Trabuco Ranger District

Much of early Orange County was framed by events occurring on or around the Trabuco Canyon area. Established in 1893, Trabuco Canyon was one of the earliest and smallest reserves, covering a mere 50,000 acres through the Santa Ana Mountain range. Unknowingly, (at the time) this would become the first designated area of the Cleveland National Forest. Early settlers of the Santa Ana Mountains found success in beekeeping and woodcutting operations but were forced into new areas of residency through Orange and San Diego counties as resources diminished and government claimed much of the lands.

Today, the Trabuco area covers approximately 138,971 acres through Orange and Riverside counties and offers a multitude of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and remote camping for those seeking an alternative to developed campgrounds. The center most Trabuco attribute is the Santa Ana mountains, which boasts the highest point in Orange County - Santiago Peak at 5,700 ft elevation - and great glimpses of the city, the Pacific Ocean, Riverside county, and on a clear day Catalina Island.