SPOTLIGHT: OAK CANYON NATURE CENTER
Location: 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills.
Information: (714) 998-8380.
Description: This wildlife sanctuary, administered by the City of Anaheim, preserves 58 acres of oak woodland and coastal sage scrub in the heart of booming Anaheim Hills. A year-round stream, fed by a nearby reservoir, meanders through the quiet, heavily-wooded canyon. Common wildlife includes scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers, cottontail rabbits, California quails, western fence lizards and red-shouldered hawks.
Facilities: An interpretive center at the entrance to the sanctuary features a live menagerie of reptiles, amphibians and small mammals, and stuffed specimens of other local wildlife. There are also nature games and hands-on exhibits for small children. The sanctuary includes about 5 miles of hiking and walking trails.
Programs: Free family nature programs are offered each Saturday at 10 a.m. throughout the year. Also, a free family “Nature Night” program is offered each Wednesday through Aug. 24, with a guided walk at 7 p.m. and a talk at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are not needed for either program; topics change each week. Other programs, including a popular summer day camp (usually booked by early spring) and group tours, are also available. Some involve a fee.
Rules: Like most wildlife sanctuaries, Oak Canyon Nature Center prohibits picnicking, pets, open flames and bicycles.
Parking: Free parking is provided in an adjacent lot.
Bus: Route No. 38 has stops on nearby Nohl Ranch Road. For bus information, call (714)
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