HomeCaliforniaRiverside › Santa Ana River Trail

Santa Ana River Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 76 Google reviews · Running trail in Riverside, California · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Santa Ana River Trail'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.

MixedOpen 24hScenic

Park featuring horse trails, as well as bike paths including one that is paved and one off-road.

What runners say about Santa Ana River Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (76 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

Best destination for wild trout fishing and hiking in jungle.Will deer ,nice place for pick nick and camping .Specially 7 oak trail after bridge .Trout fishers will enjoy catching and release in this river ,you can catch over 18” trout in 4” water where no one will believe there’s such fish.

★★★★★ — John , Mar 2018

Plenty of parking space, nice biking trail for road and mountain bike.

★★★★★ — Roger , Dec 2015

The river bottom trails were a lot of fun today One of my favorite trails is The Winnie the poo trail. The water crossing by the power lines was good. We saw a lot of people riding today. I am so glad Spring has finally come. There were lots Of wild flowers And butterflies

★★★★☆ — Deanna , Mar 2019

One of the 'three big ones' trails in SoCal. Pavement is generally pretty good all along it. Foot traffic is low overall, but high in certain areas. Hope some day that the upper and lower parts get connected, and it extends to the mountains!

★★★★☆ — Noel , Jul 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 76 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 3 mentions

“Miles of flat paved walking.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Santa Ana River Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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

Santa Ana River Trail, Riverside, CA 92505

Get directions

Running trails near Riverside

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

Hidden Valley Wildlife Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 53 reviews

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Crushed gravelScenic

Open area with trails for hiking and biking, plus spacious parking.

under a mile away

Riverbend Park

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Dog-friendly

Park featuring picnic tables, a playground, basketball courts, and disc golf.

1.0 miles away

Hidden Valley Nature Center

4.6 ★★★★★ 321 reviews

Riverside, CA

Scenic

Tranquil nature preserve offering scenic views & trails for hiking, cycling & horseback riding.

1.4 miles away

Pikes Peak Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 693 reviews

Norco, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

Spacious park featuring playground equipment, a ball field and walking trails.

1.4 miles away

Great pumpkin trail

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1.8 miles away

Pumpkin Rock

4.7 ★★★★★ 436 reviews

Norco, CA

Natural surfaceShadedScenic

Painted like a large jack-o'-lantern, this rock sits at the top of a hill with sweeping views.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Riverside, 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.