For a unique hiking experience that blends native plant education with scenic walking, the Big Tree Trail at the California Botanic Garden (formerly Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden) in Claremont is a standout. Recommended by the New York Times and local horticultural societies, this independently operated nonprofit garden offers curated trails winding through native California plant communities. The Big Tree Trail, in particular, showcases impressive specimens and provides interpretive information about the region’s ecological diversity. The garden is open to the public, and its mission supports environmental education and sustainable landscaping for Southern California.