Peter's Canyon is an easy or intermediate 5 to 6 mile hike with different terrains you can choose. It is used for training and conditioning for both runners and walkers.

The group is interesting because they are there every Saturday at 7am (at least if it isn't raining). While most hiking groups I've been to you need to wait for a hike to be planned, this group is there at 7am every Saturday. This makes for a very convenient weekly exercise routine. Get more details and an updated schedule at their web site before you meet them.

The trail itself is in the north part of the OC, or "Orange County" as the locals call it, and is a wonderful escape from the city around it. It is in the Santiago hills just down the street from Santiago Canyon College at Orange street and Jamboree.

There were two trails. One was for beginners and another for more advanced hikers. The beginning trail is flat and well shaded. The other was rather steep at points and on top of the rolling hills.

Peter's Canyon is used for various kinds of training or conditioning. On both trails I've seen squads of school kids running. On the steeper trail I once saw an Army squad with full backpacks.

Looking at some blog entries on the Internet, not everybody likes Peter's Canyon and some claim it isn't stunning enough. I admit it wasn't as nice as San Bernadino National Forest and it is a combination of a marsh and a man built reservoir. But it has a natural terrain and is much better than anything Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm has every produced. Snobbish hard core hikers may dis it as they do anything that has to do with man's efforts, but Peter's Canyon does provide for a nice escape, exercise, and training for more.

I agree that the mood is kind of spoiled because of track homes along one side of the trail but it is worth it anyways. Even true wilderness hikes like Idyllwild are not immune.

3/1/2008
3/22/2008
3/29/2008
4/6/2008