Category Archives: Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park

A park named for someone who didn’t have a part in creating it, didn’t live on the land, or even care about the environment.

Wagon Wheel Loop

Thomas F. Riley Wilderness wasn’t very big: we rounded the loop in under two hours despite the heat. The park’s bottom lands were covered by some fine live oak forests offering cool shade and thick with poison oak. Much of our route, though, was through open grasslands where the sun burned through our hats. The best part of the journey was the trail end known as Skink Point. The interpretive sign directed you to look at the Santa Ana mountains, but I found the best view lay behind us:

Riley Wilderness:  Skink Point Vista

Skink Point Vista


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