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NATURE CENTERS
Ecological Reserve
and Visitor Center
Nature Center
Hidden Valley
Nature Center and Wildlife Area
Trails are open, however, our Nature Center remains are closed until further notice due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Hidden Valley Nature Center and Wildlife Area is located along the Santa Ana River, east of Norco on Arlington Avenue, one mile west of La Sierra Avenue. It is set on 1500 scenic acres and has access to 25 miles of hiking and equestrian trails. Within it you can find various live animals, such as a rabbit, snakes, turtles, toads, and different activities for children to enjoy and reconstructed scenes of animals in their natural habitat. Visitors can get away from the noise and lights of the city and enjoy the beautiful views of the river or the bluff overlooking the Santa Ana River bottom.
There are assortments of educational programs offered by appointment. Programs offered include presentations about the Wetlands, Native Americans, Geology and Santa Ana River Watershed. Depending on the program selected, the program may include a hike, hands-on activities, a craft, a game and live animal presentations.
SITE HOURS
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Saturday
Appointments & Tours | Tuesday-Friday
FEES
Parking - $5 per car | $2 per dog
Educational Programs - $5 per person
FEATURES
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Hiking Trails
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Equestrian Trails
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Self-guided Nature Trail
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Pond
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Picnic Area
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Seasonal Events
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Hands on activities
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Bird Walks
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Amphitheater
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Birthday Parties - Call (951) 785-7452
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Certified Outdoor Classroom
ADDRESS
11401 Arlington Ave., Riverside, CA 92505
Phone: (951) 785-7452 or
(800) 234-PARK (7275)
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 Trails at Hidden Valley |
 Pools at Hidden Valley |
 Welcome Sign at Hidden Valley |
 Rabbit on the trail at Hidden Valley |
 Children on a Nature Ed excursion |
 Wildflower and bees at Hidden Valley |
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 Equestrian riders at Hidden Valley |
 Nature Ed display |
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 Tongva Hidden ValleyA Kish traditional type of home build by the Tongva. |
 Biking trails near Hidden Val |
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 Tiger Swallow Tail ButterflyA colorful Tiger Swallow Tail butterfly enjoying a rest on the Butterfly Brush at Hidden Valley. |
 Telescope for viewing Hidden Valley |
 Children holding butterfly |
 Nature Center outdoor play areas |
 Nature ed for small kids |
 Turtles on display |
 Borne trail at Hidden Valley |
 Santa Ana River info panels |
Programs
Knee High Naturalists
Knee High Naturalists is a weekly program for young children ages 1-5, and their care givers. It is designed for you and your little one to be able to bond, explore and make discoveries about the wonders of nature. Each class takes a hands-on approach to learning including, activities, hikes, music, arts, crafts, and games.
Caterpillar Class:
Ages 1-3 | . Mondays
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Butterfly Class:
Ages 3.5-5 | . Wednesdays
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
FEES
$5 - per class
Call for more info: 951-785-7452
School Programs
School Field Trips
Come and join us for a fun-filled learning experience as we take your students on a hands-on adventure with presentations, live animals, hikes, games, and/or crafts to meet your state science or social science standards. We offer a wide variety of programs to meet the needs and interest levels for grades k-6. The Nature Center normally accommodates 2 average class sizes (60 children). Occasionally we can arrange 3 classes (90 children) Call early to reserve your date and time, as our schedule fills quickly.
Outreach (Bringing the outdoors to your classroom)
Hidden Valley Nature Center offers unique educational outreach programs to public and private schools. We can bring our programs to your school with presentations, activities, and/or live animals. further Educational Program Information, please view the HDV Educational Outreach Brochure (PDF Link below).
Call for more info: 951-785-7452
FEES
$5 per child (min $100 or 20 guests)
Summer Camp
RivCoParks offers two nature summer camps at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Camps are Monday-Friday from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. and accommodate children ages 5-11 years of age. Children are grouped by age and participate in nature-related arts and crafts, nature hikes, live animal presentations, and hands-on S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities. There are a limited number of class aide volunteer positions available to help our teachers. Parents or guardians who volunteer may enroll one child in summer camp for free.
Call for more info: 951-785-7452
FEES
$100 per week per child
(includes camp T-Shirt)
Scouting Programs
Hidden Valley offers a variety of programs for cub scouts, brownies and girl scouts. Cub Scout programs include activities that meet Achievement and Elective requirements for Tigers, Wolves, and Bears, and four Activity Badges for Webelos. Girl Scout programs meet the requirements for a variety of Brownie Try-its, Jr. Girl Scout Badges, and Sr. Girl Scout Interest Patches. Both girl and boy scouts are welcome to plan and complete a conservation project here at Hidden Valley. A variety of projects are available for those boys who wish to complete their Eagle Scout Project. For more information, click on one of the links below.