Peter's Canyon

Peter’s Canyon is a large Regional Park with a variety of trails.  The trailhead in this guide connects to all trails in the park, so the trails can be combined with others for a shorter or longer/more strenuous hike. Due to a wildfire in fall of 2018, some trails may still be closed. Check here for trail closures: http://www.ocparks.com/parks/peters For a short/flat hike, 1-5 miles out-and-back (excellent for strollers): From the street parking, continue along Peter’s Canyon road until it dead ends. Follow the trail until it also ends at a gate. Continue right, past the gate. At the base of the hill are portable potties and trash cans. Turn left onto Peter’s Canyon trail and follow it for as short or long as you like, returning the way you came. For a 4 mile hike, follow this trail all the way to the beginning of the Reservoir (for views of the water or desert-like dried lake bed, depending on the time of year/rainfall averages) and back. Along this trail is non-stroller friendly adventurous offshoot on the left called Peter’s Canyon Nature trail. It includes stairs, a bridge, and winds back and forth (fun for toddlers). Moderately strenuous hike, 4 mile Lollipop: This hike follows the ridgeline of Peter’s Canyon and can be done with the same amount of difficulty in either direction. Starting at the street parking area, continue along Peter’s Canyon road until it dead ends. Follow the trail until it also ends at a gate. Continue right, past the gate. At the base of the hill are portable potties and trash cans. From here you have the option of starting with the flat trail or heading for the hills. If you’re baby carrying, I recommend heading uphill on the Eucalyptus trail (to the right of the porta potties). On the other side of the hill, this trail morphs into Ridgeview trail, which does its best to mimic the up and downs of a rollercoaster. Continue on this trail until you reach the 2nd left-hand trail spur called Gnatcatcher; this trail has a more gradual decline than if you were to continue on Ridgeview trail. At the end of Gnatcatcher, turn left onto Peter’s Canyon trail to return to the start of the loop.