Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo follows a portion of Oso Creek that runs along and parallel to Marguerite Parkway and under La Paz Road and turns and goes up Jeronimo Road to Pavion Park. Oso Creek in Mission Viejo begins at the Upper Oso Reservoir and flows through parks, the golf courses, crosses under streets and finally under the freeway, emptying into Trabuco Creek. The Oso Creek Trail is a wonderful retreat into nature right at your doorstep. There are several access points to the trail. I think the city and residents did a great job of creating a wonderful venue where you can enjoy the natural beauty of Saddleback Valley and Mission Viejo without having to drive forever to get there.
I am really in love with this trail and open space, and I took a lot of photos. So many that I had to create a post especially for Oso Creek Trail. Enjoy!
Here is an excerpt about the trail from the Orange County Register:
“What is the Oso Creek Trail today used to be open space with brushes until less than two decades ago. As part of the San Juan Creek watershed, Oso Creek runs from north of the Santa Ana Mountains, joins the Trabuco Creek and flows to the Pacific Ocean. Oso Creek used to be dry throughout most of the year, but after the development of Mission Viejo, the creek has water flowing all year long because of urban runoff.
A pump station captures the water flowing through Oso Creek and sends it back to a treatment facility. The treated water will be used for watering city-owned landscaped areas.
People had been walking around the creek and were creating de facto trails. The city then began construction in 1997 to create a trail system. While the city paved the trails, volunteers installed plants and railings as well as public art, such as history walls, murals and oak grove.”
There is a lot to see and enjoy along Oso Creek Trail. The Celebration Garden with its artisan mosaics, a garden maze, birds and other wildlife, oak grove, wildflowers, Peace Obelisk and more. The beautiful thing is that many residents, young and old, helped create the trail and these landmarks.
