Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

Lake Forest, Orange County, CA

Parking$3 per day
Source
DogsNot allowed
Source
Hours7 a.m. to sunset
Source
Size
151 acres Source
Managed by
OC Parks

About Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

About 2,500 acres of oak woodland canyons, grassland hills, and sage scrub, including Red Rock Canyon. Source

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park encompasses approximately 2,500 acres of riparian and oak woodland canyons, rolling grassland hills and steep slopes of coastal sage scrub and chaparral. The park is highlighted by scenic rock formations, including the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. There are three intermittent streams: Borrego, Serrano and Aliso Creek meandering through the park, each hosting an abundance of wildlife.
From the official park page · checked Oct 16, 2026

Facilities

  • Drinking Water
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms

Facility details: OpenStreetMap

Sunrise & sunset

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park hours follow the sun (7 a.m. to sunset). Mid-month times for this location:

MonthSunriseSunset
Jan6:54 a.m.5:03 p.m.
Feb6:35 a.m.5:33 p.m.
Mar7:02 a.m.6:57 p.m.
Apr6:21 a.m.7:20 p.m.
May5:50 a.m.7:43 p.m.
Jun5:39 a.m.8:01 p.m.
Jul5:50 a.m.8:02 p.m.
Aug6:12 a.m.7:38 p.m.
Sep6:33 a.m.6:58 p.m.
Oct6:54 a.m.6:18 p.m.
Nov6:22 a.m.4:48 p.m.
Dec6:47 a.m.4:43 p.m.

Calculated from the park's coordinates (NOAA solar equations), Pacific time.

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park at a glance

WC
  • WCRestrooms · 1
  • Named trails · 2

Outline: CPAD. Points and trail lines: OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Trails

TrailMapped lengthElevationSurface & uses
Aliso Creek Riding and Hiking Trail0.6 mi
Aliso Creek Bikeway0.2 mi11 ft up & down948–1,020 ftPavedBikes
Edison Riding and Hiking Trail0.1 mi
Aliso Creek Trail0.1 mi9 ft up & down1,008–1,019 ftUnpaved

Trail names and mapped lengths come from OpenStreetMap; lengths count only the part inside the park boundary. Up-and-down totals (climbing plus descent, one way) and elevation ranges are estimates from USGS 3DEP elevation (about 15 m grid) sampled along the mapped line. Use the official guide map for the route and current closures.

Rules & reservations

Official park page

    Year-round, except after rain.

    Map & directions

    1Location overview · map data © OpenStreetMap

    33.662251, -117.646427Get directions

    Nearby parks

    Straight-line distance
    O'Neill Regional ParkRancho Santa Margarita · 2.4 mi · Camping, Drinking WaterRonald W. Caspers Wilderness ParkCoto de Caza · 8.1 mi · Camping, Drinking WaterLaguna Niguel Regional ParkLaguna Niguel · 8.7 mi · BBQ Grills, Drinking WaterLaguna Coast Wilderness ParkLaguna Beach · 9.5 mi · Drinking Water, Picnic AreaAliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness ParkAliso Viejo · 9.6 mi · BBQ Grills, Drinking Water

    Continue exploring

    Orange County parks Playgrounds

    Sources & verification

    Last verified: Oct 16, 2026
    1. California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026aname, county, agency, access, acres
    2. OC Parks park pageofficial_url, hours, hours_note, fees, dogs, description
    3. OpenStreetMap facilities and trailsfacilities.drinking-water, facilities.picnic-area, facilities.playground, facilities.restrooms, trails
    4. U.S. Census Bureau place boundariescity
    5. OpenStreetMap: parking, restrooms, water, trailheads, trail lines, and bus stopsvisit
    6. Terrain Tiles elevation (USGS 3DEP), sampled every 20 m along OpenStreetMap trail linestrails.elevation
    7. Official park page (introduction excerpt)intro
    Report an error