Enjoy California's Open Spaces

Ceanothus lines the trail at Escondido Canyon (click pic to see more 2013 wildflower info)

Welcome to caopenspace.org  A collection of my "open space" photos, most taken on day hikes around Los Angeles and Orange Counties and a few in Tulare, Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura Counties and San Diego Counties.  On this site you will find trail pictures and other information about many popular wild and scenic spots in Southern and Central California. "Open space" could be a state park or beach, a coastal area, a wilderness park or natural preserve.  Open space is good for our environment and offers many outdoor recreational opportunities such as hiking, mountain biking, picnics, camping, wildlife and native plant viewing, photography or just to enjoy the natural scenic beauty of California.

Returning visitor?  Quickly find the most recent updates to this site in the "What's New" section. CAopenspace on  YouTube! Site Navigation Tips:  See Places to Visit page for a photo index by area or use the section at the end of this page listing all areas found on this site by hike type or use the "Go To" drop down below. Lake Isabella (click pic to see more) Sturtevant Falls, 11-08-09 Sturtevant Falls Things we have to say... WARNING:  Rattlesnakes, Poison Oak, mountain lions and other potentially hazardous insects, plants or wildlife are found in all areas described on this site.  Never seen a rattlesnake or wonder what rattlesnake tracks look like? See my Safety page for pictures, tips and info. Interested in California Native Plants, the flora you see along a hike?  Check out the new native plant gallery on CAOpenspace Facebook page, includes links to detailed plant info with the pictures (no login on Facebook required):  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33014&l=a10171291f&id=100405670015047 Wildwood Park, Paradise Falls (click pic to see more) Forrestral Reserve, Palos Verdes Peninsula (click picture to see more)

Holy Jim Falls, Orange County CA (click pic for more info & images) Fort Tejon State Historic Park (click pic to see more) Solstice Falls Solstice Canyon Waterfall, Malibu CA McGrath SB , August 2011 McGrath State Beach reopened, click here to make reservations.  McGrath was listed as one of best coastal access campgrounds in a recent Fresno Bee news article, click here to read more. Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island (click pic to see more)

Gaviota State Park Black Star Canyon Refugio State Beach

What's new:    July 2013: New Page San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve March 2013: New Page Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland Park Updated the Wildflowers page updated the Take Action page December 2012: updated page Forrestral Reserve (Palos Verdes Nature Preserve) November 2012: page re-write: El Dorado Nature Center updated page Modjeska Canyon & Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary New Page, O'Neill Regional Park October 2012: Updated page Wildlife at Los Cerritos Wetlands & Gum Grove Park New page, Bolsa Chica SB August 2012: New page, McGrath SB Trails New page, San Buenaventura SB New page, Ormond Wetlands New page, Channel Coast State Parks updated the Save McGrath SB page June 2012:  Updated the Take Action page New page Lake Isabella New page Sequoia National Monument, Trail of 100 Giants Updated Fort Tejon State Historic Park page Updated the Los Cerritos Wetlands Page and May 2012:  Updated the Take Action page April 2012:  Updated the Save McGrath and McGrath SB pages March 2012: Page re-write Limestone Canyon Wilderness Area February 2012: Added new page Carpinteria State Beach

Foothill & Canyon Hikes Aliso-Woods Canyon Black Star Canyon Corral Canyon Park Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy El Moro Canyon, Crystal Cove SB Laguna Canyon Limestone Canyon Wilderness Area Malibu Creek SP Grasslands Trail O'Neill Regional Park Peters Canyon Powder Canyon Topanga Canyon State Park Woods End Wilderness Preserve	Waterfall Hikes Holy Jim Falls Paradise Falls, Wildwood Park Point Mugu State Park, La Jolla Falls Solstice Canyon Falls Sturtevant Falls Point Mugu State Park, 2/18/10	Creekside Hikes Malibu Creek State Park (index page) Malibu Creek State Park (creek area) Malibu Creek SP Rock Pool Santiago Oaks Regional Park Silverado Canyon/Maple Springs Road Malibu Creek State Park, 7-19-08	Wetland Hikes Bolsa Chica Wetlands Carpinteria Salt Marsh Los Cerritos Wetlands, Gum Grove Park & Heron Pointe Cultural Education Center Ormond Wetlands San Mateo Creek Natural Preserve Hillside trail in Gum Grove Nature Park, 12/22/10 Gum Grove Park, Seal Beach CA Lakes Lake Isabella Barbara's Lake/James Dilley Preserve
Beach Hikes Carpinteria State Beach Channel Coast State Parks (Index) Crystal Cove State Park Crystal Cove, Reef Point El Capitan State Beach Gaviota State Park Malibu Lagoon State Beach McGrath State Beach Palos Verdes Peninsula (Index) Ocean Trails Ecological Reserve Refugio State Beach Santa Clara Rivermouth Beach San Onofre Bluffs, San Onofre State Beach San Onofre State Beach (Index) Terranea Discovery Trails Trestles Beach & San Mateo Campground (San Onofre State Beach) Trestles Beach & Lagoon Photos Torrey Pines State Reserve San Clemente State Beach	Island Hikes Anacapa Island Santa Cruz Island Santa Barbara Island North Peak, Santa Barbara Island Forests: Sequoia National Monument, Trail of 100 Giants Giant Sequoias, Trail of 100 Giants	Desert Hikes Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve Poppy Preserve, 8 miles of trails El Dorado Nature Center Urban Nature (Hikes/Walks in City Natural Parks) Dominguez Gap Wetlands El Dorado Nature Center El Dorado East Regional Park Jack Dunster Marine Biological Reserve San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary Shipley Nature Center Signal Hill Trails	Just Scenic & Other Stuff Plants of Bolsa Chica Wetlands (3 Pages) California Beach Photos Fort Tejon State Historic Park Gorman Wildflowers Hungry Valley, Gold Hill Road & Piru Creek Hungry Valley Stipia Trail & Powerline Rd Wildflower Tour Photos Modeskja Canyon & Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Old Ridge Route San Mateo Campground Snow in Orange County Tejon Pass-Gorman Area Wildflowers

Anacapa Island, 7/5/10

Corral Canyon Park, 3/15/10

McGrath State Beach, 4/17/10