Parks & recreation around Irvine and Orange County
The best parks, trails, and green space near Irvine — from neighborhood parks to state parks worth the drive.
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Irvine’s park system is consistently ranked among the best in the country — the city was built with parks and open space in mind, and it shows. Here are the ones worth knowing about.
In Irvine
- Orange County Great Park — about 1,300 acres of fields, playgrounds, trails, a farmers market, and a hot-air balloon ride with sweeping views of the county.
- William R. Mason Regional Park — a large park built around a lake, with walking trails and a dog park.
- Bill Barber Memorial Park — sports fields, a skate park, and picnic areas.
- Quail Hill / Bommer Canyon — open-space trails on the edge of the city, good for hiking and mountain biking with ocean and canyon views.
Worth the drive (Orange County)
| Park | City | Highlights | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Cove State Park | Newport Coast / Laguna Beach | Tide pools, coastal bluffs, historic beach cottages | Beach day, hiking |
| Laguna Coast Wilderness Park | Laguna Beach | Canyon trail network, native chaparral | Hiking, biking |
| Irvine Regional Park | Orange, CA | Historic county park (opened 1897), train rides, small zoo | Families, picnics |
| Huntington Central Park | Huntington Beach | Lakes, sports fields, library, dog park | All-day outings |
| Mile Square Regional Park | Fountain Valley | Lakes, golf courses, sports complex | Sports, fishing |
| Peters Canyon Regional Park | Orange / Tustin | Reservoir, hiking & biking trails | Hiking, biking |
Good to know
- Most Irvine parks are free; some Orange County regional parks charge a small parking fee (a few dollars) — check OC Parks before you go.
- Trails can get hot in summer — bring water, and consider morning visits.
- See why Irvine? for more on the city’s parks ranking, and visiting California if you want to go further afield to a national park.