The Niguel Botanical Preserve is a charming 18-acre garden 4 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, accessible via Crown Valley Parkway. The Preserve is situated within the Crown Valley Community Park and offers a delightful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The Preserve can be found on a hillside, boasting several trails that lead to the top. From this vantage point, one can enjoy stunning views of Mission Viejo and Saddleback Mountain.
The majority of the trails within the Preserve are paved yet steep. Nevertheless, numerous benches are scattered throughout the area, including some tucked away in secluded corners, providing a convenient spot to take a break or unwind while exploring the garden.
The plants and trees in the Preserve mainly consist of native species to Southern California or those from regions with comparable climates.
Regions of the word represented include Australian, South African, Mediterranean, Chilean, and Southern California.
Attractions at the Laguna Niguel Botanical Preserve include the Children’s Garden, Boy Scouts Eagle Trail, Girl Scouts Path, Laguna Niguel Labyrinth, and the South African Overlook.
During the spring, the Preserve is a great place to view wildflowers. Crown Valley Community Park’s Children’s playground is open in summer. The park also has a community swimming pool.
It is recommended to allocate approximately two hours for hiking around the Preserve. Taking a leisurely walk through the garden can be quite tranquil and rejuvenating. The only drawback is that you may hear the traffic from Crown Valley Parkway.
Admission and parking are free, and the view from the park’s top is breathtaking. Niguel Botanical Preserve is one of Orange County’s hidden gems worth looking for.
A paved trail connects to the nearby 236-acre Laguna Niguel Regional Park.
Where is the Laguna Niguel Botanical Preserve
Crown Valley Community Park is midway between the I-5 and Pacific Coast Highway on Crown Valley Parkway. The entrance to the Preserve is directly behind the Amphitheater.
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset 7 days a week. Laguna Niguel Botanical Preserve is dog-friendly. Please clean up after your pet, so it remains so.
The Preserve sits midway between I-5 (Santa Ana Fwy) and Pacific Coast Hwy on Crown Valley Parkway, just above Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel.
Address: Niguel Botanical Preserve 29751 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA 9267 Website
Is there Handicap access or scooters which can be rented there?
As far as I know, there are no scooters for rent. The preserve is situated on a steep slope, not suited for Handicap access except for the lower trail.