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Rancho Santa Margarita is a planned city in the foothills of south Orange County, built from the 1980s onward on former ranch land beneath the Santa Ana Mountains and incorporated in 2000. Its name comes from the historic Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, and Saddleback Mountain rises above its neighborhoods.
The heart of the city is a private recreational lake lined with walkways and a beach club for residents, close to the town center with its shops and restaurants. Rancho Santa Margarita is a gateway to the wild canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains, with O'Neill Regional Park and Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park right at its edge offering oak woodland trails and wildlife.
Golfers play at Tijeras Creek Golf Club, and Trabuco Canyon leads into the Cleveland National Forest for hikes such as Holy Jim Falls. The beaches of Dana Point and San Clemente and Mission San Juan Capistrano are all within about half an hour.
The city's main park, with sports fields, a playground, picnic shelters and walking paths, set near the lake and town center. It hosts community events and summer concerts. It is a pleasant place for families to relax after a hike, with restrooms and easy parking available on site.
A man-made lake at the center of the city surrounded by homes, palm trees and a lakeside path. The beach club, sandy beach and boating are reserved for residents, but the public promenade near the town center offers pleasant views of the water with Saddleback Mountain behind. Best near sunset.
A public 18-hole golf course winding through Tijeras Canyon, with mature oaks, creek crossings and elevation changes on the back nine. It also has a clubhouse restaurant with patio views. Book tee times ahead for weekends, and play late afternoon in summer for cooler conditions.
A popular trail in the Cleveland National Forest at the top of Trabuco Canyon, following a creek under oaks and sycamores for about 1.5 miles to a small seasonal waterfall. The dirt access road is rough, so a high-clearance vehicle helps. An Adventure Pass is required for parking.
At 5,687 feet, Santiago Peak is the highest point in the Santa Ana Mountains and the taller of Saddleback's two summits, visible across Rancho Santa Margarita. A long, strenuous hike via the Holy Jim Trail and Main Divide Road reaches the top. Start at dawn, carry plenty of water and avoid hot days.
A long-running roadhouse bar and grill at the junction of Live Oak Canyon and Santiago Canyon roads, a few minutes from the city. It is a famous gathering spot for motorcyclists, with burgers, a big patio and live music on weekends. Go for weekend lunch to see the bikes lined up out front.
A rustic, cabin-style steakhouse in Trabuco Canyon, known for mesquite-grilled steaks and its tradition of snipping off the neckties of guests who wear one and pinning them to the walls and ceiling. It is casual and cozy under the oaks. Reservations help on weekends; leave the tie at home.
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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
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