Emerald Empire: Finding Ireland in Riverside’s Hills
There is still a week of winter, yet our thoughts turn to green. We definitely didn’t see a white Christmas, but perhaps we should find more favorable results with a more attainable goal: a green St. Patrick’s Day.
The fulfillment of the dream of a Green St. Paddy’s Day lies somewhere between a sentiment and an omen, maybe a harbinger. Late-season storms have given us a green St. Paddy’s, making our landscape wonderfully lush. It may not be a supernatural signal, but it is a rare peek, a little taste of the city we love at her most beautiful, a reminder that we live someplace special.
We may live in a desert for most of the year, but for a few precious weeks, some well-timed rain can give us an enduring deep green landscape that rivals the rolling hills of Ireland. When the winter rains have done their work, our local trails reveal a different side of Riverside County that might make you forget you’re in Southern California altogether. This place greens up quite nicely.
There are a few hikes around town where, when the hills are grassy green, you can almost feel like you’ve found a bit of the Emerald Isle in the jewel of the Inland Empire. These temporary verdant vistas offer a magical window into what our region can become when nature cooperates. The transformation is striking—normally, brown hillsides suddenly burst with life, creating waves of green that catch the sunlight.
The timing of St. Patrick’s Day in mid-March aligns perfectly with this fleeting moment of greenery. It’s a reminder that even in our arid climate, we get our version of Irish luck when the seasonal rains arrive at the right time.
Below are six local hikes where you might capture that emerald feeling before the summer heat returns and our landscape reverts to its more familiar golden hues.
Hidden Valley
The Hidden Valley Nature Preserve is located along the Riverside border with Norco, beside the Santa Ana River. Several miles of hiking trails through the rolling hills overlooking the river offer an excellent opportunity to take in the lush green vistas. There is also a visitor’s center with an outstanding education program to get information about the flora and fauna you’ll see on your hike.
Box Springs Mountain
You could walk to the top of the Two Trees Trail from Blaine Street, but no one would be mad if you’d rather drive to the top via Pigeon Pass and take a more leisurely walk. The panoramic views and meandering trails make Box Springs a wonderful way to soak in the chlorophyll while it lasts.
Hawarden Hills/ Alessandro Heights
There isn’t as much open space as there used to be, but plenty of pockets of wilderness are still behind the wonderful Hawarden Hills neighborhood. I suggest entering by the Gage Canal between Mary and Maude streets and hiking up the arroyo.
Sycamore Canyon
A perennial favorite slice of wilderness in the Canyon Crest neighborhood, it is always a great place to feel like you’ve escaped without going too far. When it’s green, the canyon is an entirely different place– Streams emerge from the rocky canyons, the animals come out to play, and the wildflowers bloom almost magically fast. The primary entrance to the park is at the Ameal Moore Nature Center, 400 Central Ave., Riverside, CA 92507.
La Loma Peak
At the end of Orange St., on the border with Colton, are the La Loma Hills. Miles of trails mark the small range, and the reward for making it to the very top is one of the best views of the Inland Empire anywhere. There are no services, formal parking, or trail markers. This rustic hike can be very satisfying, and the opportunity to see the whole inland valley at its greenest makes the effort worthwhile.