Oak Canyon Nature Center
A natural oasis within an urban jungle, Oak Canyon Nature Center offers your group an opportunity to get out amongst nature and learn all about the native flora, fauna, and outdoor recreation options. Whether you want to get out some group energy, stop for a picnic lunch, learn about local plants and animals, or simply get out and soak it all in during your Anaheim visit, this is the spot for you!
Oak Canyon Nature Center takes up a total 58 acres, the natural park setting deep within the Anaheim Hills, the surrounding landscape providing a year-round stream, three adjoining canyons, four miles of hiking, and even an onsite nature center. This is one of the ‘few remaining areas of oak woodland and coastal sage scrub in [this] region’, the John J Collier Interpretive Center explaining this as well as the various native wildlife more in depth. The small museum also provides live animal and regional natural history exhibits. The site and museum are both designed to allow anyone to learn and explore, from kids just beginning their outdoor love affair to pro hikers looking for a challenge.
Speaking of hiking, there is a total of 8 different trails here, covering practically every level of hiking, from the easy Stream Trail to the more difficult, yet rewarding, Heritage Trail. Groups and/ or classes should make reservations for guided group tours, each tour lasting about 1.5 hours and including a hike, museum visit, and the live demonstration from a professional staff naturalist. There are also several different special events and camps to take part in during your visit, such as Nature Nights, Cinema Under the Stars Movie Nights, OAKS Day Camp, Zombie Survival Camp, and even Tiny Tots camp, an ‘educational environment to foster a lifelong love of learning.’.
So put on your comfy shoes, grab a camera, pack a lunch, and get ready to enjoy a day spotting rattlesnakes, raccoons, bats, and butterflies, and even maybe a wedding! (One of the most popular daily events here are photo shoots!)
