Carbon Canyon Nature Trail

Hiking the Carbon Canyon Nature Trail is a lovely experience in the Los Angeles area, which also makes it an extremely popular activity. If you want to easily secure parking and enjoy some peace and quiet on the trail, try arriving earlier in the day. Additionally, there are several parking lots located throughout the park for convenience. Make sure to bring plenty of water and protection from the sun if you plan on visiting during the warmer months of the year.

While it is certainly a busy hiking route, the Carbon Canyon Nature Trail is a great adventure in Southern California where you can take in the natural beauty of the large Redwood trees that are mostly found further north in the state. Take your time meandering along this laidback trail with friends and family while admiring the 200+ Redwoods that can be found within Carbon Canyon Regional Park.

Setting out from the parking lot, you will make your way west along E Santa Fe Road for a short distance, before picking up the path on your left. Here, you will make your way through some light tree cover as you skirt around the edge of the tennis courts.

Reaching a T-intersection in the trail, you will turn left and continue on until you arrive at the edge of a large pond. Turning left once again, you will pass through some more trees and keep right along the path to continue along the water’s edge.

Take your time here to enjoy the scenic views across the pond, before arriving at another function in the path. Turning left, you will follow the path west until you arrive at a parking lot at the western edge of the park. Head south here to make your way to the opposite end of the parking lot, where you will find two trails branching off in different directions.

Taking the path on the right, you will head southwest along the edge of Carbon Canyon Creek towards the dam. Just before the dam, follow the path as it turns to the southeast and brings you to the beautiful Redwood Grove. Here, you will complete a short loop around the grove and can take in the natural beauty of the Coastal Redwood trees that can be found in the park.

Just after the grove, the trail will once again meet up with the banks of Carbon Canyon Creek, following closely along its edge in a northeast direction. Eventually, the trail will cross over the creek and turn back to the northwest to arrive back at the parking lot where you began your adventure on the Carbon Canyon Nature Trail.

Trail Highlights

Carbon Canyon Redwood Grove

While people will generally flock to Northern California to experience the larger than life beauty of the Redwoods, many don’t realize that you can actually experience these massive trees in Southern California. Within Carbon Canyon Regional Park you can find a grove of over 200 Coastal Redwood Trees along an easy to navigate trail close to Los Angeles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my dog to Carbon Canyon Regional Park?

Yes, dogs are permitted within Carbon Canyon Regional Park as long as they are on a leash.

What city is Carbon Canyon Regional Park in?

Carbon Canyon Regional Park can be found in Brea, California.