Anaheim Hills · City nature preserve · Hiking
Oak Canyon Nature Center
Free, shady trails under the oaks in three Anaheim Hills canyons, with a year-round stream and a small interpretive center.
Opens the City of Anaheim’s hours and visitor page, including trail rules and parking. Remember the 5 pm gate lock.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Nature preserve
City park with trails and an interpretive center
Admission
Free
Entry and parking free; $5 donation appreciated
Hours
Sunrise to sunset
Lot gates and restrooms lock at 5 pm
Time needed
Up to 2 hours
Google’s typical visit length
Parking
Small dirt lot
Plus street parking; not suited to big rigs
Preserve size
58 acres
Three canyons and about 4 miles of trails
What you’ll see
Three canyons of oak woodland
Oak Canyon Nature Center is a city-run wild space tucked into Anaheim Hills, with a stream, shady trails and a small museum.
Photo: DarkNight0917 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Start here
The trails and the stream
About 4 miles of trails wind through three adjoining canyons, under coast live oaks and through coastal sage scrub, beside a stream that runs year-round. The trails are mostly short and flat to moderate, so you can make a loop in an hour or string several together.
RV tip: the dirt lot and its gates lock at 5 pm, so plan a morning or early-afternoon visit and leave the big rig at camp.
More to see
- John J. Collier Interpretive CenterA small museum with live animals and exhibits on local natural history.
- ProgramsThe city runs night hikes, family walks and other programs; check the calendar.
- WildlifeWatch quietly for birds and other canyon wildlife along the stream.
- RulesNo dogs, bikes or skateboards; stay on the trails and out of the stream.
Why go
A free, quiet walk in the hills
Oak Canyon Nature Center covers 58 acres in three adjoining canyons of the Santa Ana foothills, owned and run by the City of Anaheim. It’s a rare patch of oak woodland inside the city, with a year-round stream and about 4 miles of trails.
Entry and parking are free, which makes it an easy, low-key outing after a theme park day. The city appreciates a $5 donation to support its programs.
Bring water and good walking shoes, and leave pets at your RV park; the center doesn’t allow dogs. The canyon trails are shady lower down and sunny along the ridge.
Video still: Emerson Little on YouTube
Why it made our list
- Free entry and parking
- About 4 miles of trails in three canyons
- A year-round stream under the oaks
- A small interpretive center with live animals
- About 13 minutes from Canyon RV Park
For RVers
Taking the rig to Oak Canyon
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Leave the big rig at camp
The nature center has a small dirt lot with limited space, at the end of a residential canyon road. The city gives no RV guidance, so come in your tow vehicle or another smaller vehicle.
Watch the 5 pm gate
The trails are open sunrise to sunset, but the parking lot gates and restrooms lock at 5 pm. Plan to be back at your vehicle before then.
No pets
Dogs, horses and other pets aren’t allowed at the nature center; only service animals. Leave pets at your RV park.
Street parking overflow
When the lot is full, the city allows parking in designated areas along Walnut Canyon Road. Follow the posted signs.
What visitors say about Oak Canyon Nature Center
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 20, 2026.
a 58-acre natural oasis perfect for hiking, wildlife viewing, and family-friendly outdoor fun
Visit Anaheim · visitanaheim.org
Where the reviews come from
Published review counts, checked October 20, 2026
Google 1,399Tripadvisor 35Yelp 297
Google carries most of the published reviews, and Google reviewers say they typically spend up to 2 hours here.
How far from camp
Drive times without traffic from the three closest RV parks we’ve reviewed, from OpenStreetMap routing. Allow more time at rush hour.
Good to know
EntryFree donation appreciated
ParkingFree small dirt lot
TrailsAbout 4 mi in 58 acres
Not allowedDogs and petsBikes and skateboardsCooking and open flames
Rules and hours from the City of Anaheim’s visitor page, checked October 20, 2026. A photography permit is required for any photo session.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Oak Canyon Nature Center
- Address6700 E. Walnut Canyon Rd., Anaheim, CA 92807
- HoursSunrise to sunset
Lot gates and restrooms lock at 5 pm - Phone(714) 998-8380
- EntryFree; a $5 donation is appreciated
- Getting thereFrom SR-91, take Imperial Highway south into Anaheim Hills, then follow Nohl Ranch Road and Walnut Canyon Road to the end.
- ParkingSmall dirt lot (gates lock at 5 pm) and designated street parking on Walnut Canyon Road. Not suited to RVs.
Interpretive center days differ between city listings. Call (714) 998-8380 if you want to see the exhibits.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Oak Canyon Nature Center
These are the Anaheim-area parks we have visited and written up. Drive times are without traffic.
Canyon RV Park
Shady, grassy full-hookup sites in Featherly Regional Park, with a pool and the Santa Ana River Trail at the gate.
Orangeland RV Park
A heated pool, mini golf and an orange grove about 10 minutes from Disneyland; slated to close in 2027.
Anaheim Harbor RV Park
A full-hookup park on Harbor Boulevard with a pool and fire pits, within walking distance of Disneyland.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Daily · sunrise to sunset · lot locks at 5 pm
Ready for a walk under the oaks?
Come early in a smaller vehicle, bring water and leave the dog at camp; entry and parking are free.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and videos. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: DarkNight0917 (interpretive center; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Emerson Little (video still, oak trail), via Wikimedia Commons unless noted; the images were resized. Videos: Rocky’s Travels on YouTube (hike). RV park photos come from each park’s own guide on RV-Roundup. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Oak Canyon Nature Center unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the City of Anaheim’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the City of Anaheim and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Oak Canyon Nature Center at anaheim.gov or (714) 998-8380. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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