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Lake Forest, California
Lake Forest is a city of 86,281 people in Orange County, California, founded in 1991.
Why visit Lake Forest
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 108 parks and trails, 297 places to eat, 19 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Brandman University, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine Blacksmith Shop and Jose Serrano Adobe.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; December lows average 48°F.
Weather in Lake Forest
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lake Forest
Lake Forest is a city in Orange County, California, United States. The population was 85,858 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Lake Forest, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Cinema and theater · 4.4 mi
Former open-air concert venue in Irvine, California, United States of America
Lion Country Safari
Zoo and aquarium · 4.5 mi
Safari park in Laguna Hills, California (1970–1984)
Museums and landmarks8
Irvine Blacksmith Shop
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Smithy in Irvine, California
Jose Serrano Adobe
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Modjeska House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Irvine Bean and Growers Association Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Pretend City Children's Museum
Museum · 3.8 mi
Children's Museum in California, U.S.
Parks, trails and playgrounds108
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
Park · 3.2 mi
Park in Orange County, California
Lake Forest Golf & Practice Center
Golf course · 2.4 mi
9 hole Par 29
23308 Cherry Avenue, Lake Forest
O'Neill Regional Park
Park · 4.4 mi
Park in Orange County, United States of America
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
Park · 5.0 mi
Nature reserve in Orange County, California
96 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes297
Biagio's Italian Restaurant
Restaurant · Italian · 2.4 mi
Delivery available Wednesday to Sunday
24301 Muirlands Boulevard, Lake Forest
Su-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Su 11:00-21:00
Crimson Coward
Restaurant · Chicken · 3.0 mi
Nashville Hot Chicken
23706 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo - Su 11:00- 22:00
Denny's
Diner · American · 2.8 mi
Curbside pickup hours: 8 AM to 6 PM, 7 days a week.
23515 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th 05:00-23:59; Fr 00:00-24:00; Sa 00:00-24:00; Su 00:00-24:00
Good Zen
Restaurant · Hotpot · 2.6 mi
Appointment only; no walk-ins.
22722 Lambert Street, Lake Forest
"by appointment"
Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue · 3.1 mi
Pets allowed in the outdoor seating area.
23760 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30
Minato Sushi
Restaurant · Sushi · 2.8 mi
18% gratuity added for parties of 6 or more
23505 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
"Su-Th 11:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00"
Musashi Sushiya
Restaurant · Japanese, Sushi · 2.7 mi
No Apple Pay
23532 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Aloha Stacks
Restaurant · Breakfast, Lunch, Hawaiian · 1.8 mi
27762 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo
06:30-14:00
Ameci Pizza & Pasta
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.8 mi
25431 Trabuco Road
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Asia Buffet
Restaurant · Chinese, Japanese, Seafood, Barbecue, Buffet · 2.7 mi
23552 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
285 more on the map.
History
From 1863, the community had been known as El Toro. In 1847 José Serrano and his family occupied 11,000 acres of the Rancho Cañada de los Alisos that had been granted to them by the Government of Mexico, and that eventually reached the hands of Dwight Whiting. Whiting was instrumental in bringing the Santa Fe rail line through the region. The Rancho Niguel was granted to Juan B. Alvarado, Juan Avila and his sister Conception, the widow of one Pedro Sánchez. From them it passed to other owners and was divided into plots, including Yorba. In 1874, most of it was owned by Cyrus B. Rawson. Jonathan E. Bacon also owned 1,600 acres. In addition to the Serranos, established in Aliso Canyon, there was a group of pioneers who lived in the foothills and several miles above El Toro, many of whom were among the first settlers of this neighborhood.
El Toro Road at the Interstate 5 freeway was the epicenter of the Saddleback Valley from the late 19th century to around 2000. However, the area gradually deteriorated, and most of the shops closed or moved to other cities. After years of planning, the city has worked with the property owners of some aging strip malls and developed the "Arbor at Lake Forest" commercial district. The new center now competes with large shopping centers in cities that surround Lake Forest.
From the History section of Lake Forest, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay19
Sonesta Select Laguna Hills Irvine Spectrum
Motel and hotel · 3.2 mi
23175 Avenida De La Carlota, Laguna Hills
Hilton Garden Inn Irvine Spectrum Lake Forest
Motel and hotel · 3.1 mi
23141 Lake Center Drive, Lake Forest
Churches and places of worship10
Tapestry, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Place of worship · 2.8 mi
23676 Birtcher Drive, Lake Forest
Grace Community Church
Church · Protestant · 1.6 mi
26052 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest
Santiago de Campostela Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 0.7 mi
21682 Lake Forest Drive
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter Day Saints · 2.9 mi
23850 Los Alisos Boulevard, Mission Viejo
SGI-USA Buddhist Center
Place of worship · 3.6 mi
23002 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills
Shopping38
Gas and EV charging27
Schools, colleges and libraries78
Healthcare19
Southland Family & Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
27660 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo
El Toro Medical Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.1 mi
23823 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Careprime Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.8 mi
24000 Alicia Parkway, Mission Viejo
Map of Lake Forest
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 49°F | 2.7 in |
| Feb | 70°F | 48°F | 3.5 in |
| Mar | 73°F | 50°F | 1.7 in |
| Apr | 76°F | 52°F | 0.8 in |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 0.3 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 62°F | 0.1 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 62°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 89°F | 62°F | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 84°F | 58°F | 0.6 in |
| Nov | 76°F | 52°F | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 68°F | 48°F | 2.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Irvine Rch (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Orange County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-10-16: Norte Fire (Fire)
- 2026-05-25: Chemical Release (Chemical)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2022-05-12: Coastal Fire (Fire)
- 2020-12-03: Bond Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Mission Viejo 3 mi south, about 5 min by car
- Laguna Woods 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Rancho Santa Margarita 5 mi east, about 8 min by car
- Laguna Hills 5 mi south, about 7 min by car
- Irvine 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Aliso Viejo 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Coto de Caza 7 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Ladera Ranch 8 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Laguna Niguel 9 mi south, about 14 min by car
- Tustin 9 mi northwest, about 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lake Forest and Laguna Hills Photo Don Ramey Logan, Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- El Toro Branch Library in Lake Forest CA front entrance, bdwz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -6 (20105095576), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -15 (19510381803), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -5 (19943274318), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -40 (19944648079), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -9 (19508730504), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -1 (19944701279), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -18 (19510378313), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -41 (20123296122), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -8 (19510390583), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -17 (19510379473), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -27 (19508704954), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -37 (20136865061), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -4 (19943275668), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -29 (19943242228), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -36 (19943233568), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -30 (19944661279), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -11 (19943344570), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -3 (19508738224), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -42 (20136858221), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -31 (20123309632), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -39 (20123299062), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -32 (20123308192), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -21 (19510374913), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -2 (20136911751), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -23 (20136884941), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -10 (20131366225), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -35 (19508694474), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -19 (20136890661), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -28 (20105066076), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -24 (20123319452), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -34 (20123305272), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -38 (20123300152), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -25 (20105070826), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -12 (19943343380), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -20 (19510375683), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -14 (19943340990), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -16 (20105083836), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 10,000 Maniacs 07 26 2015 -26 (20123315732), Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
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