Arroyo Trabuco Trail

Have you ever heard of the Arroyo Trabuco Trail? My husband likes to run trails and fills me in on these great places. It was our first time back since early Summer. I wonder what's changed?



It's an incredibly diverse trail that runs through the narrow strip of O'Neill Regional Park that comes in through the residential communities tucked up in the hills of South Orange County, California. It's one of our very favorite hikes.

We spent the last two days exploring the trail between Crown Valley Parkway and Rancho Santa Margarita Parkway.

Look at all the plumes of the pampas grass. Aren't they so beautiful and elegant?



The kids like them for tickling :)



There are creeks to cross - my husband and kids like to call them 'Dangerous River Crossings'. The first few times we tried to take our shoes off and keep them dry, but there are so many crossings so we eventually gave up. Now we just hike with wet shoes and it's completely okay. And our sneakers get really clean in the process.

But why just cross the dangerous river when you can head up it and explore?



And it's shallow enough that your babies can play too. Watch out for the slippery green algae though, it grows in long strands and some kids won't like it.




Look at these giant California Sycamore Trees!
There's a whole grove of these along the trail.



Look at how beautifully twisted and mangled they grow.
It reminds me of a tree we are reading about in Tree in the Trail, although that one is a Cottonwood.



I bet you didn't know Shrek lives along the Arroyo Trabuco trail.
Look at the color of that swamp! You'll definitely get an "Ewwwww!" out of someone when you get there. It's fun to throw sticks into and there are plenty of trees overhanging the swamp for anyone willing to test their balance and luck.



More dangerous river crossings. Alright guys, that's far enough!



Oh look, cocklebur along the edge of the creek.



Ooooh, a tunnel!



Whoa, it's dark.



And more river crossings!



A bamboo forest! In Orange County?



It's actually giant reed - apparently a major problem in California. They're trying to eradicate it. We think it makes a really cool jungle type of atmosphere. Makes for a great walking stick if you can break a piece off.

Here's my son learning that it's much harder to break the green branches than the dry ones :) He's helping eradicate.



Oh look, the coyote bush is in bloom.



So is the mule fat. Did you know they call it 'mule fat' because when the mules eat it they bloat?



More river crossings. And look! A snowy egret. I wonder what it's catching in the dangerous river?





And who says California doesn't have fall colors?
Just look at that beautiful red poison oak.



California Buckwheat has turned a very dry and brittle rust. If it didn't fall apart so easily it could be the perfect ingredient for a fall wreath.



There's Toyon - lore says Hollywood was named after it.



And here's what the lemonadeberry looks like now.



I finally figured out what those stalks of yellow flowers that are popping up everywhere are - telegraph weed.



They make a nice background in this picture of my daughter don't they?



And look, they turn into little poofy seed balls! I bet those make many, many more weeds!



Well, the sun's setting...


Time to head home and wash these sopping wet socks!