Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park
30952 Oso Pkwy,
Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679
(949) 923-2265
(Note: on the parks web site they refer to their address being in Coto de Caza though the actual registered city within Orange County is in fact Trabuco Canyon)
Park Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset.
A spacious park (544 Acres) located at the foot of Oso Parkway where it joins up against two entrances to Coto de Caza (a private community). Easiest directions from the 5 freeway coming from north or south exit at Oso Parkway and head east approximately 6.3 miles. Just before you reach the end of Oso Parkway note the dirt road on the right hand side which is the Riley Wilderness Park entrance.
Here’s a Google Map in which I marked up with arrows right to the park entrance.
Once you entered the dirt road to the park drive slow as there are a few dips in the road before you reach the main parking lot which will be on the right.
Birding at Riley Wilderness Park: here’s a complete list of bird species at the eBird site which can be found here
A few of the more common bird species that can typically be found year round are:
- Acorn and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers
- Lark Sparrow
- Oak Titmouse
- California Towhee
- Black Phoebe
- Spotted Towhee
This is a fee based park which accepts dollar bills and there is a pay machine within the parking lot. More info about the park can be found at: Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park
A park map of all the trails can be found here
Images:
2014 – The following images were taken in October of 2014 via cell phone. Though October is typically a dry month as its the start of the rainy season, our severe drought period here in southern California was in full force as seen in the images below. 2012 – To view images taken during March of 2012 where the land was far more green and lush including the Dry Pond which had water please click Riley Park Spring 2012
