This is one of my favorite Parks in Rancho Santa Margarita- I always take my dog and we start the RSM Lake, we park where the Ralph's is at & cut through the restaurants to the trail/walkway/path that lines the entire lake ( 1 Mile Around ) we exit that trail early where there's lake parking on Las Flores. From there we are about block or less to Trabuco Mesa park. This park is never crowded at least the times that I've chosen to go with my dog I'm always looking for opportunities to take him off leash that's my personal preference -don't come for me!! But I could easily spend at least an hour here and not even cover the entirety of the park my dog has tons of stuff to be sniff and it's right below the saddleback mountain so it's absolutely beautiful anytime of the day really. However we went today during the airplane fire ,they're calling it, and that hypnotizing almost apocalyptic and breathtaking view - you just see this slow burn coming down the mountains and they are lined with glowing red & fiery amber flames that separates them from the inky dark sky it's just absolutely stunning !🔥🔥🔥