O'Neill Park Loop Vista Trail

This 3.7 mile long hike ascends Live Oak Trail up to a vista point with nice views, then returns the way it came before turning down Coyote Trail for an alternative descent.

The park is open year round from 7 am to sunset.
Parking is $3 entry fee per vehicle per day Monday to Friday, and $5 entry fee per vehicle per day Saturday and Sunday.
Rates may increase on holidays or for events.

Most of these are multi-use trails. Know the right-of-way rules and be aware of other users.

From the parking lot head north on Live Oak Trail past the junction with Edna Spaulding Trail. The trail may briefly join the water tank road at 0.2 miles. Continue to ascend the trail past several intersections off to the right. You'll reach the summit and the intersection with Vista Trail at about 1.7 miles. Enjoy the views of Santa Monica Bay, San Clemente, and Catalina Island.
The return hike starts back the way you came until about 2.1 miles. Take a left onto Coyote Canyon Trail (aka Coyote Trail) and head south and west to the junction with Hoffman Homestead Trail at 2.8 miles. Turn right onto Hoffman Homestead Trail and follow it for 0.3 miles to the junction with Live Oak Trail. Turn left to follow Live Oak Trail south and back to the trailhead.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.

The lower regions of the park are heavily wooded with oak and sycamore trees. The hillsides are more shruby with sagebrush and cactus.

As a result of extensive conservation activity, O'Neill Park covers over 4000 acres of land including Trabuco and Live Oak Canyons.