The Tastiest Parks in Riverside

Fairmount Park

★★★★☆ 4.1 (147)

"This park has a lot to offer! While busier than other parks in the area, I think it is less crowded than a comparable park in Los Angeles county.I believe the lake is man-made, and I didn't make it down to the Santa Ana River. However, the trees provide a great place to walk, and I think there may be some amount of social events. For example, it seemed like there was always someone taking photos in the Rose Garden (on a Saturday afternoon). Also, if you have children, then I believe there are multiple large playground areas."

Corona Heritage Park and Museum

★★★★☆ 3.5 (26)

"Corona has struggled to honor what is left of the historical homes and businesses that were at the core of a great little Sunkist-influenced town since it was founded in 1886. The city was designed around "The Circle", aka Grand Blvd. (a once famous, one mile raceway in 1913, 1914 and 1916). For me, as an owner of one of the historical homes that sits on that circle, it is difficult to understand what motivated the city decision makers to tear down and replace. It has completely lost it's old town character and is now a mish-mash of incongruities.But now, I need to get off my soapbox and gratefully thank the faithful residents who see it my way and unselfishly volunteered their time to memorialize this little town by saving some of the old Foothill Farms buildings and turning them into a small park and museum south of town. And that recognition extends to our small but mighty Historical Society that saved many historical homes from being torn down in the name of progress, by finding people willing to purchase and move them to new lots. They have saved and stored in boxes the entire turn-of-the-century Victoria Hotel that was scheduled for destruction in favor of a B of A parking lot that now graces that spot. Lacking money to rebuild, it's parts still sit quietly waiting for the millions of $$$ needed in funds. Sad but inspirational.The museum is small, with antiquities, pictures, period clothing, all lovingly donated by Corona families. There is a small gift shop, and an antique shop next door. The classes that Dennis Y speaks of, are an added bonus that draws our community together.It is a welcoming spot with a warm feeling. Mature trees, nostalgic gardens, inviting structures, a model railroad, a quiet place to see and appreciate how much life has changed in the past 100 years. Please come and visit."

Mountain Gate Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (24)

"Mountain Gate park doesn't have a mountain.I don't understand why this park is called Mountain Gate? There are some nearby hills, but they're no where near the size of mountains.Other than that I certainly do love taking runs around this park. There's so many things to look at and enjoy if I don't run, such as the play ground with slides and swings, a few tennis courts, and even 3 baseball parks. If you want to enjoy a nice picnic, just lounge on the grass with a blanket. Or you can go to the table area which has a roof over. The running path intertwines through a neighborhood. No, not the streets and drive way kind of path. It's a path that goes between the neighborhood where you just see the back portion of the houses. The path also includes several workout stations, like poles for pull ups. My favorite is the height jump one: you have to squat and jump up as high as you can. Short me can almost reach 7 ft. What I also like about the pathway is that there are portions for up hill or down hill, depending which way you are going. I definitely want to come back and perhaps do a little BBQ picnic of some sort :)"

Bethune Park

★★★★☆ 3.5 (4)

"Sweet, free summer hang out with sunshine and a super cool water sprinkler system that becomes a water park for kids in the summer. The playground is awesome too. Such fun childhood memories."

El Cerrito Sports Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (14)

"Great park! They have a nice playground with two separate sections for 2-5 year olds and 5-12 year olds. I like that they have the rubber ground covering, not the wood chips like so many other Corona parks. We walked around the grounds and there are 4 baseball diamonds. We were there the morning of the 4th of July and it was uncrowded! My 2 year old loved running up and down the hills. We will definitely be going back!"

Hidden Valley Wildlife Area

★★★★★ 4.5 (15)

"This is one of the most beautiful and serene locations in all of Riverside. The nature center is very well appointed, with adorable little nooks and creative turns for the kids. The vistas are spectacular. I've come here during the summer, but the perfect weather during these Fall months make the experience even better right now."

California Citrus State Historic Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (147)

"A great piece of local history, the California Citrus State Historic Park offers annual citrus tastings in March. I really enjoyed the oroblanco grapefruit and the oranges. The staff here are nice and friendly. Other than walking around the vast area, there is not much to do/see. You can bring your dog on the walks outside, which is really nice."

Deleo Regional Sports Park

★★★★★ 4.8 (21)

"Best park I can think of that has plenty of space for soccer baseball and even skate boarding. Took my dog here today and found that there is more than enough places for my dog to roam around. The park has two areas for a dog park including small and large dog pens. Two baseball fields and two very large soccer fields. A tennis court and basketball court also at the park and plenty of parking"

Yucaipa Community Park

★★★★★ 4.8 (12)

"No way! I can't be the first to review this wonderful park! WOW!It's truly a wonderful park, it's just truly an amazing setting with breathtaking views of mountains and well spread out; next door is the Regional park - another review & and hidden gem! It's about 32.5 acres. Perfect for taking a nice long stroll in and around it. (Nice trail alongside and leads into park as well) It has fields/mounds, basketball courts, picnic areas throughout (some w/shelter), barbecues, restrooms, amphitheater & I believe sand volleyball court, with Community Center (w/indoor gym) on grounds. I went there three years ago for Jazzercise, oh my God it was so nice! I believe at night when there are games, it's well lit. Newly remodeled parking area in the recent years also well lit at night and is very accommodating.People there are always friendly and responsible pet owners that look after their beloved pets.When I am visiting family out there or just feel home sick (I plan to retire out there), I always go there to breath in the fresh mountain air, it's gorgeous in the winter time as well. I'm not sure if you need to contact them to reserve tables (I would imagine so) it gets packed around weekends during Spring, Summer time & for birthday parties & large family/local events and holidays. But do call them in advance and check out the cities website for more information. (I think I copied most of the info, but just in case):http://www.yucaipa.org/aboutyucaipa/cityParks.php"

Sycamore Highland

★★★★☆ 4.4 (47)

"Wanting to check out "the best park to see a sunset from", I sped over here after my froyo stop at Canyon Crest Towne Centre. Flying up the hill to make it in time, I noticed people were jogging up the incline, which was substantial. As I flew past them, I thought "Yeah, I set my treadmill incline to 15... I'm just like you"There were so many people, yet I was fortunate enough to find street parking not too far away. I hightailed it to the top of the rolling hill just in time to snap a few photos before catching the money shot. Look for it at a Yelp listing near you.The park gave off a sense of community, with all the kids playing, and cursing, and flying kites, and playing softball. For a few minutes, I thought I was in Murrieta, which is what this park really reminded me of.But I didnt have much time to dally, as I was off to the next park to peruse and get my hoof on"

Santana Regional Park

★★★★☆ 4.1 (55)

"Always happy to make the drive to Corona from Fallbrook, especially to spend time with family.I thought I was going to see our granddaughter's Hula performance and have a BBQ lunch."Relay for life" was the reason my granddaughter was performing, which I had no idea.With hundreds of people in attendance, ample parking and supporters/volunteers made this wonderful event enjoyable.Kudos to all involved."

Citrus Community Park

★★★★☆ 4 (36)

"Part of the Corona Parks and Recreation Department's growing empire, this is yet another great place for kids and families. While this park has only been open about 5 years at the time of this writing, and the trees have yet to provide any significant shade, the park is maturing nicely and has plenty of attractions. Plenty of room for lots of active little ones, colorful, interactive, and also safe and well maintained, the two main attractions are a nicely sized water play area with squirting fountains coming up from the ground, sculptures, water guns that won't hurt a fly, and a playground that includes big stuff to climb and slide, and swings, surrounded by soft rubberized material so the kids can be owweee free. There is a decent bathroom facility not too far, actually closer to the parking lot than the play areas. I love the permanently shaded area, where you can sit at picnic tables made of cement, and there are also park benches that dot the playground areas. The parking lot is large, so room for everyone. There is lots of green, green grass and rolling hills that reminded me how much I loved to tumble down the hills in my childhood. I won't mention how many years ago that was!Lots of people were there the day we visited. Grandparents sitting in their beach chairs under umbrellas. Mothers sitting on the benches that look like orange crates with old Corona citrus labels affixed, sipping their iced cold drinks and bringing out a picnic lunch for the kiddies. Everyone was having a great time. And the location is in a nice area of Corona, safe and welcoming. The park is huge. Another section of the park appears to be a large field for playing sports and is separated from the children's play area. It also has its own parking area so you will not have to compete for parking on the days there may be games going on. With our wonderful weather, I can see this as a very popular spot to bring the kids."

Pike's Peak Park

★★★★★ 4.7 (37)

"Absolutely love this park! Came here on the most perfect sunny day and my son was so excited. The playground is amazing! 3 different little areas to play at & a swing area as well. Tons of benches and there's a trail/walk way that we saw tons of people walking through.There's also a private lot for people to park & the restrooms were really clean."

Rancho Jurupa Park

★★★★☆ 4 (184)

"Fellow RV'ers had mentioned that this was a wonderful place to camp, so we made reservations and stayed for four nights. Easy access, wonderful staff and facilities, and spacious camp sites with full hookups make this a great place to stay. Dog friendly and not a rowdy crowd...we already made our reservations to come back."

Doty Trust Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (29)

"Great place for kids to get into mischief, whatever that may be these days. There's plenty of room for walking, hiking, hiding, running, throwing the ball, or just sitting and taking in the sounds of children laughing as they play.Dogs also love the area. On the south end of the park is a hill where a bunch of ground squirrels live. Chasing these will definitely tire one out. I'm exhausted after only a few minutes. I wish I had a dog to share in the fun. Those little squirrels are fast! Especially the ones with foaming mouths. Picnic tables and benches are plentiful. Most are shaded. My favorite are the benches on top of the hill. You can get a beautiful view of the surrounding area and further on to the San Bernardino mountains, which at present time are snowcapped. If you enjoy bird watching, you'll see a nice variety. Raven, Hawk, sparrow, robbin, and humming. A flock of geese flew over as I was writing this.Behind the park are rocky hills for the kids to explore. I didn't climb them as I was too tired from chasing the squirrels. Plus, I wasn't feeling too good after one of the foamy ones bit me. I think I ma ey hav.. 2 kuT meye sta shrt,.? ....*×× im feeing a but disney.Quick Tip: If you see foaming squirrels, take away the beer cans they're chewing on. Especially if they're full. Drunken squirrels can get pretty nasty."

Cedar Creek Park

★★★★★ 4.6 (32)

"We came here yesterday to celebrate my girlfriend's nephew's first birthday. This is a new park in the neighborhood, and it shows - new and shiny playground equipment that was seeing plenty of use, a water fountain that the kids enjoyed (though in drought-stricken California, I thought it was on a little too long, even if it uses reclaimed water), and lots of open space for the kids to run around.The main pavilion had been reserved by Kathy's sister Terri - there's four picnic tables affixed to the base, and an outlet for electric devices on one of the columns.Unfortunately, some hoodlums had scratched their tags onto the bathroom doors - c'mon, you kids are gonna regret it when you're adults and no one wants to hire you! Gangs are for people with low self-esteem... you don't need them. *rant over*Otherwise, a nice park for people in the neighborhood that live nearby."

Stagecoach Park

★★★★★ 4.5 (13)

"My friend Angie held her son's 1st bday party here so my good friend LT and I decided to stop by and show some love. When I first saw the park I was immediately stunned at how clean it was. I'm so used to all these ghetto parks in Orange County. Stagecoach park is really really nice. The parking is a bit smaller than what I had expected. There is only one event area so you have to reserve with the city or parks and rec people or something like that. The event area has one outlet so you can plug in any machines you got going for the day. We had cotton candy machine and snow cone machine plugged in no problem. The grace is really clean. Its all green and absolutely beautiful. There is one restroom area and a bit of a hiking trail as well as the usual playground swings, jungle gym and slides. The only downside is no basketball court since it is a smaller park. Come to think of it, there isn't a baseball field either. Still this is a really lovely park. I just wish it wasn't so hot and windy on this particular day."

Cresta Verde Park

★★★★☆ 4 (9)

"Found this park on a whim and we will definitely be going out of our way to return. The train play equipment is very cute and the girls loved pretending to ride the train. I will note that it is on a big hill and the play equipment is not near any parking. It is a bit of a walk for those who may struggle with hills."

Ridgeline Park

★★★★★ 4.8 (6)

"Neat water park. There's always lots of kids to play with and it's in a quiet area with shade. My only complaint is that the splash pad is too close to the street. I see so many toddlers wondering off near the street without their parents looking. Keep an eye on your children."

Border Park

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"We like this park because it is always quiet. The playground is nothing fancy, but my little girls love it. They could spend hours jumping on the bouncy bridge. You can tell the park is a bit older but it has been maintained well. There is a grassy hill to run on and restrooms. The park has a small parking lot (4-5 cars) but it is surrounded by street parking. Overall, this park is a hidden gem."

Riverwalk Parkway

★★★★☆ 4.2 (25)

"I needed a place to photograph my daughter. She is in her third trimester of pregnancy. Her first baby, my first grandchild. Awwww. We wanted to memorialize this new chapter in her life by going something special for pictures. I drive by this beltway often, but have never stopped. So now was the time.This is a narrow green-way that extends from the 91 Freeway, north for a mile or two, past La Sierra University until you almost reach Pierce Street. While not isolated (it closely parallels the roadway) it is slightly below street level so the sound of the incessant traffic is hardly noticeable.The land is transformed. It has no name, from what I can tell, but it represents a well planned idea. This stretch of public land has been tastefully landscaped into long stretches of easy walkways lined with mature plantings. You will cross over small bridges and stroll along gracious tree lined paths as you follow the man-made stream and ponds. Along the way you will discover lots of ducks, gazebos overlooking the ponds, and sandy and grassy playgrounds for the kids. This is a perfect place for jogging, bike riding, dog walking, bird watching, duck feeding, picnicking, and photographing. You may even see small children riding their bikes with their parents in tow, climbing and jumping on rocks, or dipping their toes in the slow flowing, shallow waters that dance around and over the rocks. You might even find yourself in the mood for some alone time, sitting and communing with nature. This is indeed a good place.Cars can park on the cross streets, try Collette Ave or Flat Rock Dr., as I could not find any parking designated for this delightful park that are on that side of the Riverwalk Parkway. However, there are clusters of industrial buildings that border this park on the east side, with plenty of parking nearby. Across the street on the west side, where Collette Ave. intersects Riverwalk Parkway you might park at the Riverwalk Dog Park. You could also look for the parking lots for Starbucks or further up around Carl's Jr. The payoff is a wonderful family and pet friendly belt of land that gives Riverwalk Parkway its honest name. Let's celebrate a great idea by visiting often."

Rock Vista Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (11)

"One of my favorite parks. Small and never too busy but it's just big enough to have a walk and talk moment."

The Wildlands Conservancy

★★★★★ 4.6 (30)

"Great place to bring the family! Or a date! It can be an all day affair here at The Nature Conservancy. Before or after Apple Picking (Riley's or Los Rios' or who really knows to whom this orchard belongs) Red Delicious apples, try out this nicely-kept trail.We arrived late in the day, yet had a whirl wind of a time gathering apples then flew down the trail. There are rustic signs, benches to rest on and dry creek beds to ponder about. Watch out for wildlife! There was a bear sighting two days before! Also spotted haha mountain lions and snakes! It's still worth the risks as you can get a delicious, I mean almost better than your granny's apple pie at the end. There are three types of crust; I opted for the Brown Sugar Crust! When I asked the lady for a plastic fork, she said, "Oh! You're going to eat it RIGHT now!" It was worth coring the pie and the 2 hour drive. Needless to say, I ate 7/8 of that pie by myself! Soooo delicious!"