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HikingOC (Meet to Hike in Orange County & Travel the World)

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19,062 members · Public group

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What we’re about

Welcome! (Require: a personal photo and introduce yourself to the group)

By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings

Click RATING TABLE to learn more about difficulty levels. Click HikingOC Policy to read more FYI. https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/messages/boards/thread/53724845

Take a quick look at our Events Calendar to see what events are on the horizon

• Join us whether you are new or experienced in Hiking. There are different levels, but we all share one common: using our legs to move up down hills. Most of the time on dirt trails, but there are different terrains: rocky or gravels or in water, river or mud; different settings: mountain, forest, wilderness or desert.
• Contact us if you are interested to join the Organizer Team and organize Hikes local OC or out of town Hikes to those who share the same interest. Our wide open calendar will fill with events during the weekdays, but mostly the weekends. Our events or trips are generated by volunteer effort and time of volunteer organizers.
[All Our Organizers Volunteer their Time and Effort for Free Cost to Most Events]
• Once or twice per month, there will be events or trips that require payments. These are costs to cover your expenses and fund raising to "HikingOC Fund".
• "HikingOC Fund" will generate profit after the costs from events monthly. It will maintain the group website, support all HikingOC volunteered organizers who contribute to build this hiking group, an outdoor active community and to donate to the good causes or charities.
• If you like to do a great cause in honor our group name, please support helping those affected by disasters or the National Park Services (we hike on many lands of the National Parks.) We are sure your support is highly appreciated and rescues the unfortunates! There are many Non-Profit Organizations, please contact direct AMERICAN RED CROSS ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER for more info

***Read more past hikes on A Journey with HikingOC -- ANP Tourism-Lifetime Memory
for more Travel Trips in the US and Many Regions in the World***

Check on the IMAGES to see our photo albums

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Upcoming events

191

Tue, Oct 28 · 7:30 AM PDT
Santiago Oaks - Mabury Entrance (Level 2: Moderate) To Irvine Pk Farmers Market
Santiago Oaks Regional Park - Mabury Entrance, 6531 E. Mabury Ave.,, Orange, CA, US
Description: *Okay for Advanced Beginner/Intermediate hikers wanting to take on some hills at a moderate pace *

Link to Hike Rating Table https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

HIKE TIME: 7:30 AM SHARP!

Lying peacefully in east Orange alongside the Santiago Creek, the 1,758-acre Santiago Oaks Regional park is a nature lover's paradise. This secluded refuge offers hikers, bikers and equestrians the natural charm of mountain vistas, an orange grove, a meandering creek and a mature forest of many different species of trees. Wildlife abounds and a series of interconnecting trails leads through shady groves and to a lookout that features an awe-inspiring view of Orange and the surrounding foothills.

ABOUT THE HIKE:

We hike as a group, starting out on a trail that has beautiful houses on one side and the Santiago Creek on the other. After about 10 minutes, we enter the actual park. We will hike on both flat shady trails and include some hills for a good workout. We will stop for a snack midway or towards the latter part of our hike. Plan on 5-7 miles for about 2-3 hours. Terrain can be uneven so shoes with good traction are recommended. The trails chosen will vary from week to week. A map of the trail system can be found here. Please bring a copy with you if you are not familiar with this park.

Attention Dog Lovers: This is a dog friendly park & hike, However your canine buddies are required to be on a leash at ALL times as a courtesy and safety to all hikers, Please obey park rules!

NOTE: Rain or extreme heat or low attendance may cancel hike. Please check meetup on the morning of the event.

DIRECTIONS:

From Serrano Ave. in Orange, go south on Orange Park Blvd. After 0.3 miles, the street curves at the end and becomes Mabury Ave. Make a u-turn right after the curve to park along the fence. For your GPS or internet map program - use the closest house address of 6531 E. Mabury Ave., Orange. We will meet in front of the opening in the brown fence area across the street from address above.

NOTE: This is a residential neighborhood so please be respectful by keeping voices low (turn your boom box down).

NECESSITIES: Adequate water (1 to 3 liters), snack, hat, sunscreen, hiking or trail running shoes, and a friendly attitude.

OPTIONAL: Trekking Poles, camera, binoculars.

PARK INFO: For more information about the park, visit: OCPARKS

DISCLAIMER:

Before undertaking any outdoor activity described on this site, it is your personal and exclusive responsibility to ensure that the activity is appropriate for you, that you have researched the activity description, and that you have proper training, equipment, and physical conditioning to safely participate in the planned activity.

NOTICE OF LIABILITY RELEASE:

By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY.
Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries, direct, or indirect, incidental, punitive, health related, physical, psychological, loss, personal injury or any other damages that may be sustained during this hike***

Please email me if you have any other questions.
10 attendees
Tue, Oct 28 · 7:30 AM PDT
2025-Oct: Day 8 (day 20)/Part 2-Vienna, Austria-Europe Fall Foliage/Level 2
Location not specified yet
Day 8 (day 20 of the whole trip): Part 2 of HikingOC Exploratory Fall Foliage Trip in Europe visiting cities, castles and hiking the alpines of Czech Republic and Austria**
https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/310642683/
We will visit Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace and The Hofburg and St. Stephan's Cathedral

RSVP is NOT SECURED a space. Please contact the host via message, email or in person on a local hike to discuss more about the trip!

GENERAL RATING/DIFFICULTY: Levels 2 up: Moderate for distance, elevation and pace. Click to see RATING TABLE for more info about hiking levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Weather Forecast to pack your clothes accordingly
https://www.accuweather.com/en/at/vienna/31868/weather-forecast/31868#google_vignette

Itinerary:
Vienna, Austria. We will check out:
1. St. Stephan's Cathedral: A 1258 fire that swept through Vienna virtually destroyed Stephansdom; and toward the dawn of the 14th century, a Gothic building replaced the basilica's ruins. The cathedral suffered terribly during the Turkish siege of 1683, then experienced peace until Russian bombardments in 1945. Destruction continued when the Germans fired on Vienna as they fled the city at the close of World War II. Restored and reopened in 1948, the cathedral is one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe, rich in woodcarvings, altars, sculptures, and paintings. The 135m (450-ft.) steeple has come to symbolize the spirit of Vienna.
2. Schönbrunn Palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, located in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna. The name Schönbrunn has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court.
What to bring: wear hiking clothes (loose shorts/pants), swimming clothes, hiking boots or shoes, sandals, hat, sunscreen, water, snacks, food and personal items

***10 hiking Essentials: https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/9535234

ABOUT VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Vienna, Austria’s capital, lies in the country’s east on the Danube River. Its artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its Imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. In the Museums Quartier district, historic and contemporary buildings display works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and other artists.

REMINDERS: PLEASE READ!
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, mountain lions, coyotes, snake bites or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***
3 attendees
Wed, Oct 29 · 5:30 PM PDT
Salt Creek 5-Mile Hike/Level 2
Salt Creek Trail via Ambers Cantina next to Fratellos Italian Restaurant, 31341 Niguel Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA, US
DEPARTURE TIME: 5:30 p.m.

Meet in a parking lot next to Amber’s Cantina Restaurant.

Trail is 100% paved. Please wear regular walk/tennis shoes, not your hiking boots since this a paved trail.

Ratings: It’s best as level 2/2+ for distance, elevation and speed.
Click to see RATING TABLE for more info about hiking levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Distance : about 5 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation: few hundreds ft

ABOUT THE HIKE: This is a moderate or fast-pace 5.2 miles walk along the paved road of the fragnant sage-dense area in Laguna Niguel that ends in the beautiful Salt Creek Beach. This trail has a few small hills, but mostly is flat and gradual. This hike is suitable for anybody: for beginners or advanced hikers, and will take us no longer than 2 hours to complete. The paved trail is laying just above the actual Salt Creek, and there are several spots where you can hear some frogs singing at night :-) There are restrooms at the half-way, when we reach the Beach.

One of the hikes with Elena from last year https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/photos/32527376/

REMINDER
***By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***
2 attendees
Thu, Oct 30 · 4:30 PM PDT
Whiting Ranch Hike (Level 3/Moderate-Fast Pace)
Whiting Ranch, Portola Entrance in front of Wahoos, 27412 Portola Pkwy, Foothill Ranch, CA, US
THIS GREAT HIKE THAT FITS REGULAR HIKERS WHO LIKE TO HAVE A WORKOUT IN ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC TRAILS IN OC OR ARE TRAINING FOR MOUNTAIN HIKES!

=====We will meet at the trailhead in the parking lot near Starbucks and Wahoo's. The trailhead is closer to Wahoo's.====

MEETING TIME: 4:30 PM (finish the hike in about 2 hours)

GENERAL RATING/DIFFICULTY: Level 3: Strenuous/Fast Pace for distance, elevation and pace. Click to see RATING TABLE (https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating) for more info about hiking levels

DISTANCE/ELEVATION/DURATION: Level 3/3+: Estimate: 6+/- miles, 1500+- ft gain and ~ 2 hours (fast pace)

Please note: Hikers will join the organizer for a workout; there is no leader or sweeper on this hike

ESSENTIALS: Wear traction hiking shoes, bring water, headlamp, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.

ROUTE: Starting on a flat trail for about 1.5 miles, our workout will begin going up Dreaded Hill, to four Corners, Mustard, Billy Goat, back to four Corners, Whiting Rd, back to Serrano Cow, that will take us back to trail head and parking.

ABOUT WHITING RANCH:

Limestone Canyon & Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park encompasses approximately 4,300 acres of riparian and oak woodland canyons, rolling grassland hills and steep slopes of coastal sage scrub and chaparral. The park is highlighted by scenic rock formations, including the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. There are three intermittent streams: Borrego, Serrano and Aliso Creek meandering through the park, each hosting an abundance of wildlife. Remnants of the former cattle ranching days can be seen throughout the park.

Though 90% of the park burned in the Santiago Fire of 2007, the land is in the recovery process. Please respect that process by staying on marked trails and following park rules

More info:

Orange County Parks (http://www.ocparks.com/whitingranch/)

Whiting Ranch Wilderness (http://www.whitingranch.com/)

DIRECTION: from Fwy 405 or 5 going South, exit Bake Pkwy, turn left on Bake Pkwy and going for about 5 miles. Turn right at Portola and turn right at the light of Glenn Ranch (park somewhere in Starbucks coffee parking). If you going North on 5, I think you should get off on Lake Forest and head toward Foothill Ranch, direction is similar to above

REMINDER

By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings

Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***

> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.

> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
4 attendees

Past events

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