Ronald G. Wells Park at Wagon Wheel Canyon

Even among South Orange County natives, you will find confusion about where exactly “Wagon Wheel” is located.  It does have an interesting name, and, to be honest, until a couple years ago when a friend moved there, I had no idea where it was… and I lived about 10 minutes North of it!

Wagon Wheel is a residential master planned community located in Trabuco Canyon.  Trabuco Canyon spans a large area in Orange County, and encompasses many different subdivisions from as far North as the El Toro and Live Oak Canyon Roakds and as far South as Oso, where Wagon Wheel is located.  Wagon Wheel lies adjacent to Rancho Santa Margarita, off Oso Parkway in-between Las Flores and the South side of Coto de Caza.

Wagon Wheel boasts a great little community pocket park, called Ronald G Wells Park at Wagon Wheel Canyon, right off Oso Parkway.  The easiest access to the park is turning left on Altura if you’re heading inland on Oso, and then parking at the top entrance.  From here it is an easy walk down the little path, or the bridal trail on the side.

This park is on the small side, and boasts no major amenities such as restrooms, but this also keeps it nearly vacant most of the time.

It does have a half basketball court, covered picnic area with barbecues, and several other picnic table groupings scattered around the playground and grass areas.

The playground has two play structures: one bigger one with a rock wall, fireman pole, slide and monkey bars; and one smaller one with three slides and a tunnel.

Monkey bars are hard to come by at most parks in the area, so they are a hot item with the 4-7 year old crowd!

There are also two swings at the south side of the playground.

The play area is half sand and half soft rubber, so it is easy to navigate and great for a little sand play too!

The park is adjacent to an open space that has been used for bike jumps, exploring, and most recently has more kid-made rope swings going up every week. Care should be taken with littler ones, and in hotter weather as the general area of Trabuco Canyon is known to have snakes, but with caution, this open space can be a great place to explore.

Regardless of whether you come to check out the bike jumps and rope swings in the open space with your older kids, to the playground with the younger ones, or just for a picnic on the grass with the family, you’re sure to enjoy a visit to this little known park in Wagon Wheel.

Mollie is a wife to a wonderful man and stay at home Mama to two beautiful and energetic little girls. She has lived in South Orange County for most of her life and enjoys crafting, running, clean and natural living, party planning, and being involved in her community and church. She believes that being a Mom was and is her highest calling and attempts to give her girls a wide array of different experiences. From soccer cleats to tutus, running races to finding the perfect hair bow, she wants them to grow up knowing that they can be both girly and strong.