Carbon Canyon Regional Park is situated among the rolling foothills of the Chino Hill Range. The 124-acre park is situated upstream from the Carbon Canyon Dam. A highlight of the park is located in the southern sector near the dam. Here can be found a 10-acre grove of coastal Redwoods (Sequoia Sempervirens) Throughout the park, pepper trees, sycamores, eucalyptus and Canary Island Pines abound.
The area of Carbon Canyon known as Olinda was settled by farmers and ranchers before the 1880's. The arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad instigated a land boom in the area. Farmers and ranchers, believing they had found an agricultural haven, flocked to the area. Cattle and sheep were pastured in the open field that is now the park. However, the farming which existed was to gradually give way to a new commodity. . oil.
In the late 1880's the oil boom was on. A multiple of oil companies drilled the foothills of Orange County. Company-owned oil towns developed at these sites. One such town was Olinda, located on what is now park land. Olinda thrived as an oil boom town until the fields began to shut down in the 1940's. As Orange County grew, demand for protection from floods also grew. One source of flood damage was Carbon Canyon Creek itself. The Area was studied, and it was concluded that an earthfill dam at the mouth of the canyon would be most effective. Work began on the project in 1959, and by 1965 a 114-acre area behind the upstream from the dam was chosen as a site for Carbon Canyon Regional Park.
Carbon Canyon Regional park was opened to the public in 1975. The last physical evidence of the community of Olinda became a memory with the development of the dam, but unlike most areas in this modern day of construction and development, Carbon Canyon has returned to its more natural state. Carbon Canyon Regional Park offers a multitude of recreational opportunities. Those interested in sports will enjoy the eight tennis courts, volleyball courts, softball fields, and a multipurpose field.
Five fully equipped tot lots offer adventure and enjoyment for younger visitors. A nature trail, a paved biking trail, and an equestrian trail providing access to Chino Hills State Park are available. Picnic areas with barbeques are also part of the; park facility. A beautiful 4-acre lake rounds out the opportunities. Two fishing piers are provided. Anglers must comply with State Fish and Game codes, including possession of a valid fishing license.
Picnic shade shelters are available for group and family use. Four tennis courts completely fenced and lighted at night during summer schedule are located at the west end of the park. Equestrian and bicycle trails run throughout.
Operating Hours:
November 1 to March 31, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April
1 to October 31, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Parking Fees:
| $2.00 | per entry per vehicle |
| $10.00 | per entry per bus |
| $30.00 | Annual Day-Use Pass per year (valid at County Regional Parks - prorated pass available). |
| $7.50 | Annual Day-Use Pass per year Senior Citizen - (60 year or older) and handicapped |
Groups:
All groups of 100 or more must obtain a group permit
at least 15 days in advance. Reservations are also available. Make well in
advance at the Park Office.
Welcome to Carbon Canyon Creek Nature Trail. You are encouraged to use this pamphlet as you enjoy your hike along Carbon Canyon Creek.
The trail is 1.1 mile each way. It was established to enable you to enrich your park experience with a sample of the natural canyon environment.
Along the way you will be given the opportunity tto become familiar with some of the other canyon residents, the animals and birds that make their home here. A taste of park history has been added to flavor your journey.
Your destination at the end of the trail will be a magnificent grove of Coastal Redwood Trees. We invite you to take a picnic basket along and lunch among these youthful giants. Due to the restraints comprised of park boundaries and flood basin local, your return trip will be along the same trail your hiked in on.
Enjoy your visit and remember: Take only memories...Leave only footprints.
Although
rare in its native California, Monterey Pine is one of the world's most
valuable pines and is the most common commercially planted one in the
southern hemisphere (where pines are not native), especially in New
Zealand, Australia, Chile and South Africa.
Notice the difference in temperature as you enter this grove of trees. Originally a Christmas tree farm before the existence of Carbon Canyon Park this grove provides a cool refreshing spot near the park entrance to relax and enjoy the beauty of the area.
Careful
rock-hopping will see you safely across Carbon Canyon Creek. During severe
winter storms this creek takes on the appearance of a raging river and
becomes impassable. Notice signs of past water levels along the creek.
Mule Fat (Baccharis viminea), Giant Cane (Arundo donax), California Mugwort (Artemisia heterophylla) and Willow trees pre-dominate this Riparian Plant Community.
Erosion and siltation are also very evident here. Feel the fine topsoil deposited along the creek. Much of the canyon valley has been covered by this rich layer of earth providing extremely fertile ground to support plant life.
Hemlock
(Conium maculatum), Castor Bean (Ricinus communis), and
Mustards (Brassica spp.) are three of the more dominant plants
that grow along the trail. Hemlock, a very poisonous plant if taken
internally, is also called "fool's parsley" because of the
look-alike similarity.
Cator Bean and Mustard, Asian and European natives respectively, were brought to California by the early mission padres. Castor Bean was used for decorative purposes and mustards were scattered along the travel routes.
These
California Walnut Trees grow smaller and more shrublike in Southern
California canyon areas than do their Northern California neighbors. A
native decidious tree, the Indians ate the nuts and used the husks for
dye. The tree is also used as a durable craft wood.
Rattlesnakes may be found in this area. They are important members of the natural community. If disturbed or cornered, they will defend themselves. Give them distance and respect. Remember this is their home and they serve a useful purpose here.
The
California Peppertree is actually a native of Peru. Now naturalized in
California this popular ornamental attracts various songbirds including
Robins, Mockingbirds, and Cedar Waxwings who feed off of the abundant,
peppery tasting red fruit.
A good shade tree, the branches are very brittle, frequently breaking. Although appearing messy, the debris breaks down into organic matter as a compost or mulch replinishing the soil with the nutrients necessary so new growth may take place.
To
better visualize early Olinda you must first walk down to the lakeside
between shelter #9 and #10. Once you are there think back to the early
1900's. This area was an oil boom town known as Olinda. The oil companies
owned the land and the houses and leased or rented them to the employees.
The white buildings you see on the north side of Carbon Canyon Road were
part of the lease. It includes offices, a recreation dance hall (the
existing main office for the Santa Fe Oil Lease), administrator's homes,
maintenance and storage garages, pumphouses and plants, and the oil rigs.
On the park lands in the vicinity of the lakes were offices, houses, storage barns, a school, a store, tennis and baseball facilities. A portion of the Olinda School has been transferred to the corner of Elm Street and Madison Avenue inBrea and converted into a recreation hall. Please return to the Nature Trail and continue.
The current park site was a popular recreation area even in those times and the residents thoroughly enjoyed their canyon lifestyle.
Look,
but don't touch! The Nettle growing off to the left of the trail is
covered with stinging hairs of formic acid. The sting at contact is very
painful and should be avoided.Nettle is common along the trail and grows
throughout the area. Take a good look at this plant so you can recognize
it and therefore avoid it in the future.
Look
around. Are the plant communities beginning to look more familiar? Can you
now identify some of the plants along the trail?
Close
your eyes and listen for a moment. How many different sounds do you hear?
Now look around--look up in the sky and see if you can spot the origin of
some of these sounds. You've heard a variety of birds. What other type of
sounds do you recognize?
The
canopy of this large Walnut tree offers one of the cooler spots along the
trail. Stop for a minute and refresh yourself in the shade of this tree.
Observe the impact this tree has on the area, creating cooler temperatures
and a haven for lush, green vegetation even during the hot summer months.
By the sound of their chatter the Ravens must also appreciate this spot.
A
Dam and retarding resevoir was first proposed in 1929 by the Orange County
Flood Control District as part of an unsuccessful Bond Issue election.
Carbon Canyon Dam was approved in 1956 with the project being undertaken
as Federal work in 1956.
During an emergency situation in which heavy winter storms unleash too much water for the Santa Ana River to contain, the gate to this earthen dam located at the lower bottom right side of the dam (out of view) would be closed. This happened briefly during the severe winter of 1983. Much of the park was flooded out at that time. This whole canyon area could potentially hold water as a retarding resevoir to preserve communities downstream of the dam.
The
nature trail continues to the left. Only 400 feet to the Redwoods.
Called
"The Tree of Music" by the Indians because they made flutes from
branches that were cut in the spring and then dried with the leaves on.
When thoroughly dry they would bore holes in the branches with a hot
stick. The large shoots were used for arrow shafts. The white wood was
used for skewers and pegs.
The small flowers can be beaten in batter for pancakes or muffins and a delicious fritter can be made by dipping the flower heads in a batter and quickly frying.
The green leaves and stems of the plant are sold to be poisonous if taken internally. Children making whistles or blowguns out of dried stems have been poisoned. Somehow the Indians did not have that problem!
Welcome
to Carbon Canyon Park's Caostal Redwood Grove. Redwoods are not indigenous
to Orange County. They grow naturally in areas along the Northern
California coast---where the tallest Redwood towers 368 feet high. These
trees were planted in 1975 and still have a lot of growing to do.
A picnic table and water fountain have been provided for your comfort. If you're really quiet you might see many birds and animals scurrying about the grove.
Walk among the trees and enjoy the beauty of these majestic giants.
We hope your journey to the Redwood Forest was a pleasant one. The beauty of these trees in a natural setting makes one better appreciate the true value of conservation.
As you return to the developed portion of the park you are invited to use the other recreational opportunities available here.
Visit us again soon as many of the wildflowers, annuals, and feathered residents change with the seasons.
Thank you for joining us today on the Carbon Canyon Creek Nature Trail.