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Santa Ana River Trail - Gisler Ave Entrance

4.7 ★★★★★ 57 Google reviews · Running trail in Costa Mesa, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Santa Ana River Trail - Gisler Ave Entrance's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedStroller / ADA

Recreational path with a bikeable route to the beach, along with space for jogging and running.

What runners say about Santa Ana River Trail - Gisler Ave Entrance

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (57 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏃 great for running 4 mentions

“great place to jog with my dog.”

So happy I found this trail entrance. It’s safe bike trail to either Newport or Huntington Beach.

★★★★★ — Claudia , Jun 2024

It is pretty simple quiet place to relax, walk, run, biking. It has plenty of route s you can choose to go. Places in between to rest. I like it.

★★★★★ — Ivan , Dec 2017

Long trail with minimum to average traffic. Riders are friendly and perfect for dogs.

★★★★★ — Ryan , Apr 2019

A good entrance to the Santa Ana River trail. If you head south from here, it will take you about 4 miles to reach the Huntington beach and the bathrooms & water. You will need to park on street.

★★★★★ — David , May 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 57 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🛣️ Paved surface

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Santa Ana River Trail - Gisler Ave Entrance

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteocparks.com

Hours

Monday 7 am–9 pm
Tuesday 7 am–9 pm
Wednesday 7 am–9 pm
Thursday 7 am–9 pm
Friday 7 am–9 pm
Saturday 7 am–9 pm
Sunday 7 am–9 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Santa Ana River Trail - Gisler Ave Entrance

1899 Gisler Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Get directions

Running trails near Costa Mesa

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Santa Ana River Trail - Moon Park Entrance

4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Costa Mesa, CA

Paved

under a mile away

Moon Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 270 reviews

Costa Mesa, CA

Shaded

Playground with a dome simulating the lunar surface in commemoration of the 1969 moon landing.

under a mile away

Estancia Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 275 reviews

Costa Mesa, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

Modest recreation area with green spaces, picnic shelter, tables & grilling sites.

under a mile away

Santa Ana River Trail - Mile Marker 5

4 ★★★★☆ 3 reviews

Costa Mesa, CA

Paved

under a mile away

Santa Ana River Trail - Mile Marker 3

4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Costa Mesa, CA

Paved

1.0 miles away

Los Alamos Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 89 reviews

Fountain Valley, CA

Dog-friendly

Large park at the mouth of Drum Canyon with trails for biking & hiking, ball fields & a playground.

1.2 miles away

All running trails in Costa Mesa, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.