The Santa Rosa Ecological Reserve and the Sylvan Meadows trail are a great place to hike in the spring when the grass fields are green and the wildflowers are blooming. Best on a clear day, and great for hiking, running, mountain biking or horseback riding.

Santa Rosa Plateau is such a gem! The trails are pretty family friendly. Very, very clean and maintained and they aren't 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 didn't look the friendliest. Make this a must do when you are in the area. You won't be disappointed.

Beautiful, vast trails to hike. Quite easy with sparse, old oaks for shade. Dog and child friendly. Unfortunately the nature center has been closed for years now.

We are so happy Santa Rosa Plateau is back open! We've taken the kids since they were able to walk. Went for the first time since it's been reopened due to the fire. Beautiful hike. Appreciate all the volunteers who help keep it open as well.

It's great that the Sylvan Meadow area is accessible again after the 2019 fire. We did a December hike through the dry but beautiful meadow. I am looking forward to hike after some rainy days.

We love this place we bring our kids here to go hiking.

This is a great place to unwind and observe nature. It is a great place to see wildlife. In November 2020, I was walking along the Coyote Trail and saw a coyote; it appeared to be hunting for food. I took photographs and video, and then left.

Great hike for everyone to enjoy. Love the flatness and views. Plenty of animal life today- tarantula, red bugs, red and black birds, lizards, butterflies and hawks. We took our golden retrievers a month ago and I should Caution you that we saw a tick on the top of my dogs fur. And a week later found a tick burrowed in my dogs elbow. I was Able to remove it safely and clean the area and it healed. Today I sprayed A tick spray on my dogs fur and I think It worked. But we did take home lots of bush thorns on their tails. So make sure you do a thorough fur check when you get home.

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.

We went on a Family Wildlife Day which was a great experience especially for the kids. They get to interact with snakes, tortoises, and birds. Fun with a bit of a hike & lots of things to do.. coloring, fishing101, jenga and lots of freebies too. There was also a live band playing. Free snacks. We got to talk with the park rangers, department of Fish & wildlife employees, astronomy experts. Definitely a must if you have kids. Free for active duty & military veterans also free for 17 below!

Love the plateau!! I’ve lived in Murrieta for 10+ years , hiking all about. This is definitely the best spot for hiking , wildlife , history, etc. The structures on the property date back to the 1800s , and are some of the oldest standing structures in all of Riverside county. Depending on the season , you can see different animals , plants , and even the environment itself changes! So much more can be said about the plateau, but I’ll leave it up to you to go and explore for yourself.

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 who's very knowledgeable. Depending on where you wish to hike, you may have to take another 5 minutes drive down the road to the park's 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 don't 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.

Awesome place, aside from the fear of encountering rattlesnakes, tarantula hawks, velvet ants, andd mountain lions.

This place is awesome year round but you should definitely check it out after a little rain! Wear shoes with good traction, you won't 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.

3 years since the fire. There is still evidence but there is so much natural recovery. The Foundation up there is so Fantastic and Knowledgeable. Everyone should visit. Bring a picnic lunch and cold water. Great place to wear your kids out!

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.

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 they're 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.

Great area for hiking and events. Beautiful scenery. Donate and or volunteer.

It's beautiful. Easy access for all of ages and the people are Soo friendly.