Best places: Nature preserves in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, United States

Acres of oceanside trails for exploring or exercising while spotting occasional dolphins or bobcats.

Protected marine nature preserve featuring sandy beaches, tide pools & sweeping ocean views.

Large park featuring native plants, picnic areas & hiking, biking & equestrian trails.

Conservation area featuring 20+ miles of trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding, plus views.

👍👍 This is one of my all-time favorite places to hike. It's not difficult, it's mostly flat with some small inclines. It's a great three to four mile hike along the Santa Margarita River. There's not a lot of people, due to the limited parking space at the trailhead. Even if you get in later in the day...

👍 This is a cool little museum we stumbled onto. It's got some great info about Dana Points local marine life and wildlife. Including some huge whale bones, stuffed animals (taxidermy) and other interesting artifacts. They had free coloring pages for the kids. There's not an active docent but it's ver...

9,000-acre nature conservation with varying terrain & habitats, open trails & a visitor center.

👍👍 This place is surprisingly awesome! It's great for a quick educational stop. It has live turtoises, turtles, lizards, owls, falcons and snakes. With its gorgeous views, it's a great place for an event. We have had birthday parties for 4 year old during the day and 40 year old in the evening. Both we...

Large preserved wetland habitat for a huge variety of native birdlife as well as reptiles & insects.

Protected wetland habitat with on-site parking & wildlife-viewing opportunities.

👍👍 Nice and easy nature walk for all ages. Very pet friendly. Big pond with lots of ducks. Cool wooden bridges. Easy parking and well maintained. Check it out after the rain to see everything in full bloom.

Nature reserve with 7 miles of trails plus a visitor center with exhibits overlooking the lagoon.

Scenic wilderness area with guided tours & open-access days scheduled by Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

👍👍 One of the great free things to do. Ample parking at the marina and marine science learning center puts you right at the beginning of the beach and jettie entrance point. Low tide provides access to the many tidal pools where you can see lots of marine life. There are also several miles of sidewalk...

👍👍 A very short walk with spectacular views of Dana Point Harbor and beaches south. It's a view of forever.

Canyon nature preserve with trails for hiking & mountain-biking, plus guided interpretive walks.

Beachside park features sandstone bluffs, a visitor's center, rare pine trees & nature trails.

This tract of chaparral wildlands features a lookout point & trails for hiking & equestrian use.

👍 It was absolutely gorgeous! However I wish they had more info on the actual trail itself. Dogs are allowed! I brought my dog Morty. Please bring your own bags just in case there aren't any stocked. Sand was very soft and deep as you go through, I had a ton of sand in my tennis, I recommend actual hi...