Right on Target!

Orange County Archery and a Hike in Whiting Ranch

Grip, aim, draw, release: That’s all there is to archery! Not really, but a visit to Orange County Archery in Mission Viejo before or after a nearby hike will put you in a zen-of-archery mood, and maybe recall some summer camp exploits. Your admission fee covers an hour and a half of shooting time, including all equipment. Forgotten the basics? No worries. The staff is very helpful and is more than willing to give you a quick tutorial to get you started. If you want to acquire skills to rival Katniss Everdeen, group lessons are available for the same price as the open shoot.

For an extra dose of summer camp fun, head to Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, just a few minutes from the archery range. The Borrego Canyon to Vista Outlook Trail is a perfect choice. The 4.6-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike gains 764 feet in elevation as it leaves civilization and winds through riparian and oak woodlands on the outskirts of Cleveland National Forest before reaching the overlook and panoramic views of Orange County. The first 1.3 miles are very pleasant—mostly flat, plenty of shade, and the sounds of a babbling creek fill the air as you hike through the sandstone Red Rock Canyon. Take the left fork toward Mustard Road when the trail ends, and that’s where things start to get more challenging.

It’s all uphill from there, with zero shade, and most of the elevation gain is packed into the final mile before the overlook. Keep your eyes open for snakes as the trail switches back and forth along the coastal sage scrub and chaparral-lined hillside. The last push up the Vista Outlook Trail is short and fast, offering up hints of the amazing views to come as you approach the top. At the overlook, a glance over one side shows the impressive canyon you just hiked through, and the other side has views of Irvine and south Orange County all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Worth the climb? Absolutely.

Orange County Archery is located at 25782 Obrero Dr., Mission Viejo. From the I-5, take Exit 90 onto Alicia Pkwy., and head east toward Lake Mission, Mission Viejo. Turn left onto Via Fabricante, followed by a right onto Obrero Dr. Orange County Archery will be on your right. Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends; closed on Monday. Reservations recommended.

To get to Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park take Exit 92 from the I-5 onto Bake Pkwy. and head east. Turn left onto Rue de Fortuna, then left onto Viaggio Ln., followed by a right onto Tessera Ave. The parking area is on your immediate left. Open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View