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Lake Forest is a city of about 85,000 people in the Saddleback Valley of south Orange County, California. The area was long known as El Toro, and the city took the name of a 1970s planned community built around eucalyptus groves and two artificial lakes when it incorporated in 1991. Today it also includes Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills on the edge of the Santa Ana Mountains.
The city's history is preserved at Heritage Hill Historical Park, where the adobe of Don Jose Serrano, a small Episcopal mission church and an 1890 schoolhouse recall the rancho and farming days. On the foothill side, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park offers oak-shaded trails and the sculpted sandstone of Red Rock Canyon, popular with hikers and mountain bikers.
Lake Forest is a relaxed suburban base with sports parks, a large public skatepark and easy shopping. The beaches of Laguna, the Orange County Great Park in Irvine and Mission San Juan Capistrano are all within a short drive.
A county wilderness park in the foothills with oak and sycamore groves, chaparral and the eroded sandstone walls of Red Rock Canyon. Trails are shared by hikers, runners and mountain bikers. Start early on warm days, bring plenty of water and check for closures after heavy rain.
A small county historical park preserving four buildings from the area's past: the Serrano Adobe, St. George's Episcopal Mission, the 1890 El Toro Grammar School and the Bennett Ranch House. Docent-led tours explain rancho and farm life. Check the schedule, as building interiors open on set days.
The adobe home of Don Jose Serrano, who held the Rancho Canada de los Alisos land grant, dating from the 1860s and now part of Heritage Hill Historical Park. Thick adobe walls and period furnishings show daily life in rancho-era California. Join a docent tour to see the inside rooms.
A shady city park next to Heritage Hill with picnic areas, playgrounds and a trail that follows Serrano Creek beneath tall eucalyptus and sycamore trees. It is a pleasant spot for an easy walk or a family picnic after visiting the historical park. Weekday mornings are the quietest time.
The city's largest park, with lighted sports fields, a recreation center, playgrounds, a splash area, tennis and pickleball courts and walking paths. It hosts youth leagues and community events through the year. Families can combine a playground stop with a picnic on the open lawns.
A large public skatepark with street sections, bowls and a long snake run, built with support from the Lake Forest skate shoe brand Etnies. It draws skaters of all levels from across Orange County. Helmets are required, and early mornings are less crowded than afternoons and weekends.
The main campus of Saddleback Church, one of the best-known megachurches in the United States, founded by pastor Rick Warren in 1980. The hillside campus has a large worship center, gardens and an outdoor plaza. Visitors are welcome at weekend services; arrive early for parking.
An open-air shopping center in the Foothill Ranch area of Lake Forest with a mix of stores, casual restaurants, cafes and a cinema. It is a convenient stop for a meal or supplies before or after hiking at Whiting Ranch, whose trailheads are only a few minutes away.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Coolsheep2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Coolsheep2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Coolsheep2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Coolsheep2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Coolsheep2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Clamshell Deathtrap, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Brent, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Coolsheep2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Clamshell Deathtrap, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0