Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park

Over 25 miles of trails. Hiking and for bikes. Clear dirt paths, beautiful views, and hills.

Actual chaparral wilderness in the heart of an urban area. Very surprising, and you can get a rigorous hike here. The Riverside watershed runs right through the heart of the park, and there are some beautiful spots along that creek. The views are also very nice - you can see San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, and Mt. Baldy and all of the valley floor of Riverside.

Beautiful hiking area with some nice hills! Some hills are a bit steep so I suggest wearing shoes with good grips at the bottom. Great place to exercise and enjoy the view at the benches. I went in May and some of the flowers were over 5 ft tall! Lots of lizards, ravens, and big ants too. Watch out for rattlesnakes! I saw one crawling away so I recommend either bringing a hiking stick or looking around before you sit down.

One of my favorite places in Riverside to hike and enjoy nature. There are miles and miles of trails for hiking or mountain biking. I prefer to park at the Barton Street entrance; no parking lot but there is street parking on a dead end road that leads directly to the park entrance. On the weekends it gets "busy" so arrive early for good parking. You can also enter the park through the Nature Center's parking lot off of Central Ave. or at Sycamore Highlands Park (street parking). There are no public restrooms and trashcans are only located at the main entrances. There is a small creek that runs through the park which can offer some good bird watching opportunities. I mainly come here to hike and for wildlife/nature and landscape photography. Right now the wild blooms cover the entire park. An amazing variety of gorgeous flowers. Coyotes are usual present as well, but I've never encountered any that have been aggressive. However, they do sometimes travel in packs through the park. Be prepared to share the trails with mountain bikers. While not a huge problem, you may run into a few homeless people living in the park. On hot days, plan accordingly and bring lots of water. There is very little shade throughout the park.

I'm so glad that we have miles of mountain bike trails in the city limits. There are plenty of named and unnamed trails of varying difficulty so you can always mix it up. I recommend parking on Barton St. There's a year-round stream running through the park so this place is also good for nature viewing - there's coyotes, roadrunners and other birds, lizards and more. This place is a good example of classic Inland Empire landscape.

Always a delight to hike around Sycamore Canyon. It is nice, has plenty of open space, good views, and is relatively quiet. There are a variety of paths you can take and all are at a fairly easy level of difficulty. Highly recommend for anyone looking to get outside!

This is a great place to come and hike, especially if it has rained recently. There isn't a whole lot of shade so plan accordingly. There are a lot of hills so make sure you are prepared for a good workout. The best part is by far the views you get of the surrounding areas. A stream is usually running through part of it, which makes for a nice resting place as well. Definitely recommend!

We've been going once a week and still find new paths everytime... Just please pick up your trash don't leave your empty water bottles behind. . . We like to go in the early morning not much people and the sun is bearable... If you have young kids it's a great place to take a note book and write down all the plant observations... We've been keeping an track of certain plants over a period of time and it's a great experience to see them grow on their own in their natural habitat. At least with my phone I'm able to search the plants using my phone with Google lens and we can even identify them

A true hidden gem in Southeast Riverside. Not far from UCR, I'm surprised this trail is as rarely crowded as it is. I've hiked this trail at least 10 times. It's challenging enough for a quick workout, and it has enough routes to allow for short, medium and very long hikes. I start at the nature center and hike up to the park, then head back. I find the scenery just incredible. You get pretty good immersion in the hiking experience, despite being located right off a roadway (the entrance is, anyway).

By foot or astride a mountain bike, this is the little-big getaway I needed that's not too far from home but feels like getting away from society at the same time. Sure, housing encroached on the east and west flanks but the steep hills, ravines and canyon itself ensures you are immersed in nature with the façade only occasionally broken by a plane lifting off from the nearby air force base. Top reason to go? No crowds or kids. Seriously, I've seen people turn back after ascending the first hill, which comes almost immediately. Unfortunately, this didn't prevent graffiti schmucks from tagging rocks inside of 100 yards, something that happened between my third and fourth visits. You'll need a lot of water and a good wide brimmed hat because there's virtually no shade. Plus, a decent set of hiking boots is important. It's also possible to get lost so I recommend using the AllTrails app for the satellite views and topographical maps to see where the trails are. While fitness apps such as Strava are useful, you won't see the map as easily so running both makes sense. Sun block too, definitely need to reapply after 45 minutes to an hour. "Do what thou wilt": there are so many trails and possible loops just do what you want and have fun. The rattlesnakes are awake now so keep off the rocks on the hilltops, you'll likely see their trails in the dirt. There are tons of lizards too, all sizes and colors, plus hummingbirds, hawks, and ravens. We saw a raven pluck a small ground squirrel from some rocks by its tail and could hear its squeaks. Sad, but that's nature. You won't go as far as you think for the same output of energy as, say, Mt. Rubidoux. This is more rugged and rustic, hence fewer people and dogs. It's taken me four visits to exceed three miles that felt like six or seven. Nevertheless, it's a challenge and so picturesque. Next time I'm hoping ascend Rattlesnake Peak at 1608 feet, tucked dab smack in the middle of the wilderness. I typically use the Central entrance but there are others available, just use the app to locate them. I don't recommend being out there after noon on days over 80 degrees, either go early or after 5pm. If you go later bring a headlamp just in case you take longer getting back than expected. Not for the faint of heart, which is why it's becoming my top training ground for more difficult and longer hikes in the mountains.

Took a 8.25 mi walk today from home there and back! It's nice and quiet with bike paths as well as larger paths to walk. Bring water because it will be needed.

Beautiful location to get in a good hike, walk or hit it spinning on your mountain bike. Easy to get to, good sized parking, small visiting center and located in a great area. Family friendly of course and the trails vary from easy to hard. The hills offer different sized inclines and declines. All depends on how heavy you feel like breathing. Very nice trails and word of advice the hikes are much easier with the proper hiking shoes.

This is a great hiking trail that will provide you with a satisfying workout. You are easily able to get a great hike with some beautiful views. If you want to bring your bike you can also get a great bike ride in as well. The location is great for adults as well as kids. Keep in mind based off the variety of paths this location provides, bring some water for yourself as well as the dogs and kids.

First time going on this hike and I give it a 5/5, albeit, I probably went at the perfect time. It's late April so beginning of spring when this hike is full of green, lush, plants and wildlife and I hiked at 5pm, two hours before sunset so it wasn't too hot and the air was clean and crisp. I believe there are a couple of entrances to this hike but we parked in a small public parking lot on Central Ave. the trail is moderate in difficulty as there are a lot of hills and is unpaved and allows for leashed dogs and bike riding. Lots of friendly hikers and open fields and great views. Can't tell you an exact mileage for this hike because there are so many spinoff trials, but we did 3.5 miles on our hike. Will def be back!

Great trail! Not stroller friendly. Beautiful spot for family photos. A lot of people bike this trail with a helmet. Can be steep! Beautiful morning and pm walks. Be careful rattlesnake season - they are always around!

Beautiful hike just be careful with Rattle Snakes. My nephew and I bumped into 3 . We aren't planning to visit for a while lol.

We did this trail after finishing Mt. Rubidoux trail today. The two trails couldn't be more opposites. We parked at Sycamore Highlands Park and began the trail at the rear of the park. There were many different paths to take along the trail. You can pretty much design your own workout. Anywhere from 1 mile to at least 10 miles. Although we didn't see any bikes along the trail today, I would consider the trail for for mountain biking than for a hike. Seems to have nice terrain with plenty of twists, turns, dips and inclines that would be heaven for a mountain biker. In fact, to hike this trail, there are parts where you have to gain some momentum to ensure you made it up the little hills. At the beginning of the trail, you are pretty close to homes (with impressively large 1-acre lots!) but gradually the hike moves you further and further away. I find this trail lacks the scenery, interest points, or a destination point...things that you would typically find in a 5 star hike. I also think this hike would be pretty brutal in the summer months as there are no canopies along this trail. I probably won't return here since it is almost an hour from our house. There are way to many better options within the same radius from home. Thanks for the experience...if I ever come back, it will be with a mountain bike!

I did this hike for the first time yesterday. It was ok...nothing special. Parking- parked for free by the park and accessed the trail from the back of the park Trail - many options with some parts being wide and some very narrow parts; no shade; we didn't cross anyone on the trail (we did about 3.5 miles) Wildlife- saw lots of lizards (snake food), a few rabbits, but no snakes Views- some cool rocky areas that look out down below *seems like this cool be a brutal hike at the wrong season or time of the day *could be better on a bike

Large hiking trail, with multiple entrances and trail paths. Been going here with my dog and it's overall good, just watch out for rattle snakes especially during rattle snake season.

Great place for an easy hike, trail run, or mountain biking. I went during the week and it was not busy at all. Parking lot for easy access and water fountains at start of trail. Many different route possibilities.

Our favorite hiking spot. Trail is always clear and clean....safe and easy enough for my 7 and 10yo kids but still challenging. Great views of the city!

The "field" the "playground" mountain bikers have a few nicknames for this awesome trail system located on the outskirts of Riverside. Whatever they call it. It's definitely a ton of fun. The mountains can be too cold and unpredictable to ride in during winter and this is a great city option. Summers can get a little hot so extra early morning starts are advisable. If strictly mt biking I would be weary of starting on the central side of the park as its heavy on hikers. Starting off by Jenson's is more ideal and if you happen to need anything the warehouse is great place to get discounted cycling products. It also looks like the single track trails are expanding. There has been some freshly plowed dirt that the trail gurus are waiting to carve out for us over by the Farmer Brothers. A little something for everyone here and mountain bikers of all skill levels will enjoy the trail system There are even crazy jumps set up for extreme downhillers to fly over and do table tops on. I wouldn't recommend taking xc bikes over to attempt any of those jumps, you'll need the proper forks and travel to be able to handle that more advanced area.

The park itself is awesome. What I'm not a fan of is the parking situation! There's a police officer that sits there at dark and just starts shelling out tickets like nobody's business. There aren't any signs anywhere, so I don't know how legal this is. A whole bunch of people got tickets, as did we. That itself keeps me from going back there.

This is a beautiful get away in the middle of the city. It's almost possible to believe you are away from civilization when you are here. There are trails shared by bikers and hikers alike. It's not too strenuous and it's dog-friendly. There isn't much shade so make sure to bring plenty of water. There is a surprising amount of wildlife inhabiting the park. We've seen rabbits, lizards, a coyote, and snakes. A really cool thing about the area is that there is the Ameal Moore Nature Center. It's at the main entrance to the park. You can go on guided walks through the park and see exhibits of the local flora and fauna. Also, if you see a plant or animal you are unfamiliar with, you can snap a picture and send it to the Nature Center. They will get back to you and let you know what it is and add it to their online archives.

I've been here a few times with the family and its a great spot. I just walk/hike because every time I have the kids with me, but there are plenty of runners and mountain bikers. I think the bikers outnumber everyone else but they are all courteous and not trail hogs by any means. Speaking of the trails, they vary in width from fire roads to single file cuts between rocks/bushes and vary in grade from flat land to pretty steep sections. Trail maps are posted at the three main entrances. It gets hot in the summer (duh) with hardly any shade, and watch for snakes and coyote dung. Along the north east border there is a nice housing track with a nice roomy park and playground. There's a trail that leads right to it. Good to give the little ones a break in the hike. I sit in the shady grass and let them play on the playground.

This wilderness area is a sanctuary for all varieties of lical desert flora and fauna including Coyotes, Rattlesnakes, Rabbits, Hawks and Falcons, Beetles and Bugs, Creosote, Sage, Oak, grasses, flowers, shrubs, and of course Sycamores. It's only a couple square miles of area but there are parts where you can't see civilization and would swear you're all alone. Scenic viewpoints are EVERYWHERE and rugged trails take to all areas. It's impossibile to get lost as it's surrounded by community--just pick a trail and start walking, or ask one of the many trail bike riders!

The park itself is very spacious with plenty of grass, tables, and area for picnic. My friend and I took the hiking trail with his scottish terrier dog. There were a few people on the trail. There are many trails that lead to different areas, but they all kind of looked the same. There are not many shady spots, but lots of dirt pathways and rocks. It was still a nice hike to get a beautiful view of Riverside.

Hidden gem within Riverside with lots of trails to explore. The park has a decent size parking lot and a visitor nature center. Unfortunately the nature center was closed due to Covid restrictions. Drinking fountains available at the parking lot along with rest benches. Once you leave the parking lot there are so many connecting trails that you can easily get a 4-5 mile hike. The elevation climb isn't that bad either. My 3 year old easily hiked 2 miles. We went during the first week of February and most of the chaparral was brown. This is expected because of the season but It also appears that there was a recent fire. Thus the vegetation was still growing back and a lot of the mature species appeared to have been decimated. I'm sure this place will start to look very different in a few moths thanks to the recent rain so we will definitely be coming back for more exploring. No shade at this park so bring lots of water and a good hat if you are exploring during the warmer months. There is also a very small stream that runs thru this park. You can easily find it by locating the palm trees. This place is also very popular for mountain bikers.

This a great place to take pictures and just have a nice Sunday evening with your love one or good friends and watch the sunset is so beautiful.

I love exploring this place. Miles and miles of trails. Small creeks and lots of wildlife. Great for biking as well, but I hike it. Not a lot of people which is what I like being alone in nature.

This is an absolutely beautiful nature preserve. There are owls, coyotes, K rats. There are various types of terrain if you want a really healthy hike or just a really nice walk. This is an absolute asset to this area and to Riverside. Especially now with all the rain, there are actually waterfalls and streams. Don't miss this!!

No shade but lots of ups and downs to travel on. It seems like a really great path to bike on! Saw a couple of bunnies there and the great part is it's not overwhelming full of people. It's a great workout! Chose a mountain to climb and you'll be sweating in time!

I love the trails here. There are many opportunities for hikes here, and always different variations. It's dog friendly, and most people come here to go mountain biking. I long to mountain bike, but then it becomes hard to keep my 2 German Shepherds in line. The views are breathtaking when you get to the many peaks. The only downside - pack all your own water in. And the only flush toilets are the rock crevices you use (and subsequently make a flush sound when you're finished doing you're business). But those who are outdoor aficionados should be well acquainted with this lack of creature comforts.

Hiked here for the first time and it was actually pretty awesome! When you get up high enough you see sweeping views all around you. I highly suggest taking a friend or a group with you! I didn't see any snakes but I went early in the morning. I did get up close with a coyote, but he seemed more startled by me than I was by him. He gave me a quick look and took off in the opposite direction. Just watch out for the bugs, beetles, giant fire ants, and grasshoppers! I saw a ton of lizards too. There really is no shade, and it's definitely no mt rubidoux but it's still a great workout. Oh and be careful by those rocks that are near the homes next to the park. There is a giant beehive inside the crevasses of the rocks (I almost walked right into it).

Very excited place for mountain bike. There are many different trails for what level u are from beginer to ..... . Be careful that u might see rattlesnakes around here, especially in the late afternoon when you can barely see them

Great hiking place! Lots of trails to take, you will definitely get a work out. There's a sign at the entrance that warns you about snakes... Take it serious! We saw at least 3 snakes in the one hour we where there!

l love to come trail running here. This place is great for trail running and mountain biking. I have been coming here for years and it's the best place around Riverside/MoVal. It's a little more flat and chill than Box Springs Mountain.

I went here today not expecting too much because I just wanted to walk around, but this place is amazing! The trails are fairly easy to walk on, but you need to be aware about the people around you because there are bikers that come here at fast speeds. The best thing about the sycamore canyon is the vegetation. I haven't seen a lot of mountains around riverside area that has as much vegetation as this place. There are a lot of shrubs and flowering plants here that grow. I would definitely go back here during spring when flowers bloom.

Pretty easy trails that can break-off into steeper more challenging trails. Had fun hiking here with the dogs, might try going when its not 97 degrees out. Minimal shady areas for rest, great scenic view of Riverside, do-able trails for not-so-hardcore-hikers like myself. Will def do it again.

This park is great with many trails and routes. Hiking or biking it's great. I've tried many routes and some are better for walking vs biking. I suggest you walk it before biking to determine which route fits your skill level on your mountain bike. Multiple entrances as well. The regulars are courteous and everyone is polite whether you're biking or hiking. Bring your water with you. Plenty of different types of terrain to keep you from getting bored as well.

This was a great beginning place to take the kiddos for a hike , the trails were clearly marked and as long as the kids stayed on the trails I they were safe . My only complaints is that there is no restroom mon-wed and with kids drinking a lot of water on the hike it's not a good mix lol . (Luckily I carry a portable potty ) overall very happy with the scenery , will be back for a longer hike , great views of downtown riverside !

Great place to hike or ride your bike. This place is worth a visit. The senery is beautiful with lots of different trails. During spring there are abundance of wild flowers. There is a small stream that runs the lengths the park.

I grew up across the street from the canyon crest entrance. This trail offered me solace and peace, when I couldn't find it elsewhere. I get very nostalgic thinking about this awesome park. It offers awesome views of riverside. You can see "The C" and the cross on rubidoux if you know where to look. Best to go after a few days of rain when it starts to get green. Green or not, I love it here.

Started coming here daily with my dog. Has a very large expense of trails ranging from completely flat to slightly arduous. Didn't run into any snakes or coyotes, but there's a LOT of tarantula holes in the ground. Probably every 2-3 feet. Off the Alessandro gate there's a trail that leads to a big group of trees where I saw a collection of tents and hammocks and a homeless person setting up camp. They didn't notice me, so we kept on and that was that. Kinda sketchy. Another area near trees had a ton of broken glass and abandoned trash/tents so it's likely that was another homeless encampment. Otherwise, the trails are very obvious and typically follow a loop so it's hard to get lost. Seems pretty perfect for biking; the trails tend to thin out to the size of a bike tire and there are obvious little hills made to make the ride fun. It's still a nice area to hike! If you enjoy walking outside with a great view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, this place is perfect. I maybe run into 1-2 people per trip but mostly I have the whole place to myself. Didn't even know this was hiding amidst the buzzing city around it. It's worth checking out!

It kicks your butt! My family enjoyed our walk will go again. Liked that it was easy to get there and the trails are easy.

Great hike! I was surprised that there was such beautiful greenery in Riverside. Definitely going back and such a good workout. Loved how there were several trails

First time coming here, it was a very good hike trails were smooth didn't see any snakes only one coyote and a rabbit. had a very good time with the family. Well recommended to other's.

Favorite park in Riverside, whenever I need a fresh breather I come here right before sunset.

multitude of great trails to choose from. ..we parked at the nature center off of Central and had a great day. might not come back though after walking right past some of the hugest rattlesnakes I have ever seen!

Nice local hike for a beginner. Took us a while to find the entrance (Barton & Alessandro) but worth it. Will be back

Good trails, lots of places to explore. In Spring the wildflowers are INSANE. Lots of rock formations, hidden creeks, hawks, snakes, great wildlife. Serene, beautiful, lovely place.

It's very nice to have a big wilderness preserve within city limits, and the undulating hills and rock formations are well worth hiking through. But what's with the glass! There is glass strewn all over the park, except on the trails. I am not making this up, this is deliberate. Every foot or so there is a big shard, in all directions, and seemingly no matter where you are in the park. Maybe they are trying to keep hobos out of the area. And to make it look like it was just trash, there is the odd beer can once in a while. Except that the beer can looks like it's a century old, and there's never anything else.

The park itself is really nice but don't bring young kids or dogs here. There are several snakes all over the trails! Just 10 min. from the parking lot ran into a rattlesnake. Had to back away from it and took another trail but soon encountered a 5 foot long King Snake. It just layed on the trail and didn't move. Had to wait about 5 minutes before it moved away so we could pass by it. Kinda of surprised about all the snakes on a cool day in April! Cant imagine what this place would be like in the summer!

Amazing environment after rain! Really comes alive during the winter.

THis place is so amazing when you go on a nice cloudy day! There are steep and pretty flat surfaces to walk or ride on. There are many paths to go on and when its cooler there are less critters around to bug you. I enjoy this place a lot. I recommend trying out this place at least once while you are in Riverside.

I love hiking here. There are lots of little trails and creeks. Big trees and wild flowers. There's even a homeless camp.

I ride mountain bikes about 10hrs plus a week. This mountain bike trail deserves 2 stars. It's more of a cross bike trail. However, it's a pretty area for a stroll or maybe fun on a goped, off-road skate board or something of that sort. The trails are wide and smooth. Some sections have granite rock and are very steep... nothing technical. You might even be able to road bike okay.