1. Quail Trail

OC’s No. 1-ranked trail offers a strenuous 1,700-foot elevation gain and connects with dozens of trails in the San Joaquin Hills, home to one of the rarest ecosystems in the world.

2. San Joaquin Marsh Trail

Hike through 150 acres of willow, sycamore and natural woodlands that meander past several ponds that attract more than 200 species of birds.

3. Venta Spur Trail

This urban trail follows the former route of a railroad spur that serviced several citrus packinghouses in the early 1900s.