Ralph B. Clark Regional Park facts for kids

Ralph B. Clark Regional Park is a cool park located in Fullerton, California and Buena Park, California. It's a great place to visit in Orange County, California. The park is cared for by OC Parks, which manages all the regional parks in Orange County.

This park is special because it has different parts. Most of it is in Buena Park, near the West Coyote Hills. But a small part called Camel Hill and another area with softball fields, known as "The Yard," are actually in Fullerton. The park first opened in 1981 as Los Coyotes Regional Park. It was renamed in 1987 to honor Ralph B. Clark, who was an important leader in Orange County.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Ralph B. Clark Regional Park offers many activities for everyone! You can enjoy:

• Picnic areas with tables and shelters
• Barbecues for cooking
• Playground equipment for kids
• Baseball and softball fields
• Tennis and volleyball courts
• Horseshoe pits for a classic game
• An amphitheater for events
• Fire rings for cozy gatherings
• Places for model sail boating

The Yard: Sports and Trails

"The Yard" is a part of the park north of Rosecrans Avenue. It has three softball fields and a walking trail. Parking here is free! The main part of the park has three more softball fields. Parking in the main area has a small fee per car.

Discovering the Past at the Interpretive Center

The Interpretive Center is like a small museum right in the park! It's a fantastic place to learn about the Ice Age and local geology.

Ice Age Fossils and More

Inside the center, you'll see amazing exhibits. There's a big mural showing Ice Age mammals, painted by artist Mark Hallet. One of the most exciting displays is a 9-million-year-old skeleton of a baleen whale. This fossil was found nearby during construction. It's one of the most complete whale fossils from the Miocene period ever discovered! The center is usually open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Exploring Park Trails

The park has a lovely trail that goes around its edge. It's about 1.2 miles long and is shaded by trees, making it a nice walk or bike ride.

Climbing Camel Hill

The trail also goes up to the top of Camel Hill, which is in the northeast part of the park. From the top, you can see incredible views! On a clear day, you might spot Catalina Island, the Port of Long Beach, Signal Hill, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You can also see distant mountains like Mount Baldy and the Santa Ana Mountains.

Nearby Trails for Adventure

There are other trails close to the park too:

• The Emery Ranch Trail starts just west of "The Yard." It's a bit steep but offers great views of the local plants.
• The Castlewood Trail and Rosecrans Trail are east of the park entrance. These trails are part of the popular Fullerton Loop, which is great for mountain biking.

Amazing Park Wildlife

Even though the park isn't huge, it's home to a surprising amount of wildlife!

Birds and Other Animals

More than 130 different kinds of birds have been seen here. You might also spot squirrels, rabbits, lizards, and turtles. As the sun sets, bats fly over the pond, catching insects. Sometimes, you might even see coyotes, raccoons, or opossums visiting the park.

Fishing Fun in the Pond

The park's pond is a popular spot for fishing!

What Fish Can You Catch?

The pond is stocked with catfish and trout. There are also many Largemouth bass and bluegill living there. If you catch a bass, you need to release it back into the pond.

Fishing Licenses

If you are 16 years old or older, you need a fishing license to fish in the pond.

Images for kids

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  View of the park from Camel Hill

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  Interpretive Center seen across the pond

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  Pterodactyl sculpture

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  Group picnic shelter

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  Looking west across the pond

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  Northeast section of the perimeter trail

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  Interpretive Center fossil collecting exhibit

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  Mammoth and Mastodon teeth

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  Turtles and snowy egret in the pond

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  Bass fry born in the pond

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  American wigeon grazing alongside the pond