Explore the secluded redwood forest at Carbon Canyon Regional Park

Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea has many of the same amenities as other parks in the county system, with one addition.

Three acres of majestic Coastal redwoods have been growing for more than 50 years and you can walk among them.

A plaque at the grove says that in 1970 a bank gave away redwood seedlings to people opening accounts.

After the promotion ended the bank donated the leftovers to the county and park rangers planted those 241 seedlings to form the grove that grows today.

Coastal redwoods are the tallest trees on earth and can live to be more than 2,000 years old, although the average age is 800 to 1,500 years old, according to the National Park Service.

The tallest tree in the Carbon Canyon grove measured 92 feet in a 2015 survey. Coastal redwoods in Northern California and Oregon can grow to 370 feet, according to the plaque.

A 1.1-mile trail leads to the redwoods, but visitors can also enjoy the park’s five playgrounds, eight tennis courts and three volleyball courts.

A 4-acre lake is stocked with trout in the winter and catfish in the summer, according to Danielle Kennedy, spokesperson for OC Parks.

A California fishing license is required for those 16 and older. The summer catfish stocking schedule is available at ocparks.com.

“Carbon Canyon Regional Park is a nice, peaceful park, perfect for walking and hiking to see Southern California’s largest grove of coastal redwoods,” Kennedy said.

The canopy from the trees canopy can create a 10-degree temperature difference between the evaporation and the shade, a nice perk in the summer months.

Carbon Canyon Dam was built in 1961 as protection from possible flooding of Carbon Canyon Creek. In 1975, 114 acres of land upstream of the dam were opened as the regional park.

Carbon Canyon Regional Park also connects to Chino Hills State Park, which offers 14,000 acres of wilderness and amenities, including camping.

A dirt trail near the park’s butterfly garden leads visitors to the Telegraph Trail within Chino Hills State Park.

Get outside

Location: 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea

Hours: Open 365 days a year, 7 a.m. to sunset

Amenities:

• Ball fields

• Barbecues

• Hiking, biking and equestrian trails

• Bird watching

• Dogs are permitted on leashes

• 4-acre fishing lake

• Historic dam

• Horseshoe pits

• Nature center

• Picnic areas with tables and restrooms

• Playgrounds

• Tennis courts

• Volleyball courts

For more information: ocparks.com/parks-trails/carbon-canyon-regional-park