Nature Park in Lake Forest is in the most unlikely spot: in the middle of industrial park.  Many of you families in South County will know where it is — because it’s less than a block away from Pump It Up on Dimension. A little pocket of nature right in the middle of everything.

Directions to Nature Park in Lake Forest:  Exit Interstate 405 at Lake Forest Drive and take it all the way to a left on Dimension Drive. Stay on Dimension. You will pass Pump It Up on your left and then prepare to park on the right side of the road after you cross the bridge. You will see the Nature Park sign. If you hit CommerceCentre Drive then you went too far.  (Address: 26215 Dimension Drive, Lake Forest) MAP TO NATURE PARK IN LAKE FOREST

Highlights:

• Features nature with oak trees and other native plants
• Hooks up to the Serrano Creek Trail which connects uphill to Whiting Ranch and downhill to Serrano Creek Park
• It was nice and quiet on the weekend
• Bird watching and wildlife spotting
• Kids can find a “sit spot” to watch the birds and see if they can spot bunnies
• Awesome spot for picnics with a covered gazebo near oak trees
• Interpretive elements printed on the concrete
• Take the short nature trail towards the back of the park. Kids should stay on trail.
• There are interpretive signs on the nature trail to help you identify plants. We definitely saw evidence of snacking on the prickly pear.

Be Aware:

• NO playground
• Parking on Dimension was fine on the weekend, but could be dicey during the week
• Could feel isolated if you go alone
• Watch for wildlife on the nature trail. There is poison oak (see photo below) and prickly pear off the trail. So if you stay on the wide trail you are good.
• NO restrooms
• If you ride or walk on the trail, watch for fast riders coming down the hill behind you

Checklist:

• Parking on a busy street
• NO playground, just picnic tables and a nice natural area to explore
• NO restrooms
• Download a PDF of Orange County Bikeways from OCTA
• City of Lake Forest website
• Nearest public library branch: Foothill Ranch Public Library

Nearby parks:

• Serrano Creek Park
• Heritage Hill Historical Park
• Foothill Ranch Community Park
• Borrego Park

Concourse Park is in the Portola Hills neighborhood of Lake Forest. I never knew how to get to those “houses on the hill” on the way up El Toro Road towards Santiago Canyon and O’Neill Regional Park. You notice the homes up to the left and I always think about what a great view they must enjoy. The park is in a beautiful setting so close to Whiting Ranch and the Santa Ana Mountains.  It was renovated over Summer 2011 to include more shade, plus a new sand and water play area.

Location: Take El Toro Road waaaaayyyyyy up to just before Cook’s Corner and the turn onto Live Oak Canyon Road. Turn left onto Ridgeline. Turn left on Saddleback Ranch Road. You’ll pass the community pool and the playground is just ahead on the right. (Address: 18931 Saddleback Ranch Road, Lake Forest)  MAP TO CONCOURSE PARK IN PORTOLA HILLS

Highlights:

• It feels like a great wide open space with lots of nearby nature from Whiting Ranch. I saw lots of birds on my visit.
• There’s a fire access trail near the park that takes you down the hill for a mini-nature walk before opening into the wide expanses of Whiting Ranch.
• The playground is very near the parking lot with the toddler version in front and the bigger kid structure behind.
• The toddler playground is just the right size for little ones. There are also 2 baby swings and ride-on spring toys here.
• There used to be a grassy hill in between the play structures which was a perfect place to hang out. With the renovation, they flattened the hill and made it into a bunch of planters for large sycamore trees for lots of shade when they mature.
• The big kid playground has more opportunities for climbing and monkey bars. There are 2 bench swings and one tire swing.
• With the renovation comes an expanded climbing area and a dedicated sand play area with a water feature. The water play feature looks like a desert palace.
• A restroom was also added during the renovation (although it’s not open yet — just a portable toilet).
• There is one picnic shelter near the playground for shade cover during lunch. A second shelter sits with a view overlooking Whiting Ranch.
• There’s also half court basketball and a winding sidewalk which people were using for their morning walks with/without kids.

Be Aware:

• This backs up to quite a bit of open space, so just be aware of your surroundings and watch for rattlesnakes. Mountain lions and coyotes are a concern if you have very small children, but just make sure you are nearby your child and not letting them run ahead. I spoke to the moms at the park and most had never had encounters with ANY of these animals. (I think there’s too much action here during daylight hours.)
• The playground can be hot during the summer, but the added shade covers give some relief.
• Bring a change of clothes – and maybe a change of shoes! My daughter had a blast playing in the water and with the sand, but got filthy!

Checklist:

• Dedicated parking lot
• Bark play surface
• New restrooms (not open yet – portable restrooms available)
• 2 covered picnic areas with grills
• Drinking fountain near picnic shelter
• Half court basketball
• Walking path/sidewalk winding through park
• Access to Whiting Ranch from fire access road
• City of Lake Forest website
• Nearest public library branch: Foothill Ranch Public Library

Nearby parks:

• Foothill Ranch Community Park
• Borrego Park

Tamarisk Park in Lake Forest is tucked up in the foothills above Trabuco Canyon Road.  We were out exploring parks in Mission Viejo when I asked some moms for advice.  I love asking for advice!  I always get the best tips.  This one moms says: “Oh, you have to try this park down the road that has an old-fashioned merry-go-round!”  It took me a while to figure out she was talking about the spinners from my childhood playground days.  Then we spent the next several minutes talking about how much fun we used to have on that particular piece of play equipment.

Location: From Interstate 405, take the Lake Forest exit and head towards the mountains.  Turn left at Trabuco Canyon Road and get in the right hand lane.   Make a right onto Peachwood.  Take Peachwood up the hill to where it almost ends and turn left on Tamarisk.  The parking lot is past the chain link fence on your right.  MAP TO TAMARISK PARK IN LAKE FOREST

Recommended by: A mom I met at a park

Highlights:

• I like parks that are not busy – and this one was deserted on our visit!
• The old-fashioned merry-go-round is definitely the big draw here.
• There’s also a couple of 4-person teeter-totter’s that are really fun.
• Very simple play equipment
• The playground is situated higher than the baseball fields/soccer/basketball court and has a beautiful view of Orange County at sunset
• Large grouping of picnic tables near the parking lot (away from the playground)
• A few shaded benches at the playground
• 2 bench swings, 2 baby swings
• Nature connection: Wandering around the edges of this park is especially interesting.  We saw hawks, jays, and other birds in the brush outside the far end of the park. There are also lots of bunnies.

Be Aware:

• Looks like the field below the park is a place for dog lovers to meet in the evenings.
• Could be busy if games are scheduled here.
• NO restrooms.

Checklist:

• Dedicated parking lot
• Play surface: sand
• NO restrooms
• Drinking fountain near the playground and near the picnic tables
• No shade on the playground, but there are shade trees at the edges and over the benches
• Full basketball court, soccer field, baseball diamond
• Large area of picnic tables with shade from trees
• Official City of Lake Forest website
• Nearby public library: Foothill Ranch Library

Nearby parks:

• Serrano Creek Park
• Pittsford Park
• Rimgate Park

*Added to KaBOOM.org as part of their 2011 Park-A-Day Challenge

Darrin Park in Lake Forest is surrounded by apartments and homes, so it enjoys a steady stream of families with kids.  During our visit, there were two families hanging out at the swings and as it got closer to lunchtime, more families came strolling down the sidewalk and onto the playground.

Location: Darrin Park is at the dead end of on Cherry Avenue off Trabuco Road near El Toro Road.  From Interstate 5, take the El Toro exit and head towards the foothills.  Turn right on Trabuco and make your first left onto Cherry Avenue.  MAP TO DARRIN PARK IN LAKE FOREST

Recommended by: Carrie

Highlights:

• A large covered picnic area within range of the playground made for nice shelter and shade
• There are some paved walking paths for “exploring” and wide open grassy areas
• The playground is compact, so it’s easy to see your children wherever they are playing
• There’s half court basketball for shooting baskets
• 2 baby swings, 2 bench swings
• A very small 2-5 year old play structure – and a very large 5-12 year old structure with lots of monkey bars. This one would be hard to navigate for toddlers unless they had a lot of help.
• My kids loved the “spinning umbrella” at this park because they could swing out high over the ground and land back on the platform.  They spent all their time at this part of the playground (they are 5 and 9 years old).
• Other kids were playing ball and chase with each other and no one was really on the equipment much.
• I would go here often if I lived in the neighborhood to let the kids run and get outdoors.  Cherry Park is just the other side of Trabuco and it’s much more updated.

Be Aware:

• NO restrooms
• The bigger structure is really for bigger kids

Checklist:

• Dedicated parking lot
• Bark play surface
• Picnic tables and grills
• Drinking fountain near playground and near basketball court
• Half court basketball

Nearby parks in Lake Forest or Mission Viejo:

• Seville Park
• Rimgate Park
• Serrano Creek Park
• Pittsford Park

*Added to KaBOOM.org as part of their 2011 Park-A-Day Summer Challenge

Rimgate Park in Lake Forest was one of those put-your-finger-on-the-map-and-see-what-park-is-nearby finds for us.  No one was there when we first arrived which encouraged the kids to scurry from structure to structure to see what the place had to offer them by way of pretend play.  They ended up playing a form of Little House on the Prairie with Ma and Pa living at the little kid structure.

Location: Exit the 405 Freeway at Lake Forest Drive and head east toward the foothills.  You’ll drive past Trabuco Road and make a right onto Newvale Drive. Bear left as the road dead-ends into Rimgate.  Park ahead on your right – parallel to the park.  MAP TO RIMGATE PARK IN LAKE FOREST

Highlights:

• I knew right away I’d like this park, because I could see the whole area while walking from the car to the play equipment.
• There’s a nice basketball court and tennis court for the sporty family.
• I loved that the small playground is up on a little hill with a shade cover.
• There are two larger play structures near the picnic area with slides, bridges, and monkey bars.
• My older kids liked the fire poles and corkscrew poles.
• Kids can roll down the small hills.
• Bring sand toys and balls for the courts.
• A dinosaur slide/climbing area was a unique place to play, along with the spring animals nearby.
• 2 baby swings are near the picnic gazebo.
• 2 big kid swings near the bigger equipment.

Be Aware:

• NO restrooms at this park
• The large grassy area is used as a sports field, so you may be competing for parking with sports on the weekends.
• As always, the 5-12 year old equipment has drops for younger kids.

Checklist:

• Parking on the street fairly close to the playground
• Wood chip surface on large playground and sand surface on small play area
• Shade over the younger child play space
• NO restrooms at this park
• Covered picnic tables
• Shade for picnics on the lawn under trees
• Drinking fountains near the tennis courts
• Basketball court
• Tennis court
• Small sidewalk loop for walks (with an overlook onto the El Toro Cemetery)
• Read about it on the Lake Forest website

Lake Forest