Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve
Fallbrook, CA
Free
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.7(856 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
A shaded riverside trail, unusual for the area, with easy flat stretches, shallow crossings kids enjoy and wildlife to spot. Wear shoes that can get wet. Parking is the real constraint: the lot fills soon after the gates open, especially at weekends. Facilities are portable toilets only, so bring paper.
This Wildlands Conservancy preserve packs miles of easy riverside trails where kids can splash at the water's edge and spot birds and butterflies. Go in the cooler morning hours and bring water, since there's little shade on the open stretches. Parking and entry are free.
Happening near here
- Fallbrook Harvest FaireFallbrook · 3 miFree
- Temecula Greek FestivalTemecula · 10 mi
- Murrieta Market NightsMurrieta · 10 mi · 1st & 3rd Thursdays 5–9pmFree
- Pumpkin & Marigold Fall Festival at Mellano Farm StandOceanside · 11 mi
4251 River Edge Rd, Fallbrook, CA 92028, USA
Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.
Map
What visitors say
- Javier Rosete★★★★★
Again, rare for me to ever offer a 5 star rating, yet, here we are . Literally, an all-around, family oriented, get the word out , fun loving place where one can truly feel at peace and part of nature. There are two sections, the santa margarita river preserve and the county preserve. The river trail has the most extensive trail system- from easy moderate to even difficult. For bikers hikers walkers joggers and equestrian. Rocky trails, river crossings, rock climbing, steep inclines to quick switch back trails that are slippery and with loose soil downhill. Scenic views, river crossings and even challenging sand dune trails and swamp like areas. From 2 to 5miles and even 10 to 20 mile adventures can be easily achieved. Parking lot get filled up super fast by 8 am, as gates open. Ranger on site, clean as can be Parking lot - porta potties - trash cans -maps gates entrance. The river trail is highly visited vs the county preserve, located southwest is around 2miles south - with around another 5 miles of trails and with some awesome creek crossings. Pack for an all day adventure, pack lite and be aware.if your surroundings.
3 months ago
- Anzelika Sk★★★★★
Santa Margarita River Trail is one of the more unique hikes in Southern California . Unlike most dry, exposed trails in the area, this one follows a river and has a surprising amount of shade, which makes it much more enjoyable, especially on warmer days. The trail itself is mostly easy to moderate, with a mix of dirt paths and some rocky sections. There are a few small river crossings, which make the hike more interesting and fun, but you’ll want proper shoes. It’s a good option for a casual hike. The scenery is peaceful — lots of trees, greenery, and the sound of water — so don’t expect big panoramic views. The biggest downside is how crowded it can get, especially on weekends. Parking can also be limited if you arrive late.
6 months ago
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