Dart and Map

Recently, I was staying down in Irvine, CA. Since traffic is so awful in Southern California, I seldom have the patience to drive south to Orange County despite having a list of places that I want to see. So, since I was there with a hotel room, I explored.

Redwood trees are mostly found in Northern California, but to my surprise, there is a grove of them in Brea, CA in Carbon Canyon Regional Park & very near Chino Hills State Park, a park known for its wildflowers.

It was a pretty short walk to get to them from the parking lot. It is about 1-mile to the grove. All flat. Very easy.  When you get to the Redwood Grove, it is peaceful & quiet. There is a trail through them with benches, so you will likely find one that is free and away from others. I did go on a weekday and therefore cannot vouch for its solitude on weekends. The trail within the redwoods is not very long, so be sure to take your time & take it all in.

There is a very small fee to enter. I was given a map upon entry. Parking is plentiful.  The trail is clearly marked. As with any park in California, do watch for rattlesnakes but do not worry about them. A hiker in front of me stopped and was looking down at what I thought was a stick, but turned out to be a huge rattlesnake crossing. As long as you are aware & leave them be, they will leave you be as well.  

You can walk to the butterfly garden on the trail from the Redwood Grove, or meander over to the pond where you might find people fishing, or geese & ducks swimming. There are places to picnic.  Yes. There are bathrooms. 

The day I went, the park was very empty, which is my favorite, so I stayed a while to watch the birds in the water.

As always, leave no trace, please.

Carbon Canyon Regional Park 4442 Carbon Canyon Road
Brea, CA 92823

-jenn