Nature Parks
in Orange County

The value of having accessible open space in Orange County goes without saying. It’s naturally harder to find since the county is mostly developed. This is particularly true for the basin communities in the north and central regions, which only have marginal amounts of open spaces left. Notable pockets of accessible open space that still remain are mainly in the coastal and foothill communities, where uneven terrain prevents overdevelopment. Although the Santa Ana Mountains, part of Cleveland National Forest, has the most open space in the county, it’s terrain and primitive road network makes it less accessible for casual visits.

This site serves to identify the remaining “Nature Parks” in the county. “Nature Parks” are considered natural or semi-natural open spaces where people can gather at and aren’t too burdening to access. All listings are curated.