Best Bird Watching Area Anaheim Near Me

4worldlovers: Upon constantly scouring for new places to bird, I had come across the Villa Park Flood Dam Control as a hot spot in eBird as well as comments in various posters reports referring to the “Magic Basin”. With little reference online on how to get to this eBird Hot Spot in Orange County, I opted to try and find this place along with a friend Phil Thomas who grew up in the area. We initially chose to park in the Santiago Oaks Regional Parks main parking area and walk down to the Historic Dam trail. (There’s typically maps available or you can click here for the Santiago Oaks Regional Park map). This trail is easy to locate as you simply walk down below the parking lot to the lowest trail and bear right. Navigate over the creek via the large circular stepping stones. This will get you on the Historic Dam Trail. Follow this trail to the Santiago Creek Trail and then to the Pony Trail. Stay on the Pony Trail until you reach the dirt parking area. You’ll see this location on my map where it shows Sandberg Lane. (see image 1 and 2 below)

Walk through the dirt parking lot and bear right up the steep dirt trail. At the crest, you’ll see a locked gated fence, continue downward to the Egret Trail (see image 2 below)

4worldlovers: All Shelters at Yorba Regional Park are booked for all weekends in July, August, and September. You may continue to check availability online.

Restroom #4 near Shelter #2 is closed for construction. There are portable restrooms and hand washing stations available in the area. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Office Hours: Every other Monday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call ahead for staff availability.

Parking fees: $3 per vehicle entry Monday - Friday; $5 Saturday - Sunday; Higher for some holidays and events (Fee Information)

A linear day use park over one mile long and 140 acres, situated in the mouth of Santa Ana Canyon in the city of Anaheim. The linear environment of the park site recaptures the river setting of the adjacent Santa Ana River. Because the park is in a historic setting in an area where such names as Yorba, Peralta and Dominguez were common, the Orange County Board of Supervisors recognized the 1976 opening of the park site by designating Yorba Regional Park as the official Orange County bicentennial project.

Yorba Park has been developed to provide an abundance of family and group picnicking facilities. More than 400 picnic tables are situated in the park, many with permanent shade structures. A series of four lakes with connecting streams offer a pleasing aquatic environment and provide opportunities for fishing and model boat sailing. Bicycle trails meander through the park, and connect to the nationally recognized Santa Ana River Trail, leading some 20 miles to the Pacific Ocean.

Playgrounds and restrooms can be found throughout the park. The park also offers seven group shelters (available by reservation), volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, two ball diamonds, a physical fitness course, and some 200 barbecues.

4worldlovers: Oak Canyon Nature Center is a 58-acre natural park nestled in the Anaheim Hills. A year-round stream meanders through the park. Consisting of three adjoining canyons, four miles of hiking trails traverse one of the few remaining areas of oak woodland and coastal sage scrub in our region. Native wildlife makes the canyon their home and is just waiting to be discovered. Also located on site is the John J. Collier Interpretive Center, a small museum with live animals and regional natural history exhibits.

4worldlovers:
This ecological reserve is adjacent to or shares marine habitat with a Marine Protected Area (MPA). For the public use regulations for MPAs, see Section 632, Title 14, CCR.

Each parking lot connects to a 4-mile network of public hiking trails, including scenic overlooks. Please note that due to active oil and gas production by California Resources Corporation, a portion of the reserve is closed to public access.