise, it's bigger than a single track. It's big enough to fit people coming down and people walking up in the tightest areas. This trail is kid friendly (Yes, it can be steep in some areas and there rocks, just make sure they go slow) and there are outhouses at the bottle of the trail. There were some snake sightings according to another hiker, but I cannot confirm or deny it.

Yes, do go early if you can. We went about 10am and I would say that's too late because coming back it was getting hot. There is a Mickadees down the hill which we stopped by afterwards. Oddly enough, they don't have water by the fountain drinks. You have to ask for it.

I only saw one bench at the top of one of the hills so don't expect gorgeous views or looking for a...