Irvine Regional Park Day Trip: Train Rides, Paddle Boats, & Zoo

Situated on the outer edge of bustling Orange County, California, Irvine Regional Park is among the stately groves of oak and sycamore in Santiago Canyon, six miles east of Orange. The 477-acre park contains some of the oldest coastal live oaks in Orange County and is a perfect day trip destination for family and friends to spend time together.

Irvine Regional Park Activities

Irvine Regional Park offers a variety of outdoor activities, including bicycle and walking trails, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, a lake with paddle boat rentals, the Orange County Zoo, Irvine Park Railroad train rides, bicycle rentals, pony rides, guided horseback tours, and group picnic areas. With all the attractions, filling an entire day with activities is easy.

Irvine Park Railroad Train Rides

The Irvine Regional Park Railroad offers a delightful train ride under the oak trees of Irvine Park. The train, which is 1/3 in scale, departs from the station every 30 minutes or when there are enough passengers. Irvine Park train is not a miniature train where you sit atop the cars. Passengers sit comfortably inside the covered train cars as they travel through the park.

The train passes by the park’s lakes and around one of the oldest oak tree groves in Irvine Park. Your conductor points out highlights along the way and briefly explains Irvine Park. The top speed is only a few miles an hour, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the view. Just before your return to the train station, you enter a tunnel. Inside the tunnel is the time to let go with a few screams before your train trip ends back at the station.

Irvine Regional Park Railroad Events

The Railroad has special events during holidays, including a Christmas train, Pumpkin Patch, and Easter Eggstravaganza. However, riding the Irvine Park Train is an excellent experience at any time of the year. The Railroad is a popular place to hold children’s birthday parties, and it’s not unusual to see several things happening simultaneously during the busy summer season.

Orange County Zoo: View California Native Animals

When visiting Irvine Regional Park, you should check out the Orange County Zoo. Despite its small size, the zoo has a lot to offer. The animals are kept in well-maintained habitats, with the bear and mountain lion exhibits being the largest areas. The O.C. Zoo is dedicated to caring for native animals injured, orphaned, or rescued and cannot survive in the wild.

Orange County Zoo covers eight acres of Irvine Park. The black bear Samson (the hot tub bear) was the most famous zoo resident. Samson is no longer around, but two black bears still entertain visitors. Other displayed animals include coyotes, mountain lions, beavers, bald eagles, mule deer, and just about any other animal native to the southwestern United States.

The O.C. Zoo is an ideal destination for young children, while older ones can have more fun riding the train or enjoying a paddleboat ride. The zoo features a barnyard area where kids can interact with domestic animals, such as different breeds of sheep, goats, and chickens. Visitors can feed some animals in the barnyard area with purchased grain. The zoo can be explored in about an hour, and the entrance fee is affordable and worth every penny spent.

Horseback Riding Irvine Regional Park

A beautiful equestrian trail runs four miles along the park’s boundary, offering picturesque views in a peaceful atmosphere. Trail rides are available from Tuesday through Sunday, and you must book a horse one day in advance. Additionally, pony rides are available for children near the train station.

Paddle Boats – Bike Rentals

Visitors who do not ride horses or bicycles can rent standard two- or three-wheelers and aqua cycles from the rental area next to the historic boathouse on the lake. Rentals are available on weekends, holidays, and throughout the summer. All rentals require a valid I.D. of someone 18 years or older.

Irvine Park Botanical Preserve

On the park’s south side, there is a preserved botanical garden and a nature area. Several historical landmarks can be visited, including the Spanish-American War/U.S.S. Maine monument, a Civil War cannon, an Indian bedrock mortar, and a beautifully ornate cast cement birdbath from the 1920s.

Irvine Regional Park History

The park was originally part of Don Tedosio Yorba’s Mexican grant of Rancho Lomas de Santiago. It began to be used recreationally in the 1850s when German colonists who settled in Anaheim dubbed the area “Picnic Grounds.” James Irvine Jr. donated 160 acres in 1897 so that the region remained as natural as possible, and the area became California’s first regional park. Today, Irvine Regional Park is one of the most popular parks in Southern California.

Irvine Regional Park Hours

The park’s hours vary depending on the season. It operates for 12 hours daily from sunrise to sunset during the fall and winter. As the weather gets warmer, it extends its hours, and during the spring and summer, it is open from 6 am to 9 pm.

Getting Irvine Regional Park

Irvine Regional Park’s entrance fee and train and paddleboat rentals are reasonable. The park’s beautiful attractions make it a perfect Orange County destination. The park’s address is 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, California. Irvine Regional Park Website.

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Irvine Regional Park Nearby Points of Interest

Santiago Canyon Road Trip

Orange County’s last back-country road, Santiago Canyon Road, also known as County Highway 18, extends about 12 miles between Lake Forest and Orange. Nothing rivals a relaxing drive along an unspoiled strip of Southern California highway. Points of interest along the route include Irvine Lake, Silverado Canyon, Santiago Canyon, and Cook Corner.

Old Towne Orange, California

Located in Orange County, California, the City of Orange and its circa 1920s Old Town District is the perfect destination for a relaxing day trip. There are many things to see and do and some great places to eat. Whether you want to unwind or explore, Old Towne Orange is a great place to spend a lazy weekend day.

More Fun Things To Do in Orange County

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