Serenity reigns at this 1,269-acre park, which truly feels like an escape from city life. This secluded refuge is a nature lover’s paradise featuring mountain vistas, a meandering creek, mature trees, and surrounding foothills.
Park Information
2145 N. Windes Dr., Orange, CA
This park is open daily between 7:00 a.m. and sunset. Parking is $3 Monday through Friday; $5 Saturday and Sunday.
OC Parks hosts interpretive programs year-round, including evening hikes, birdwatching excursions, and Jr. Ranger adventures.
1,269acres of the Reserve's protected land200coastal live oaks planted here in 2011 restoration project18miles of scenic, multi-use trails
More about Santiago Oaks Regional Park
If you’re looking for an easy escape, Santiago Oaks Regional Park is a breath of fresh air—a peaceful retreat in east Orange that runs alongside Santiago Creek. Come for the calm and stay for the abundance of wildlife that thrives among the park’s shady groves.
A web of interconnected trails will take you through the land; they offer 18 miles of rugged exploration with different paths for every level of trail user. The Historic Dam Trail leads to the Historic Dam built in 1892; head to the Barham Ridge Trail lookout and you’ll be granted a dazzling panoramic view of Orange County that will make you appreciate the surrounding area even more.
Be sure to visit the park’s Nature Center too! It’s been welcoming visitors to this land since 1981. Surrounded by old-growth oaks, it’s the perfect spot to learn about the area’s history (including its dam-building past) and to get a sense of the local wildlife from the handful of taxidermy exhibits.
Choose your own adventure: Santiago Oaks Regional Park's got the nature. How do you want to enjoy it?
Expect the unexpected on your adventure. Tell a friend or family member where you are going and what time you plan to return, keep an eye on local weather reports, bring plenty of water, and carry emergency essentials with you. Some areas of the NROC do not have cell service, so you may not be able to rely on your smartphone for routing or communication. It’s smart to have a warm layer, rain jacket, and headlamp in your pack, along with means to stay hydrated and fueled beyond what you expect you’ll need, especially in the more remote areas of the Reserve.
Each park within the NROC has its own activities, hours, and guidelines, all rooted in respect for the land. Before you visit, check out their site so there are no surprises.
Nurturing the beauty of this nature is a communal effort—love your wild by taking nothing from the Reserve and leave no trace behind.
You are bound to see some exciting wildlife on the Reserve, and we do mean wild. Respecting the animals’ space will ensure your safety and theirs.
Though encountering them is rare, some larger or venomous animals could be threatening—the best thing to do is stay calm and be prepared. If you encounter a mountain lion, maintain eye contact, speak firmly, make yourself look larger, and slowly back away—do not crouch or run. If you see a snake on the trail, stop and give it space—most bites happen when people try to move or handle snakes. Walk around from a safe distance.
Ticks are also a natural part of Orange County’s wildlands, especially in grassy or brushy areas. Stay on designated trails, wear long sleeves and pants, and do a tick check after your hike. A little awareness goes a long way!
We’ve got hundreds of miles of established trails—staying on them ensures your safety and minimizes disruption of the incredible habitats you’re exploring.
E-bikes are great for urban settings. And hugely destructive for natural spaces. To ensure our habitats’ survival, e-bikes are not permitted on the Reserve.
We love dogs, but even leashed pets disrupt natural habitats. Help us keep the Reserve’s ecosystems in balance by either leaving your dog(s) at home or making sure you bring them to a dog-friendly area of the Reserve. Find out more about the parks that welcome pets here.
Take a few deep breaths instead! This safeguards the health of other visitors, prevents waste and wildfires, and protects our plant and animal life from pollution.
The Reserve is a thriving ecosystem of thousands of plant and animal species. Here are a few that call Santiago Oaks home.
