01
Best overall riverside pick
Santa Ana River Trail: Riverdale Park to Yorba Regional Park
Along The Santa Ana River • Paved Riverside Path • Best For Long, Steady Walks
A flat, paved stretch of the Santa Ana River Trail connecting Riverdale Park to lake-filled Yorba Regional Park.
Start right from Riverdale Park and follow the river upstream as the city noise fades and wide open views take over. The path is paved and mostly gentle, so it works for walkers, runners, bikes, and strollers. Plan a longer outing and use Yorba Regional Park as your turnaround, where you can cool off by the water or grab a shady picnic table before heading back.
02
Easiest close-to-home route
Santa Ana River Trail: Riverdale Park to Edna Park
Anaheim River Corridor • Urban Greenbelt Route • Closest Out-And-Back From Riverdale
An easy out-and-back along the river to Edna Park that feels surprisingly green for how close it sticks to the city.
If you want a quick walk that still feels like you’ve gotten away, head downstream from Riverdale Park toward Edna Park. The trail hugs the river, with stretches of trees, birdlife, and open views that soften the surrounding streets and freeways. It’s a great choice for a before-work walk or evening stretch, with benches and open lawns at Edna Park if you want to linger before turning around.
03
Best for relaxed family time
Yorba Regional Park Lakeside Trails
East Anaheim/Yorba Linda Border • Lakeside Park Paths • Best For Families And Mixed Groups
A network of mellow paths looping around ponds and picnic lawns, ideal when your group has a mix of ages and energy levels.
Once you reach Yorba Regional Park, it’s worth slowing down and exploring the paths that thread around its lakes and lawns. Short loops, shade trees, and frequent rest spots make it particularly friendly for kids, casual walkers, and multigenerational outings. You can keep it to a quick lake loop or link paths for a longer wander, with plenty of picnic tables waiting when it’s time for snacks.
04
Best for a proper workout
Santiago Oaks Regional Park
Anaheim Hills/Orange Foothills • Hilly Canyon Trail Network • Best For Views And Elevation
A rugged canyon park with switchback climbs, ridge walks, and wide views back over the Santa Ana River valley.
A short drive from Riverdale Park, Santiago Oaks feels like a different world with its chaparral-covered hills and oak-lined creek beds. Trails range from mellow fire roads to steep singletrack, so you can choose between a moderate loop or a lung-burning climb to high ridges. Go early to beat the heat, bring plenty of water, and you’ll be rewarded with big views and a satisfying sense of escape from the flatlands below.
05
Most unexpected landscape
Carbon Canyon Regional Park Nature & Redwood Loop
Brea/Carbon Canyon • Shady Nature Loop • Best Short Escape From The Suburbs
A gentle loop that slips from open park lawns into a pocket of towering coastal redwoods and quiet canyon scrub.
Carbon Canyon Regional Park makes a nice change of scenery when you’re ready to venture a bit beyond the river corridor. The nature and redwood loop starts on broad, easy paths and then tucks into a grove of tall redwoods that feel almost out of place in north Orange County. Because the terrain is mostly flat and well-marked, it’s an approachable hike for newer walkers who still want a sense of discovery.