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Sycamore Highlands Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,203 Google reviews · Running trail in Riverside, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Sycamore Highlands Park'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.
Rolling neighborhood park with children's play & picnic areas & scenic footpaths.
What runners say about Sycamore Highlands Park
“The park is clean with a safe & nice atmosphere😄 students, families picnicking🍀🌳 hummingbirds and rabbits!”
“This is a small park with a playground, picnic tables and a short, paved walking path with great views of Box Springs Mountain and the eastern portion of Riverside.”
“We stumbled upon Sycamore Highlands Park while looking for a quiet spot to unwind, and it turned out to be a little gem.”
This was a very nice park, it was definitely small but the views were beautiful, it had basketball courts and a very nice playground it had picnic benches and a very nice gazebo, it also had a very beautiful pergola and a very nice walking path.
Such a fantastic view of the Inland Empire, the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Bernardino Mountains, the San Jacinto Mountains, and the City of Riverside. Particularly lovely in the winter when the panorama is clear. Very stunning after a storm dumps snow all over the surrounding mountain ranges.
This park offers awesome 360 degree views of Riverside from high elevation. Got breeze and shades. Plenty of grass area to do picnic, read a book and throw footIball with kids. It also has a 3 mi hiking trail off to one side. Street parking only. No restroom.
We stumbled upon Sycamore Highlands Park while looking for a quiet spot to unwind, and it turned out to be a little gem. I went with my wife and our two kids, and we all genuinely enjoyed our time there. The park is clean, well-maintained, and has a calm, peaceful vibe that's hard to come by these days.
Trail conditions & character
“This is a small park with a playground, picnic tables and a short, paved walking path with great views of Box Springs Mountain and the eastern portion of Riverside.”
“Be aware that parking can be a bit tight, especially on busy days, as the park tends to attract many people.”
“We stumbled upon Sycamore Highlands Park while looking for a quiet spot to unwind, and it turned out to be a little gem.”
“There’s this spot on the trail that gives you a wide view of the hills and the city below, and as the sun goes down, the sky lights up with these rich, warm colors.”
Plan your run at Sycamore Highlands Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitecityofriverside.org
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–9 PM |
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.
Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park
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Riverside County Regional Park & Open Space District
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Moreno Valley M
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Hiking area and tourist attraction offering a scenic view.
Andulka Park
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TownGate Memorial Park
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Suburban park with athletics, softball & baseball fields, picnic tables & barbecues.
Box Springs Mountain Reserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,218 reviews
1,100 sloping acres with 15 miles of trails accessible to hikers, mountain bikers & equestrians.