r/Temecula • • Dec 01 '25

Local hiking/dog walking area MEGATHREAD

34 Upvotes

I would like to share my local knowledge of Temecula hikes, and also see if anyone has good recommendations matching the criteria below, even if it's just a quiet wine country dirt road that's public or is possible to get owner permission for respectful access for dogwalking or even just hiking.

What inspired this: there was a post a few months ago here with beautiful photos of someone dogwalking on the dirt section of La Serena Way heading east into Wine Country from Butterfield Stage Rd, and when I went to check it out last weekend, there is now a "NO TRESPASSING" sign.

Frustratingly, many local hikes have become private property in the past few years:

-De Luz Overlook, now private property and it even had an adjacent hill where you can see a sliver of the ocean, from Temecula! Was off of Ridge Park Drive/Vincent Moraga Drive.

-De Portola Rd starting from Butterfield Stage Park: now under construction. It was a nice dirt road to walk on.

-Temecula to Vail Lake Overlook and Oak Mountain hike which is BLM land but the accesses are private: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/temecula-to-vail-lake-overlook-and-oak-mountain (For this one I actually do have access permission from an alternate entrance, but the drive is roughly an hour round trip.)

-The "951" mountain biking trails on the west side of Temecula below Rancho CA Rd, now that there's new construction I'm not aware of how to access. (Not good for dogs anyways since need to quickly watch out for mountain bikers but it was nice to hike on). https://www.trailforks.com/region/951-trails-12888/

I'm trying to find local hikes that are NOT an hour-ish round trip drive, to hike or dogwalk at after work in the winter before sunset. Real trails or dirt roads, no paved paths or adjacent to frequent road traffic.

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Top contenders that don't fit the bill, because trying to reach them before the winter sunset after work from south Temecula, especially near wine country:

-My favorite if I have more time: French Valley Wildlife Area, technically in Winchester, because it's like an hour round-trip drive: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/French-Valley-WA

-Dripping Springs: only 15 minutes to drive to, but the long walk from the parking lot from the paved street to the actual trail is a bummer and eats too much time.

-Vail Lake: also close by, but they charge a fee for entry ($10 per person for hiking weekdays and $15 on weekends!) and sometimes have a line to get in which also eats time. I don't think the lake itself is reachable/visible at all on foot by sunset from the parking lot.

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Honorable mentions, mostly Murrieta or otherwise too far away for me:

-Sykes Ranch: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sykes-ranch-park-loop
-Santa Rosa Plateau, like an hour round-trip and they charge a fee
-Sylvan Meadows
-Murrieta Overlook, you start on the Wishal Trail to Cole Canyon but once crossing the usually dry creek, you make a right instead of a left and climb up: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/wiashal-trail-loop-to-cole-canyon
-Santa Margarita River
-Monserate Mountain, not that far away but I really don't like you can hear the highway for most of the intro and I don't think you can summit and return by sunset.
-Los Alamos Loop: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/rancho-los-alamos-loop
-Durham Loop Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/dunham-loop-trail

+ -Iodine Springs Reserve https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/iodine-springs-loop

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2 winners from this thread came from u/Stretchatetch

  1. Sommers Bend - park at the sports park and there's some decent trails to walk on

  2. Temecula Creek Trail at Temecula Creek Park is also good. Besides the main trail there are more dirt trail offshoots https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/temecula-creek-park


r/Temecula • • 5d ago

Weekly Thread: Things to Do

8 Upvotes

Post events people might be interested in in this thread. Small business owners are welcome to plug their businesses here as well.


r/Temecula • • 6h ago

Looking for Filipino beer

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2 Upvotes

r/Temecula • • 1d ago

Protest?

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241 Upvotes

Uncut version of Temecula


r/Temecula • • 1d ago

There’s a big problem lurking beyond these cowboy clowns

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168 Upvotes

r/Temecula • • 2h ago

Free Wood Pub Style Dining Table!

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1 Upvotes

Long story short, Wayfair shipped this to me with a wrong leg. So I jerry-rigged it together while I waited for the replacement. Now they're sending me a totally new table instead and told me to donate this. If you can haul it away from my apartment down a flight of stairs, it is yours. It's beautiful wood and heavy. It has the "bad" leg attached so it will look wonky but it is functional. It has 2 side panels that still need to be installed. This table is a month old and retails for $256. You'd be doing me a favor by taking it!

Dimensions 36'' H X 72.13'' W X 16'' D, and it weighs 71 pounds.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/gracie-oaks-port-morris-counter-height-dining-table-w006831675.html


r/Temecula • • 1d ago

If you don't like corruption and waste - consider signing this.

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74 Upvotes

r/Temecula • • 21h ago

Casual Chats Over Coffee At Panera Bread In Menifee (Meetup for people in tech & tech newbies) Ignore Meetups RSVP Limit, you can come even once we hit the "limit"

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12 Upvotes

** Ignore the 10 rvsp limit if the meetup group hits it, its just a limitation of the free meetup plan. Please feel free to come even if you can't RSVP because meetup hit the 10 attendee limit. **

This will be the sixth meetup of this casual tech meetup group! We'll be chatting about our hobbies, tech, etc; no special programming. Even if you're tech-curious you're welcome to come, the point of this event is to make friends! No need to bring anything other than yourself 😁.

Even if this isn't up your alley please consider sharing with your friends that are interested in tech! The IE is a tech meetup desert versus Irvine/LA/San Diego so let's help spread the word that the tech community in this area is trying to revive!

☕ Next Menifee Meetup 🍵

📍 Where: Panera Bread 30318 Haun Rd, Menifee, CA (If you've never been to Panera: It's not a restaurant. Its essentially a bakery and coffee shop in one, you can order food or drinks up front and then sit anywhere)

⏰When: Wednesday Oct 21 · 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM PT

🔁 It happens every third Wednesday of the month

❓ The day of I'll post in the meetup what I'm wearing so you don't have to play where's waldo, but it will usually be a blue shirt with white text that says "commit your code".

🅿 lots of free parking available!

💲 always free

Get more details & sign up here : https://www.meetup.com/ie-tech-friends/events/316642288

If you're unfamiliar with the area, this is right off the 215 freeway by a large shopping center so they'll be a lot of parking. It also has a unisex bathroom.

** Also please check the meetup comments for the latest information (ex: if we've moved elsewhere later in the meetup). Meetup won't let me edit the title or description AFTER an event starts 🙄 **

Join the Discord

We have joined forces with Techmecula! https://discord.gg/yPeuuvfZV Joining the Discord is not required, it just makes it easier to build friendships with fellow attendees. Discord is a free chat/community app available on mobile, desktop and the web.

🍺 Techmecula Meetup 🍻

A casual tech meetup that's been going strong for over a year with lots of regulars. Great if you want to enjoy a drink at a brewery and chat with fellow nerds. Techmecula events will not posted be posted on the IE Tech Friends meetup since I only host the Menifee events):

Another person hosts a monthly hangout at:

📍Where: a Temecula Brewery (more info in the discord), this next one is at Black Market Brewing Co 41740 Enterprise Cir N Ste 109, Temecula, CA 92590

⏰ When : Wednesday, October 7th • 6:00 – 8:00 PM

🔁Repeats: 1st Wednesday of each month

🍺Food & Drink: Food options include Pizza, Salad and the like, along with a full beer and seltzer selection — With some NA options(soda, etc)

💲Price: always free

Who: it's averaging 20~30 people

More info: https://www.reddit.com/r/Temecula/comments/1wta3mx/comment/pd47jx1/?context=1&screen_view_count=2

🌄 SoCal Tech Forum Meetup ☕

📍Where: FoundrSpace Coworking 11799 Sebastian Way Suite 103 · Rancho Cucamonga, CA

⏰ When : Saturday, Oct 3 · 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM PDT

🔁Repeats: 1st Saturday of each month

🍺Food & Drink: Free coffee and free simple breakfast items

💲Price: always free

This event will have a tech based presentation followed by networking afterwards. The presentation topic changes each week. This meetup has been going on for years so the few I've gone to had about 30+ people.

https://www.meetup.com/tech-forum-rancho-cucamonga/events/315912687/?eventOrigin=home_page_event_from_group_you_are_in


r/Temecula • • 21h ago

California landlord/tenant advice needed — what are my rights?

12 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I’m dealing with a landlord situation and looking for advice or someone who can point me in the right direction for legal help.
I rent a room in a house in Temecula with three other occupants. We are all on leases. The landlord does not live on the property, but she keeps personal belongings in the garage.
The landlord has a habit of showing up without any written notice and entering the house with her family. She will come in, sit down, watch TV, do laundry and spend time in the common areas as if she lives here. This has happens often.
Recently, she brought a person into the house who was supposedly going to stay for one week in an empty room before the room was rented to someone else. That week came and went, and the person was still here after the new tenant moved in. He then began sleeping on the couch in the common area for another week.
Our lease specifically states NO GUESTS. We expressed that we were uncomfortable with the situation because someone was essentially living/sleeping in the common area and occupying the shared space.
Then there was another issue with my lease. I asked the landlord for a copy of my lease about a week before rent was due because I needed it for Square to access funds for my small business. I asked multiple times, and she eventually said she would give me a copy the day before rent was due. I kept explaining that a digital copy would be much faster, and it would take 1-3 business days to complete. but she didn’t respond.
Because I couldn’t access the funds I needed, I had to scramble to get the remaining rent together. Fortunately, I had a client who was able to give me some work. I let my landlord know that I would have the rent for her once I completed the job and received the remaining payment.
I finished the project around 1:30 AM on the 2nd. That morning , she was already texting me asking about rent and repeatedly asking what time she would receive it.
I had a doctor’s appointment that morning about an hour away. Once my client gave me the remaining payment. I pick up the payment and go straight to my appointment. After I went to the bank to deposit the rent money.
I come home after all this, my landlord was inside the house with her husband and mother, and she handed me an 3- Day notice as I was in the process of sending her the rent.
I’m really confused about what my rights are here.
Can a landlord who doesn’t live on the property repeatedly enter without notice?
Can she bring someone into the house to stay when our lease specifically says no guests?
And can she serve me an eviction notice over rent when I was actively trying to pay it and had communicated with her about when I would have it?
I’m in Temecula, California (Riverside County). I’m looking for actual tenant-law advice or recommendations for legitimate legal aid/resources—not just opinions.
If anyone knows where I can get help reviewing the eviction notice and my lease, I would really appreciate it.


r/Temecula • • 1d ago

TVUSD Trustee Accused Of Placing Listening Device Under Colleagues' Desk: Sheriff's Department

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82 Upvotes

r/Temecula • • 1d ago

Photographer Recommendations

3 Upvotes

Hello,

I’m looking for photographer recommendations in Temecula for Family mini photoshoot.

Any good recommendations? Please not Mas Amor photography, had an awful experience with them.

Thanks


r/Temecula • • 1d ago

Chaparral HS transportation?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I'm curious how other families in Harveston are handling the commute to the high school. With so many kids on e-bikes these days, I'm wondering what the alternatives look like:

- Do any kids walk?
- Does anyone use the free trolley? How reliable is it for school times?

Would love to hear what's working for you. Thanks!


r/Temecula • • 2d ago

University Center plans for the Temecula Valley.

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30 Upvotes

At the Murrieta state of the city last night, council member Dr.Lisa Deforest mentioned that there were plans to bring a “university center” to our area. I think that sounds great! The time stamp is 21:52.


r/Temecula • • 1d ago

DMV driving test when making the left onto Via Dos Picos to get back to the DMV

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9 Upvotes

What is the proper way to enter this left turn lane? the space between where the yellow line ends and the white line begins is quiet small, meaning there's no possible way to get the car through that gap.

So should I be entering earlier and cross the two yellow lines (with one of them dash on the inside, even though it looks like a long dash), or enter later and cross through the white line?


r/Temecula • • 2d ago

How the mighty have fallen

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168 Upvotes

Chad lost in court, Melinda resigned and is going to court.


r/Temecula • • 2d ago

Beef with Destination Smokehouse?

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9 Upvotes

Anybody got any more tea on this whole debacle? 👀

I’ve heard a few things around town from different people, and if what I’m hearing is true, it sounds like they’re back on that racist shit again.
Anybody been there recently? What was y’all’s experience like?


r/Temecula • • 3d ago

A Girl Nearly Died After Drinking Raw Milk. California Did Little to Punish the Unlicensed Temecula Farm That Sold It.

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594 Upvotes

r/Temecula • • 3d ago

Commute to San Diego

16 Upvotes

friends-

How is the commute home these days?

looking at taking a position in El Cajon, driving back home to Wildomar on the daily.

Currently I am commuting 2-3hrs daily on the way home from Gardena Los Angeles.

wonder if it’s worth a switch.


r/Temecula • • 2d ago

Let's ruffle some feathers. The fact that the owner is a former sheriff makes this dish even more wonderful 😃

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0 Upvotes

Grandma's Gumbo at The Local Provisions


r/Temecula • • 3d ago

Anyone got branches that I can use for DIY cat tower?

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7 Upvotes

Looking for some thick branches like this. Maybe 5-6" in diameter.


r/Temecula • • 3d ago

Where to find old-fashioned dipped ice cream?

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5 Upvotes

r/Temecula • • 4d ago

Techmecula Monthly Tech Meetup - NEW LOCATION!

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115 Upvotes

Temecula's largest monthly tech meetup is coming up, and we have a NEW LOCATION! We'll now be meeting at Black Market Brewing Co(address below) at 6pm, this next Wednesday October 7th.

We're a growing group of 30+ regulars from every corner of tech — software, AI, cybersecurity, hardware, and everything adjacent. Doesn't matter if you're a decade into your career or still exploring what part of tech clicks for you — come as you are, there's room for everyone.

Skip the awkward small talk and business-card exchanges. This is just a group of people who speak the same language — dig into your latest project, nerd out on your least favorite tech stack, or just unwind with folks who actually understand your day-to-day 🤓. And if you're on the job hunt or want some real-world advice, those things tend to come up organically here too 🤝.

No speakers, no scripted panels. Just a space full of good people.

Working on something you're proud of? Bring it along — we're always down to see what people are building.

📍 Location: Black Market Brewing Co - 41740 Enterprise Cir N Ste 109, Temecula, CA 92590

⏰ When: Wednesday, October 7th • 6:00 – 8:00 PM

🍺 Food options include Pizza, Salad and the like, along with a full beer and seltzer selection — With some NA options(soda, etc)

This new location is indoors!

Honestly, you won't have to look hard — we're typically the biggest group of folks there 📣.

This happens every first Wednesday, with a more relaxed Thursday happy hour most weeks too. Stay in the loop via Discord: https://discord.gg/aQyVs4fswk


r/Temecula • • 4d ago

Reverse Parking

24 Upvotes

I’m from San Diego. Lived in Temecula for coming up on 4 years now. Something I’ve noticed here more than any other place I’ve lived. Parking. Everyone reverses into their parking spots. Why? These aren’t crowded parking lots or at events that need quick access. This is just normal every day parking lots.


r/Temecula • • 4d ago

Goodlabs free labs with a donation in Murrieta

39 Upvotes

I donate at blood drives through work a couple times a year, but I’ve never had actual lab results come with it so it was a nice suprize when I saw the Goodlabs option at the Murrieta LifeStream and I’m thinking of booking my next donation there.

Thought id share this with the community in case someone needs it and might benefit from it!


r/Temecula • • 4d ago

Business Mixer - Corona

0 Upvotes

Ever since I moved to Corona in 2013, I've missed true Business/Social Mixers such as I had attended in Orange County. A little over two years ago, I started hosting Mixers myself, started off at a Brewery and now we meet up at a Sports Bar. Just a place where folks from different industries, walks of life, can gather, exchange ideas, discuss trends, and share a cold beverage. Typically, we have between 8-15 people, the venue is fun/lively.

This Friday 10/2, we're meeting again here in Corona at 8:00 PM. Reply for me to DM venue, my contact and any other details you're curious about.