Carbon Canyon Regional Park
DETAILS:
Location: 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea, CA 92823
Hours of Operation:
Fall/Winter: 7AM to 6PM
Spring/Summer: 7AM to 9PM
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday - 8AM to 4PM
Parking:
$3 per vehicle: Monday thru Friday
$5 per vehicle: Saturday thru Sunday
Higher rates for some holidays and events. Please see their website below (under “resources”) for events and additional info.
Cost: Free
Time Commitment: 1-2 hour.
Miscellaneous:
Guided tours and group talks are offered throughout the year by appointment through the park office.
Trail pamphlets are available at the park office for self-guided nature walks.
Trout fishing allowed at lake. Please see their website below (under “resources”) for current info regarding trout stocking, required permits/license, seasonal dates.
Lighted tennis courts available.
Leashed dogs permitted.
If I were to tell you I had visited a grove of redwood trees over the weekend, you’d probably assume I had ventured up to Northern California for that experience since that’s where these majestic giants are typically found. But what if I told you that they could be found elsewhere? I was today years old when I discovered that a redwood tree grove was located right here in Southern California at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in the town of Brea, containing 3 acres of Coastal Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), the only such grove in Orange County.
Since Coastal Redwoods aren’t indigenous to Southern California due to the arid environment, it’s logical to wonder how this grove came to be. We can thank a local bank promotion, of all things, for this unique occurrence all the way back in the 70s. The bank donated the leftover seedlings to the county which were planted in conjunction with the park’s opening in 1975, giving birth to the 241 trees that live in the grove today. Dare I say it’s almost magical walking through the idyllic log-fenced pathway underneath these soaring titans, and it definitely provides a respite from the heat thanks to its wide-spreading canopy that can make it ten degrees cooler in the shade.
And while the grove is certainly the centerpiece of the park, the rest of the grounds is certainly worth your time as well. The park is massive at over 124 acres, offering tons of open space for play and picnicking, a 4 acre lake that can be fished for trout, multiple walking trails, tennis courts, and numerous playground areas for the kids. You can’t ask for a much better location to spend a relaxing afternoon.
RESOURCES:
Carbon Canyon Regional Park website.
