Celebrate Long Beach Pride May 17-18 🏳️‍🌈

  • Home
  • Amusement Parks
  • Nightlife
  • Pride Events & Activities
  • Gay Beaches
  • Recreation & Adventures
  • Gay Organizations
  • Gay Marriage in OC
  • OC Services Directory
  • Parents & Adoption Info.
  • Calendar of Events
  • Hotlines & Help Services
  • Gay Facts & Information
  • Gay Orange County History
  • More
    • Home
    • Amusement Parks
    • Nightlife
    • Pride Events & Activities
    • Gay Beaches
    • Recreation & Adventures
    • Gay Organizations
    • Gay Marriage in OC
    • OC Services Directory
    • Parents & Adoption Info.
    • Calendar of Events
    • Hotlines & Help Services
    • Gay Facts & Information
    • Gay Orange County History
  • Home
  • Amusement Parks
  • Nightlife
  • Pride Events & Activities
  • Gay Beaches
  • Recreation & Adventures
  • Gay Organizations
  • Gay Marriage in OC
  • OC Services Directory
  • Parents & Adoption Info.
  • Calendar of Events
  • Hotlines & Help Services
  • Gay Facts & Information
  • Gay Orange County History

Recreation, Sports & Other Outdoor Activities 🧗

Hiking 🥾

Water Activities 🛶 🏄

Biking 🚴‍♂️

Hiking Orange County Trails

Orange County has over 200 trails for hiking along the beach, hills and canyons. There are beginner to advanced trails, most are marked easy to difficult.  Many trails will take you to the top of the local hills and have great views of the sunset, local snowcapped mountains, Catalina Island, and all the way to the Los Angeles skyline.

Join our hiking group LGBTQ+ Hiking of OC on a hike, we go up to 3xs per week.
LGBTQ+ Hiking of OC


Find OC Hikes on the AllTrails app. 

AllTrails


Best Trails with City, Ocean and Canyon Views:

Turtle Rock Trail, Irvine 

Anaheim Hills Trail, Anaheim Hills 

Laguna Coast Boat Canyon Trail, Laguna Beach

Crystal Cove Trail, Newport Beach

Santiago Oaks Robbers Roost Peak, Orange Hills

Peters Canyon, Tustin

Top of the World, Laguna Beach


Waterfall Hike:

Blackstar Canyon, Silverado Canyon (difficult)


Nature Preserve Trail:

Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach 

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Trail, Huntington Beach



Biking 🚴‍♂️

Water Activities 🛶 🏄

Biking 🚴‍♂️

Biking Orange County Bikepaths

OC Bike Clubs

Check out the many groups that bike regularly in OC.  (There are no LGBTQ exclusive bike clubs) 

Orange County Bicycle Coalition 

Check out The Bicycle Tree group for regular Sunday bike rides (LGBTQ friendly).
The Bicycle Tree


Check out these top spots to ride your bike and tour OC on your own or with friends. You don't have to do the entire ride, start and end anywhere along the trails:


Back Bay Loop from Tustin Metrolink via San Diego Creek Bike Trail 

23.4 miles

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. 


Newport Beach to Sunset Beach along beach path

27.6 miles

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces along the beach path.  Suitable for all skill levels. 


Yorba Regional Park to Corona West along the Santa Ama River Bikeway 

48 miles 

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. 


Santiago Road Loop 

37.7 miles

Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. 


Shady Canyon Loop 

31.7 mi Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. 

Suitable for all skill levels. 


Aliso Creek Bikeway Loop 

24.9 miles

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. 

 

Santiago Creek Loop 

28.3 miles

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. 


Shady Canyon Trail Loop from Laguna Beach 

24 miles

Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. 


Coyote Creek Bikeway Loop 

19.5 miles

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the Tour is right next to a parking lot.  


Santa Ana River Loop  

34 miles
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.  
 

Water Activities 🛶 🏄

Water Activities 🛶 🏄

California State Parks, Orange Coastal District

Kayaking Orange County

Surfing and kayaking are just some of the popular water sports in OC.

Surfing:

While quality surfing can be found year-round, the best time of year to surf is in the summer and fall, when there are larger swells. It is important to note that these five surfing OC beaches are the best for experienced surfers. 

Bolsa China State Beach , Huntington Beach

The Wedge, Newport Beach 

Lower Trestles, San Clemente

Seal Beach Cloud Break, Seal Beach

Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point


List of the best spots for beginners:

Blackies (north side of the Newport pier)

Bolsa Chica State Beach

Crystal Cove State Park

Doheny Beach State Park

Huntington Beach Pier

Old Man’s at San Onofre

San Clemente Pier


Kayaking:

The best spots to kayak in OC are:


Newport Back Bay:

Newport Aquatic Center 

 www.newportaquaticcenter.com


Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Pirate Coast Paddle

www.piratecoastpaddle.com 


Laguna Beach

La Vida Laguna 

www.lavidalaguna.com 


Huntington Harbor

OC Paddlesports 

www.ocpaddlesports.com 


Dana Point Harbor

Pure Watersports

www.purewatersports.com 

California State Parks, Orange Coastal District

California State Parks, Orange Coastal District

California State Parks, Orange Coastal District

California State Parks in Orange County


California State Parks


Get to these parks in Orange County for surfing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, exploring visitor centers, or experiencing historic places, and adventures. 


Get Free entry to the State Parks & Save $$:
Head to your local library or call & ask about the availability of "The California State Library

Parks Pass.  You must have a library card and the pass is free to get. Check out the pass like a book for up to two weeks and hit the State Parks for free.


These parks provide refuge for sensitive plants and animals, protect important cultural resources, and host an array of recreational activities, special events, and educational opportunities throughout the year. 


Bolsa Chica SB
(714) 377-5691
17851 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Huntington Beach California, 92646

Corona Del Mar SB

Crystal Cove SP
(949) 494-3539
8471 Pacific Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach California, 92651

Doheny SB
(949) 496-6171
25300 Pacific Coast Hwy
Dana Point California, 92629

Huntington SB
(714) 536-1455
21601 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach California, 92646


San Clemente SB
(949) 492-3156
225 W. Califia Ave
San Clemente California, 92672

San Onofre SB
(949) 492-4872
5200 S. Pacific Coast Hwy
San Clemente California, 92672

Scuba Diving Orange County

California State Parks, Orange Coastal District

Scuba Diving Orange County

Scuba Diving Orange County

There are many places to scuba dive in Orange County. Always check with local dive shops for proper locations, conditions, and equipment. Be prepared to use wetsuits. There are many dive shops around OC.  


Beach Cities Scuba

Dive Shop Locator in OC

Beach Cities Scuba


Scuba

Scuba Shop

781 Newport Blvd, Ste. A&B

Costa Mesa, CA 92627


Looking to scuba dive internationally with an LGBTQ dive company, check out:


Undersea Expeditions 

https://underseax.com


We will work on finding other LGBTQ  friendly shops in the OC and post here.


Some of the better dive sites as recommended by Beach Cities Scuba are:

Anaheim Bay Breakwater Near the Naval Base

Bolsa Chica State Marine Reserve

Huntington Beach  all of beach
Newport Pier Canyon areas

"The Wedge" Big surf

Corona Del Mar Close to Newport Harbor

Little Corona Corona Del Mar

Horse Ranch Crystal Cove Dive site

Crystal Cove Underwater Park Underwater Park reserve.

Reef Point/Scotchman's Cove Crystal Cove

Corsair Crystal Cove Dive site.

Historic Anchor Crystal Cove Dive site.

Irvine Cove Private and nice. 

Emerald Bay Private area, but fun.

Crescent Bay (Seal Rock) See the sea lions

LB/OC Surf & Sun Softball

California State Parks, Orange Coastal District

Scuba Diving Orange County

Softball Orange County

Surf and Sun Softball


Website: Providing a safe, inclusive space for the LGBTQ community and beyond, we're proud affiliates of International Pride Softball (IPS, formerly NAGAAA) and ASANA, opening the door to World Series Tournaments and a spectrum of play levels from beginners to advanced. In the spirit of camaraderie, our league transcends geographical boundaries, drawing players from all corners of Southern California. We're not just LGBTQ-friendly; we're everyone-friendly. Whether you're here to master the game, make lifelong friends, or simply revel in the joy of softball.


Copyright © 2024 Gay Orange County - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Home

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept