SoCal Nature Kids’ Guide to Riverside County, California

 Looking for a nature area to explore with your family in Riverside County? Check out these family-friendly places, recommended by me or other Southern California parents. It’s always a good idea to check each location’s web site for updated information before you go, and use your judgment regarding safety for your family at these locations.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

  • Eagle Soar Playground and Splash Pad at Margarita Park (29119 Margarita Rd, Temecula, CA 92591)

  • Nicolas Road Park  39955 Nicolas Road Temecula

  • Lincoln Park 1810 S. Lincoln Ave, Corona, CA 92882

  • Temeku Hills Park 31367 La Serena Way, Temecula, CA  92591

RIVERSIDE COUNTY GARDENS AND FARMS

  • UC Riverside Botanic Garden (1 Botanic Gardens Dr, Riverside, CA 92507)

  • Moorten Gardens (1701 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264)

  • Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260)

  • Casa Blanca Library Garden (2985 Madison St, Riverside, CA 92504)

  • Sunnylands Center and Gardens (37977 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270)

  • Rose Haven Heritage Garden (30592 Jedediah Smith Rd Temecula, CA 92592)

  • RCRCD Land Use Learning Center (4500 Glenwood Dr A, Riverside, CA 92501)

  • Citrus State Historic Park (9400 Dufferin Ave. Riverside, CA 92504)

  • Temecula Olive Oil Ranch Tour (46780 Hwy 371, Aguanga, CA 92536)

  • 123 Farms at Highland Springs Ranch (10600 Highland Springs Ave, Beaumont, CA 92223)

RIVERSIDE COUNTY WATER PLAY

  • Diamond Valley Aquatic Center 1801 Angler Ave, Hemet, CA 92543

  • The Cove Riverside / The Drop Zone Perris

  • Rancho Jurupa Regional Park 4800 Crestmore Rd, Riverside, CA 92509

  • Buccaneer Cove at Castle Park 3500 Polk St, Riverside, CA 92505

  • The Splash Zone at Lake Skinner 37701 Warren Rd, Winchester, CA 92596

  • The Shops at Dos Lagos 2780 Cabot Dr, Corona, CA 92883

  • Citrus Park 1250 Santana Way, Corona, CA 92881

  • Celebration Park 14965 Morgan Ave, Moreno Valley, CA 92555

  • Palm Desert Aquatic Center 73751 Magnesia Falls Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260

RIVERSIDE COUNTY CAMPING SPOTS

  • Lake Hemet (56570 CA-74, Mountain Center, CA 92561) privately owned, cabins too

  • Rancho Jurupa Regional Park (4800 Crestmore Rd, Riverside, CA 92509)

  • Lake Perris (17801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris CA, 92571)

  • Hurkey Creek (56375 Hwy 74 Mountain Center, CA 92561)

  • Idyllwild Campground in Mt. San Jacinto State Park (25905 CA-243, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549)

  • Joshua Tree National Park. Try Jumbo Rocks or Black Rock campgrounds

  • Lake Skinner (37701 Warren Rd, Winchester, CA 92596)

  • Vail Lake KOA (38000 CA-79, Temecula, CA 92592)

RIVERSIDE COUNTY MUSEUMS

  • PennyPickle's Workshop - Temecula Children's Museum (42081 Main St, Temecula, CA 92590)

  • March Field Air Museum (22550 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518

  • Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center (7621 Granite Hill Dr, Riverside, CA 92509)

  • Western Science Center (2345 Searl Pkwy, Hemet, CA 92543)

  • Malki Museum (11795 Malki Road, Banning, CA 92220)

  • The Temecula Valley Museum (28314 Mercedes St, Temecula, CA 92590)

RIVERSIDE COUNTY HIKING TRAILS AND NATURE AREAS

  • Hidden Valley Nature Center (11401 Arlington Ave, Riverside, CA 92505 -  border of Norco and Riverside).

  • Lake Skinner Recreation Area (37701 Warren Rd, Winchester, CA 92596)

  • Demuth Park (4200 E Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA)

  • Harveston Lake Park (40148 Village Rd, Temecula, CA 92591)

  • Land-Use Learning Center

  • Lake Perris State Recreation Area (17801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA 92571)

  • Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve (39400 Clinton Keith Rd, Murrieta, CA 92562)

  • Diamond Valley Lake (Hemet, California)

  • Sunnyland Center and Gardens (37977 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270)

  • Mt. Rubidoux (5000 Tequesquite Ave, Riverside, CA 92506)

  • Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Mt. San Jacinto State Park (1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262)

  • Joshua Tree National Park

  • WhiteWater Preserve (9160 Whitewater Canyon Road, Whitewater, CA 92282)

RIVERSIDE COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS

  • Rancho Jurupa Regional Park (4800 Crestmore Rd, Riverside, CA 92509)

  • Lake Skinner Recreation Area (37701 Warren Rd, Winchester, CA 92596)

  • Idyllwild Regional Park (54000 Riverside County Playground Rd, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549)

  • McCall Memorial Park (Vista Wy, Mountain Center, CA 92561)

  • Hurkey Creek Park (56375 CA-74, Mountain Center, CA 92561)

  • Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park (58075 Jefferson St, La Quinta, CA 92253)

  • Mayflower Regional Park (4980 Colorado River Rd, Blythe, CA 92225)

RIVERSIDE COUNTY ZOOS AND ANIMAL AREAS

  • Living Desert Zoo (47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260)

  • Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary (8545 Buttemere Road, Phelan, California 92371, United States

  • Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary (Temecula CA) https://saleranch.org/tours/

  • 2nd Street Hooligans Rescue (1235 2nd Street, Norco) - farm animals