Santa Rosa Plateau is such a gem! The trails are pretty family friendly. Very, very clean and maintained and they arent far from where we live. Make sure to bring water and wear comfy shoes and long pants because we did see a few creepy crawlies that didnt look the friendliest. Make this a must do when you are in the area. You wont be disappointed.

Great place for an easier hike. Multiple details that meander around the reserve. Some with a little elevation and many without. Tons of long history in the area with walk through tours. Wildlife is abundant, seen deer and coyote as well as several varieties of birds. No snakes encountered in this visit although theyre definitely around. Depending on the time of year and water levels you may see shrimp in the vernal pools and many different types of wildflower blooms.

Very beautiful place. Its amazing that places like this still exist. Come here and enjoy the nature.

This place is awesome year round but you should definitely check it out after a little rain! Wear shoes with good traction, you wont regret it when you pass over some of the sandier stream-runoff portions of the trail. Right under that sand is some hard, slippery rock you would best avoid. Beware of rattlesnakes on rockier portions of the trail during the summer. My family and I were lucky enough to spot one from a distance. From what I understand, this place is also home to about 20 mountain lions so I recommend going in larger groups, do some research and stay safe. Happy trails.

Visitor Center is closed but all trails are open 7a to 6p! Enjoy #GoVegan

Derby was our guide and he made the hike fun. He explained everything to us showed pictures and gave a little quiz at the end. Thank you Derby for teaching us new things about the wild life. The bear on the rock was pretty cool. I didnt see it until I took a picture.

Expansive hiking area with many terrains and trail options. Nice grass and tree coverage this is a good place for hiking...trail runs or just exploring.

Lots of short and long hiking trails. The best hike for us is the trail to go to the vernal pool.

Good time of year if you get there early.

I found this while searching for scenic places to take photos in or around Murrieta. Once I arrived at the park office, I picked up a hiking map and paid a small fee to use the park. Lots of park info is also available there so do read up on it or talk to the lady at the front desk office whos very knowledgeable. Depending on where you wish to hike, you may have to take another 5 minutes drive down the road to the parks second parking area.I took the Los Santos trail because it was shorter and that I only had a few hours that afternoon. The trail was filled with old oak trees, some tall grassy areas and views of the valley from the hills. Many large spiders can be seen on the trail during this time of year and are interesting to look at. Some species of cacti also line the trails in certain areas. The elevation is manageable and should be good for most people to hike.Photography is great from mid to late afternoon as the sunlight is lower and casts great shadows. If you are in this area and dont know where to go, try this for a day, or perhaps a half day. It is worth the short drive up the hills. Just remeber, the park closes at 6:20 PM so you have to be at your car before then. The gates will close on the dot.

Great little hideaway! Wonderful looping trails, hiking for horses and dogs, large visitor center. Staff are very friendly and willing to help.Went for the annual wildlife refuge family day. They had the fire department, several animal awareness vendors (hands on), popcorn and water for sale, several craft corners sponsored by the different vendors, space/astronomy club, horticulturists, bat exhibit, etc.The kiddos loved being out in nature among the large oak trees, bugs, lizards, birds, etc. Their ability to run and explore is paramount and the staff allow the kiddos to do that.Cant wait to return before the next annual family day.Bring sunscreen, a hat, bottled water, and snacks to keep you going through out the day.

I enjoy this beautiful reserve so much I volunteer here. Ive hiked the majority of this reserve encountering bobcats, deer, coyotes, hawks, snakes, tarantulas, and many other creatures. The views of mountains to the east are amazing in the winter months, the vernal pools in the spring add water fowl to the list of wildlife to be enjoyed, and Monument Hill offers a view of the Pacific on clear days. I especially enjoy early morning here.

We hike here a lot! It is close and pretty easy. If you’re looking for a hard hike, this is not the place. If you’re looking for a beautiful place where you can hike an hour to three hours, this is for you!

Great place. Safe, nice visitor center and bathrooms.

My favorite local hiking spots.Go during the week or early morning on weekends and youll have the trails to yourself. Im a hobby photographer and never tire of photographing this area

Great hiking for all ages. My kids 4 & 6 and parents 68 & 69 had a great time hiking Granite Loop Trail. There are other longer trails to enjoy but this .5 - 1 mile trail is great for a Sunday walk.

Very informative staff at the center. Good hiking trails. I do think they should charge a little less, a fee per car or a lower per person fee.

I saw a new creature last time I was here! Been going to Santa Rosa Plateau for years and will continue to hike here. The people working in the Visitors Center are very nice and have a great deal of information to share. If i see you litter there be prepared for a very harsh talking to!

What a beautiful preserve, so close to the city! Excellent hiking trails! Bring water!

Beautiful day, knowledgeable volunteers, great for hiking

Nice place to hike, especially in the winter and spring, time. Trails go on and on...Bring water and snacks.

A peaceful place to get away and just breathe

So gorgeous, thousands of Fairy Shrimp right now after all the rain!

This is a great place to relax and unwind. It’s not easy to find but well worth the trip and relaxation. The vistas and oak trees are breathtaking. The vernal pools are the largest I’ve seen in many years. Look for tadpoles, frogs, turtles, and fairy shrimp. In the fall tarantulas can be found on the trails so be careful. Respect the preserve and enjoy!

Great place for an easy afternoon hike. Beautiful scenery.

Great place to go hiking, with a wide variety of trails that range in skill and scenery. Its also a peculiar environment, with rolling hills, tall grasslands, and tortuously twisted oaks. It can be kind of pricey if a ranger is standing there collecting fees, but still worth it.

Pay to walk, pedal and ride. Using the honor system to deposit cash in a drop box to use the miles of trails. The South side of the road is limited to hiking only.

Whenever I can get my family up early I try to get them out to the Plateau for a nature walk. Lots of wildlife and just a nice hike. No difficult terrain just beautiful scenery that you have a hard time finding in Southern California. There are always a lot of people there but you could walk for hours and not run into anyone because the plateau is so vast. Come and check it out but please keep it beautiful.

Beautiful wide open spaces with lots of oak trees and well-maintained trails to explore.

Beautiful hike and informative docent.

Fun place for a short or long hike.

Very good trail for beginners and joggers. Not much in terms of ascension but good enough for a summer morning hike. Very peaceful too

Beautiful place to hike. For beginner to intermediate hikers. Family and kid friendly on the beginner trails.

Pretty nice walking-hike

Good afternoon hike. Family time, few hours or 45 mins of fun and exercise.

Very large nature preserve with miles of trails. Separate trails if you bring your dog, not all trails are available for dogs. Very sunny but areas of shade. Mostly flat easy hiking but steeper areas and some hilly rocky areas. Lots of seasonal wild flowers. Vernal pools were a long walk and we encountered lots of flies, no dogs .

The vernal pools are incredible right now. I recommend checking it out just be cautious as you approach the pools cause there are thousands of frogs and we saw some that had been stepped on, on the path unfortunately.

Normally nice but closed now due to recent Tenaja Fire. No entrance is permitted anywhere at any time

This is the most beautiful place to go for a run, you can run a short trail or a long trail (10+ miles) and there are places to walk your dog, or ride your horse. All the local schools bring their classes to the Plateau for bird watching and walking hikes. There is a $2 daily fee per person or you can pay an annual fee that gets you into several parks.

I visited on 12/29/19 but it was CLOSED due to past fires, had been for about 6 weeks. CHECK THEIR WEBSITE before going, though you can go to Sylvan Meadows just up the road. Bring $4 for adult use of parking/trails.

Place has many trails. Easy for everyone.

Becareful from wolves on these trails.There are several hiking trails in this area that you can take. I had seen mountain lions, trantulas and other creatures in the past. But this time came accross a pack of wolves i spotted 3 wolves who were walking a long side trail. Really scared me i turned back and then took a,different trail that was close too road. Make sure to take with you your hiking stick.

This is a wonderful hiking place. Its $4.00 for one time but you can get an annual pass for $35.00. Just bring water and enjoy nature!

This has always been one of my favorite places to go and get away. Its just a few minutes off of the beaten path, yet it seems like a million miles from anything. We went to see the vernal pools but that side was closed because of the rain so we could only go on the west side of the trails. Hopefully the roads dry up soon so we can go see the pools before they evaporate.

Not super clear if coming down the hill too, but a very informative little visitor centre. Good clean facilities with helpful volunteers and staff. Plenty of parking.

It is so beautiful at the Santa Rosa Plateau. The hiking trails are great and Im in a wheelchair. The trails are hard, making it easy using a wheelchair. I had a wonderful afternoon there with my friends.

Love this hike. There are a lot of different points of interest, rocks to climb, trees... it is really easy for kids and enjoyable for adults too. They have signs that are numbered that give you an idea of your progression. First time we did it we went backwards and it helped us figure out how much farther we had to go.

A little piece of Heaven. I hike every week on one of the 40 miles of trails in the preserve. Make sure you go in the Visitors Center when it is open. Closed on Mondays and Holidays. Aways bring water and wear close toed shoes that comfortable for dirt trails.

This place is so beautiful! Good to go in the morning when its cool, and bring a lot of water with you. I made the mistake of leaving some in the car so I couldnt go as far as I wanted. But tho is definitely a place to see if you are visiting or live here!

Beautiful view. Great way to get out and just exercise. But I could use some cleaning and upgrades, sad to see there was no water running through

The center is nice, as well as the actual reserve! you might see some wild animals if youre quiet enough. if you want to take a nice hike, i recommend going here.

Fun drive if you are in the area looking for something to do to burn an hour or so. Take the back roads and see a little bit of wine country while on steep windy roads with sweet views!

Great Trails for easy to moderate hikes, excellent way to get out of Suburbia and experience nature. Easily marked trails, maintained parking lots, and plenty of maps and trail resource guides available at the trailhead. Just remember to bring $4 to pay your entrance fee if the nature center is closed

They have an awesome staff for 3rd grade field trips

Second time back as a family. We came out yesterday, the 26th, 3 years ago for the first time. Only spent about an hour and a half that time. Our kids were 7, 5, and 4 at the time. Got a lot more in today with 4 hours and 7 miles! Got to see tadpoles, a baby rattlesnake, a tarantula, and some coyotes. The wild flowers and poppies are in bloom and make for a beautiful family outing. Stop in by and enjoy it before the Summers come and things begin to die off (plantwise).

Awesome place to hike.I love the silence. You may be able to see some animals.Friendly staff at the visitor center.Will continue to come

We had a great hike 2 days in a row 6+ miles both days! Our son had a school project to do and the park staff was so Wonderful to give him an interview.

Its a lovely place! Nice to walk around in the morning when its cool. Some good places to go sit down for a picnic in the shade with the wooden benches already there. Great for families and its not a long walk either so very low difficulty.

Its a great place to hike on flat ground. Lets keep it a great place leave only tracks. SEE YOU THERE ?!

A great place for information on all the animals that live in this area. Easy access.

We had a lovely visit to ecological reserve. It is best to come early in the morning around 7-8 that way you get there before more people are on the trails and it is by far cooler. The visitor center doesn’t open until 9 though so if you do come earlier make sure you pay the day fee when you come back! :)

Beautiful area, wonderful views. Very nice trails.

Went on a fun little hike here. Was still plenty to explore.

Best hiking in So. CALI. Shhhhhhhhhh

We had a great hike to Santa Rosa Plateau exploring along with our kids. The walking path was clear and wide, beautiful little river stream along the path. It is a great miles walk that takes you to a small lake and around the other side. Make sure you bring water bottle along the way because you will get thirsty.

I love this place. The hiking is great

It is absolutely beautiful, they have many different hiking trails for different levels of hiking

Beautiful views. Native plants and shrubs.

Great place for views and sightseeing with a family

Beautiful area and trails to get out and enjoy the views, different levels of trails for everyones enjoyment.

Wonderful place for walk we hiked almost 7 miles our first time here. Lots of flat area but we did encounter some rocky slippery areas but nothing serious. We are in our 70s but plan on longer hike next time when weather gets cooler.

You will enjoy the walking trails. Part of the trails are in the open, and part under the shade of the huge trees. Strategically placed benches with nice views.

Definitely worth visiting, especially in spring. Diverse habitats, from desert -like landscapes to Meadows with streams and seasonal lakes. Reserve employees/volunteers are ok, helpful when you ask them for directions, trail info & the like. Reserve does get hot during summer month, despite the elevation above the surrounding valley

Not a place for super bloom. #Don’t doom the bloom. Respect the wildlife. Stay on marked trails. Do not pick, take. or disturb anything. Don’t pick flowers then drop them. Don’t pick anything-it is illegal. Do not create or use side trails or trail blaze. All legitimate trails are marked with signs.

Very nice for a family day trip. Have a few different trails you could take. Nothing hard. Young children could defiantly do it no problem.

Such a beautiful place and an amazing experience. Defiantly will be back!

Beautiful place, great hikes and well maintained!

Visited, and volunteered here since we moved into the area in 1991.

Beautiful space with varying terrain trails, nice views and wildlife. Gave only 3 stars because the amount of dog poop on upper trails (trailhead vernal pools) is disturbing. People ignore the signs prohibiting dogs on this side of the park (ecological preserve) and dont pick up.

Beautiful hiking trails, and views to match. I little something for everyone

Great place to get away for a hike and see wonderful nature. Please stay on the trails and watch your kids and pets because of rattlesnakes. Dogs and bicycles are restricted in certain areas. Trails vary from easy and short to the difficult. Stop in at the visitors center to see the exhibits.

Flat, well marked trails through Gods country! c

Pure beauty right in my own backyard. Make sure you check out the summer concert series too!

Hike! Easy for any age. Summer outdoor concerts!!

Beautiful hike and many beautiful wild flowers and green this time of year

Beautiful area with miles of trails. Looks as natural as can be with easy to moderate level trails. The best time to come is after it rains since there are vernal pools. We have a goal to hike all the trails in 2017.

This place was amazing and a well deserved excersize that I needed for that week. I went with a few of my good friends from high school and I must say we enjoyed yourself greatly and we would like to go as many times as we can to preserve that moment.

Beautiful trail to monument hill and over all a very scenic hike. Unfortunately we stopped in the visitor center after our hike to see whats new. And the lady that was sitting at the desk at the entrance was really rude and obnoxious grumpy old lady. Totally disappointing after we had just did a beautiful hike in the outdoors and hiked a long a trail with a wild coyote. I mean what a way to ruin an amazing experience. My advice is to avoid the miserable troll and skip the visitor center all together if you want your visit here to be positive memories only.

Awesome place to hike. Alot of fun for the fur babies as well

Good place for walking, hiking and running or just relaxing.

A wonderful place to visit to get away from the city life. You will see a huge array of species here. Birds, mountain lions, coyotes, tarantulas, etc. Always an amazing time hiking in this area.Dont forget to donate this place survives on donations.

Beautiful place to hike with the family! Great trails for all ages! We hiked with our girls ages 4-11 and they loved it. Cant wait to come back again!

Beautiful area, there are areas for shade and sitting, one area is meant for horses and mountain biking, the other is Normal hiking, fun to run.

Its a fun place to visit. Plenty of hiking trails. The plateau is especially nice to visit in the spring. Lots of wildflowers. Check out the vernal pools when theyre in season.

Good place from beginners to hikers looking for a good warm up hike

Beautiful place to be

Rob our trail guide was so informative he kept everyones attention throughout our 2 hour hike. Little shade so plan accordingly. Tons of wildlife but most are good at hiding so be quite and move slow if you want to see any of it. Would totally recommend and will be returning.

Peaceful preserve in the middle of suburban sprawl. I appreciate that there are many trails going many directions, lots of choices. Hiking here makes you forget that you are still near civilization.

Ive been on 5 different starting points. They are all nice and the possibility of seeing some type of wildlife is absolute. We sat along the trail for 20 minutes watching a gopher haha... Nice place to unwind and relax.

If you like hiking the Santa Rosa Plateau is incredible. The hike to Monument Hill offers incredible 360 degree views. The hike to the historic adobe is well worth the effort. The vernal springs when filled are magical. The Oak Groves so mysterious and your imagination does run wild. I live in Murrieta and the best time to hike up here is from Mid-October to April, beginning of May. The weather is usually mild, after a rain is also a good time, especially if the local Mountains got a dusting of snow, the panoramas and vistas are beautiful at that time....Hope to catch you up there!!!! Cheers