Santa Margarita River Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Wildlife

Horses use this trail a lot and like to leave presents on narrower trails so watch where you're stepping. Rocks can be a trip hazard at parts of the trail but the gravel is packed pretty tightly though out the trail.

This trail starts at the main west parking lot and goes to the east smaller parking lot. It is an out and back trail but their are many smaller trails shooting off the main trail that can be made into some loops. The main trail has a couple stream crossing towards the east side that are easily crossed without getting wet. There are trails on the north side of the "river" but you'll need to run through some shin high water to get to the other side.

Parking fills up very early on the weekends, be prepared to wait for a spot.

Typical chaparral planets known in the area as well as oak trees give the trail a fair amount of shade. Coyotes are know to be on trails during sunrise and sunset but they run when they see humans. Trail posts warnings of rattle snakes and mountain lions in the area.