01
Best overall pick
Skyline Drive Trail (Corona Skyline Trail)
Corona Foothills Above The 91 • Steady Ridge Climb With Wide-Open City And Canyon Views • Go-To Local Workout Hike
A popular, no-nonsense climb from Corona neighborhoods to the ridgeline, with sweeping views and a friendly local crowd.
Skyline is where many Temescal Valley and Corona hikers go when they want a solid workout without driving deep into the mountains. The broad dirt road climbs steadily from the edge of town into open chaparral, quickly trading cul-de-sacs for valley and Santa Ana Mountain views. Go at sunrise or late afternoon for cooler temps, fewer mountain bikers, and the best light over the Inland Empire.
02
Best summit views
Bedford Peak via Silverado Motorway
Santa Ana Mountains North Of Temescal Valley • Backcountry-Style Fire Road And Singletrack Climb • Best For Experienced Day Hikers
A longer, steeper climb to a true summit with big panoramas of Orange County, the Inland Empire, and on clear days, the Pacific.
Starting from Silverado Canyon, this route feels more remote than its distance from Temescal Valley suggests. You’ll grind up old fire roads and narrower singletrack through chaparral, with views opening wider the higher you climb. From Bedford Peak’s broad top, trace the backbone of the Santa Anas, spot familiar valley communities below, and enjoy a quieter alternative to more crowded local high points.
03
Classic Ortega Highway trek
Sitton Peak via Bear Canyon Trail
San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Off Ortega Highway • Rolling Canyon And Ridge Hike To A Rocky Summit • Best For All-Day Adventure
A full-value hike that mixes shaded canyon walking, rolling ridges, and a short scramble to one of the area’s most scenic summits.
Sitton Peak delivers a true wilderness feel within an easy drive over the Ortega from Temescal Valley. The trail starts in oak and sycamore shade before working into more exposed chaparral, gradually gaining the ridgeline that leads toward the summit. The final rocky push is short but steep, rewarding you with wide views over the Santa Anas, the coast range on clear days, and the inland valleys stretching back toward home.
04
Best canyon escape close to the freeway
Big Mo Trail to Coal Canyon Falls
Coal Canyon Corridor Near The 91 • Canyon Corridor Walk With Seasonal Waterfall And Wildlife Feel • Best For Nature-Focused Explorers
An accessible canyon hike along old roadbeds and singletrack, offering quiet stretches, seasonal water, and a chance to spot local wildlife.
Tucked surprisingly close to the 91, Coal Canyon quickly trades highway noise for a surprisingly wild, narrow valley. Following the Big Mo route, you’ll meander along the canyon floor, passing stands of coastal sage scrub and pockets of shade near the creekbed. In a good rain year the waterfall makes a satisfying turnaround point, but even when dry, this is a nice option when you want a gentler outing that still feels like you’ve stepped away from suburbia.
05
Best mellow nature wander
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve
Rolling Plateau West Of Murrieta • Network Of Gentle Trails Through Oaks, Grasslands, And Vernal Pools • Best For Families And Casual Hikers
A scenic preserve with easy-to-moderate loops, abundant wildlife, and spring wildflowers, ideal when you want more nature than elevation gain.
The Santa Rosa Plateau is a favorite when Temescal Valley hikers are in the mood for scenery over suffering. Wide, well-signed paths wind through open grasslands, shady Engelmann oak woodlands, and, in season, the vernal pool area that draws birdlife and wildflower hunters. It’s an inviting spot for slower-paced hikes, photography, or introducing newer hikers and kids to the outdoors without committing to a big climb.