Santiago Creek-Wilderness Loop Trails

Santiago Oaks Regional Park is a 430-acre reserve in the city of Orange on the south edge of Anaheim Hills, adjoining Weir Canyon Wilderness Park. Santiago Creek, a major tributary of the Santa Ana River, runs from the Santiago Reservoir, through Irvine Regional Park and Villa Park Dam, into Santiago Oaks Regional Park. This section of the creek meanders through the center of the park and was a Native American village site for thousands of years. In 1879, a small clay dam was built for irrigation. It was destroyed by floods and rebuilt in 1892 with river rock and cement. This hike strolls along the creek to the historic dam that spans 110 feet. The trail continues up the rolling foothills on the north side of the creek and through an old nursery of ornamental and exotic trees. The nursery was planted in 1955 by former owner Harry Rinker.