What's near Anaheim?

Bob,

The Bolsa Chica preserve is just north of Huntington Beach. About a half hour from Anaheim. Should be a few birds there this time of year.

Also, if you like snow but don't want to have to drive in it, the Palm Springs Aerial Tram will take you from the desert to an 8'500 foot elevation pine forest in just a few minutes. Palm Springs is about a 2 hour drive from Anaheim.

Well, there are some gigantic ducks and chipmunks in Anaheim....

hey, I said nothing about a mouse....

:)

Bob, I second the recommendation for Bolsa Chica for birds, especially Black-necked Stilts and Terns. Artie Morris recommended it, and it was excellent. Also, Newport's Back Bay is supposed to be very good for birds (Brian Small and others recommended it), but it must be hit or miss, because when I went it was definitely a miss.

FWIW, there are a few threads on this forum addressing areas around LA you might want to check out ;-).

From the old Jack Benny program, it was "Anaheim, Azuza, and Cucamunga".

Seriously, I would suggest the La Brea Tar Pits if you wish to stay in the LA area.

Best, Alex

  "Oh, and I don't count Mickey Mouse as wildlife!"

  Oh yeah?

  Wherever you may go, 

  in or near Anaheim, 

He will be watching you . . .

Bolsa can be very good, depending on what you're looking for. If you head down there, you might also head about 20 minutes south down the coast to Laguna Beach, specifically one of the coves(I like crescent) and you might be able to spot some sea lions.

Plenty of beach opportunities, obviously. The LA basin beaches might be just the ticket as they're easily accessible and usually only the surfers are out this time of year. Just south of San Clemente, San Onofre state park has some interesting sandstone-ish formations from erosion - reminiscent of much smaller scale Bryce NP (with the right light I bet you could make some stunning photos), a nice beach, and the "tits of California" <scuse my french ladies> - the San Onofre nuclear power plant. I've heard nice things about Dana Point, but never been to the beach.

As far as mountains go, there are actually a number of trails in nearby mountains. A few years ago I went on a hike to a waterfall (about 20-30 feet high in a nice little glen) and stream (yes, CA does have water) less than an hour from Burbank (probably under 2 hrs from Santa Ana). Not much in the way of wildlife, but pretty neat high desert type terrain, but with the added gem of water.

Mt Baldy, which is a ski area as well as a mountain, is just north of Upland (just north of Pomona) - I've never been up there, but should be good car access. Of course Big Bear is also beautiful, but that's a bit more of a hike.

I've also been exploring (but this was 15 years ago) in the mountains just north/west of El Toro. If I remember correctly, Saddleback mountain is up in that area (possibly even in the Santa Anas) and might offer some interesting scenes. I used to go trout fishing within 15 minutes of El Toro, but I'm afraid I don't remember how to get there.

San Juan Capistrano (where the swallows return) was always talked about when I lived in El Toro, but I've never actually been there myself.

Don't waste your time on Lake Elsinore if you're looking for scenics - it's really a biker haven.

Overall, I'd say your best bet for 1-2 hour trips would be San Onofre, the Santa Ana or San Bernadino mountains. I think Big Bear and other areas up near San Bern. would probably take you 4-5 hours, but Big Bear is probably worth it - the drive up is pretty scenic on it's own. I think Joshua NP is more of a 2 day trip, while you could do Big Bear there and back in a day, including sunset (but you want to be on the beaches for sunset, right?)

One suggestion for you is to contact some mountain bike shops or web sites - people don't realize it but there are tons of trails in the mountains surrounding the LA basin, oftentimes very close to civilization (like Pasadena or Diamond Bar). LA is HUGE geographically, so good luck.

Oh yeah, why not check topo maps? Might give you some ideas.

Oh yeah, don't forget about LA and San Diego zoos if you're into that captive wildlife thing.

This is probably too far for you, but if you have time (or someday) I highly recommend Rancho Cuyamaca State Park east of San Diego. It's adjoined to the Cleveland Nat'l Forest, the Laguna Mntns, and the desert to the east. One of my all time favorite back country areas to hike and the wildlife is phenomenal (high population of mountain lions). On one of the more remote trails I once counted a herd of 80 mule deer congregated in a high meadow... normally there would be 20-30 deer in that meadow in the late afternoon, early evening.

Start at Newport beach and hug the coastline going south. You'll pass a number of cliffs, river outlets, tide pools and what not. Definetly get a topo map, a lot of the best spots are not visible from the road side. i.e.: Pelican point; a tiny cove about 100 yards at the widest, featuring tide pools, a keyhole rock, great sunsets, and pelicans.

(link)

Go north to Morro Bay(about a 3 hour trip), stop at Montana de Oro state park for another beautiful cove. Morro bay state park features wetlands and monster eucalyptus groves. Morro rock hosts all kinds of sea birds. Whales and sea lions in season.

(link)

That should keep you busy :-)

Mike :-)

Weather should be good at Joshua Tree but there is always some possibility of rain. Anza Borrego is another possibility, time wise, maybe a little closer than Joshua Tree.

I don't know that there is anything that I would recommend as a stand-out for animals. Timing varies but you may have some spring bloom by then and the California coastal mountains should be at the height of green season as opposed to brown season. There is a nature preserve, Santa Rosa Plateau (?), near Temecula and while I've seen pictures from there, I've never been there. Bolsa Chica is popular for water birds. If you are of a mind for it, I'd second the suggestion on the SD Zoo and especially the Wild Animal Park (less than 2 hours (91 east to 15 south). With more time available to you, the coast and coastal mountains from Santa Barbara and north are IMHO, more picturesque than from the Los Angeles area south. And if time really becomes available, the coastal area from San Luis Obispo to San Simeon/Big Sur offers spectacular scenery and seals, sea lions, and otters.

One other San Diego area suggestion: For coastal landscape photography Torrey Pines State Park (just south of Del NAr off I-5) is fantastic. The sculpted sandstone cliff formations are like nowhere else and there are easy trails which allow viewing from the top overlooks all the way down to the beach, which present a view of the cliff face (a couple of hundred ft vertical). At the foot of the cliff check out the multitude of marine fossils embedded in the rock. Torrey Pines is a photographers dream.

I second the vote for Anza Borrego. This article appeared in the Travel section of the New York Times this past Sunday. (No, I don't work for The Times).

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/10/travel/LISA.html

Personally I think a more interesting approach would be to look at what "wildlife" exists in such an overbuilt urban area. Check out stretches of the Santa Ana River, or the migratory bird pond next to UC-Irvine (just 15 min. down the 55). It's always facinated me how much wildlife survives here despite the massive changes to habitat. I've stood on the bike path next to University Dr. at sundown watching a flock of skimmers hunt in the creek, with a backdrop of city lights, tall office buildings and passenger jets taking off from the airport.

My home town!

For birds, you can't beat the "back bay" area in Newport Beach. Ride/walk down Back Bay Drive (it's one way, starting off Jamboree Rd., near Pacific Coast Hwy.) The estuary stretches up past UC Irvine, along University Dr. There are also some ponds off Campus Dr. You can easily drive around to find your favorite spots. There are plenty of bird watchers out in the mornings and evenings.

Bolsa Chica is good too- the estuary between Huntington and Seal Beaches along Pacific Coast Hwy. (PCH)

I'm no bird expert, but this is where they all seem to be.

For general nature and scenics, you can't beat Laguna- either the beaches, the town, or the surrounding hills. The city beaches are nice, as are the beaches at El Moro / Crystal Cove State park, just north of Laguna. There are hiking trails in El Moro Canyon, on the other side of the highway, near the trailer park (world's choicest trailer park, IMO). The best hiking is probably in Aliso/Wood Cyns. Park, which you can access from the top of Park Ave. (left on Alta Vista at the top). This is one of the prime sunset viewing places in the state. I always see interesting wildlife in this park- deer, bobcats, snakes, rabbits, birds. You'll be dodging mountain bikes anywhere in Laguna, but Aliso-Wood has hiking-only trails too.

Perhaps the best hiking bet in Laguna is to contact the Nature Conservancy for their docent-led tours of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park- the huge area west of Laguna Cyn. Rd., stretching all the way up past North Laguna. It's mostly closed, except for the weekend tours, which are a treat.

The Santa Ana Mts.- "Saddleback"- lots of great hiking trails, and not crowded. About a half hour's drive from Anaheim at most. There's a neat little wildlife sanctuary (The Tucker) in Modjeska Cyn. Take a tour, and you'll get advice on flora and fauna, and where to go. It's a big area, topped off by a 5600' peak. The best hiking trail is probably Holy Jim Cyn., which you get to by driving a couple of miles up a gravel road at the head of Trabuco Cyn. Dense, beautiful forest, stream crossings, flowers, etc. Santiago trail is great too, and much easier to get to, though bike traffic can be heavy. There's a spot on Santiago where you're almost guranteed to see tarantulas in late afternoon.

If you can get out to Joshua Tree, you won't be disappointed.

Feel free to email. I've lived there most of my life, and I've explored the heck out of all the trails, for years and years.

Don't know if this was included above. LaJolla Cove fron San Diego CA No on I5 to Ardath Rd., 2 mi. right on Prospect Ave down hill to sign (January) am shoot? To get to the cliffs, take I-5 south and exit La Jolla Village Drive and go west (RIGHT). Take the second LEFT onto Torrey Pines Road, which will wind down a long hill toward La Jolla. Merge with Ardath Road coming in from the left and continue on Torrey Pines for another ~1/2 mile. When you come to an intersection with Prospect Street, turn RIGHT. You are close now and there are a couple of parking options. Option #1, shortly after turning right onto Prospect, watch as the road widens to the right and you see a half dozen parking spaces on the right at the head of a set of stairs going down to a dirt path. Alternatively, Option #2 continue down Prospect until you see the road divide and the right fork dives steeply down hill toward the water. Take that right, and about half way down the hill on the right is the Old Shell Shop. The shop is situated at the head of a very narrow erosional feature, a sea arch, and there used to be stairs inside the shop that you could take down into inside of the arch. Anyway, park in one of the half dozen spots in front of the shop. If these are full, you'll have to compete with tourists for parking further down the road. I suggest Option #1 if you can because few people recognize it as good parking for the cliffs and so it often open. Either way, that dirt path connects the foot of the stairway from Option#1 with the back of the Shell Shop (to the left of the shop). Get on this path and you'll see a wooden stairway leading down to a platform overlooking the point, right on top of the arch. The booby has been seen several times here, usually hunkered down below the edge of the point, a few meters above the water, mixed in with gulls, pelicans and cormorants. You may have to climb up the dirt path to actually get a good angle on the side of the point.