Trabuco Canyon, California
Trabuco Canyon is a community of 1,326 people in Orange County, California.
Why visit Trabuco Canyon
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 28 parks and trails, 30 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, Modjeska House, Cielo Vista Park and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; December lows average 48°F.
Weather in Trabuco Canyon
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Trabuco Canyon
Trabuco Canyon (Trabuco, Spanish for "Blunderbuss") is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in eastern Orange County, California, and lies partly within the Cleveland National Forest.
From the Wikipedia article Trabuco Canyon, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
30632 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Museums and landmarks3
Modjeska House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds28
Cielo Vista Park
Park · 2.3 mi
2.5 Acres, (2) Lighted tennis courts, Playground suggested ages 5 to 12, Two picnic areas, Five BBQs, Five tables
21921 Avenida De Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita
Mo-Su 06:00-22:00
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
Park · 1.8 mi
Park in Orange County, California
O'Neill Regional Park
Park · 1.9 mi
Park in Orange County, United States of America
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
Park · 2.7 mi
Nature reserve in Orange County, California
Estrella Vista Park
Park · 2.2 mi
Estrella Vista Park is part of SAMLARC Park system in RSM
Rancho Santa Margarita City Park
Park · 2.5 mi
21952 Buena Suerte, Rancho Santa Margarita
16 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes30
Rose Canyon Cantina & Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.2 mi
20722 Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon
Sa 11:00-22:00; Tu-Th 16:00-21:00; Su 11:00-21:00; Fr 16:00-22:00; Mo off
Carmelita's
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.0 mi
31441 Santa Margarita Parkway
Mo-Sa 11:30-21:00; Su 10:00-21:00
The Blind Pig
Restaurant · American, Bar And Grill · 2.1 mi
31431 Santa Margarita Parkway
Su 11:00-23:00; Tu 09:00-18:00; We-Th 15:00-00:00; Fr 15:00-01:00;...
The Pizza Press
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.5 mi
30642 Rancho Santa Margarita Pkwy
Mo-Th, Sa, Su 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-22:00
Wan-Fu
Restaurant · Asian, Chinese · 2.5 mi
30642 Rancho Santa Margarita Pkwy
Su 11:00-21:00; Mo-Th 11:00-14:30; Mo-Th 16:00-21:00; Fr...
Cook's Corner
Diner · American · 1.6 mi
19152 Santiago Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon
The Trough Sandwich Kitchen
Restaurant · Sandwich, American, Breakfast · 2.0 mi
31431 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Ice cream · 2.6 mi
Handelsicecream.com 949-709-0096
30622 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
18 more on the map.
History
Trabuco is Spanish for blunderbuss, a type of shotgun. Some credit a Franciscan friar traveling with the Gaspar de Portolá Expedition in 1769 with the story that a blunderbuss was lost in the canyon, after which the area was named. A mission was originally to be built in the canyon, but was instead established in San Juan Capistrano.
The Trabuco Adobe was built in 1810 next to the Acjachemen village of Alume that was also identified during the 1769 Portolá expedition, where Juan Crespí wrote, "we made camp close to a village of the most tractable and friendly heathens we have seen upon the whole way."
John (Don Juan) Forster received a Mexican land grant in 1846 and established Rancho Trabuco. The grant was bordered by Rancho Cañada de los Alisos on the west, and by Rancho Mission Viejo on the east.
Trabuco Canyon was the site of attempts to mine tin in the early 1900s. Mining remains from this activity include: tunnels into the sides of the canyon (closed for public safety); the stone foundation of an ore-processing stamp mill; and several dams on the creek.
The Trabuco Canyon National Forest was established in 1907, which was quickly combined into the Cleveland National Forest in 1908.
One of the last California grizzly bears was killed in Trabuco Canyon in 1908, a female bear thought to be the mate of the so-called "Monster of San Mateo."
From the History section of Trabuco Canyon, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Churches and places of worship8
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter-Day Saints · 2.3 mi
30522 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Church · Christ Scientist · 2.4 mi
30442 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 2.4 mi
30462 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita
Trabuco Canyon Community Church
Church · 0.7 mi
30121 Canyon Creek, Trabuco Canyon
Shopping7
Ross
Shopping center · 2.6 mi
30612 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Big 5 Sporting Goods
Shop · 2.4 mi
30692 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Gas and EV charging4
Chevron
Gas station · 2.4 mi
30832 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Schools, colleges and libraries29
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
School · 2.5 mi
22062 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Cielo Vista Elementary School
School · 2.3 mi
21811 Avenida De Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita
Arroyo Vista Elementary
School · 4.0 mi
23371 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita
Cielo Vista Elementary
School · 2.3 mi
21811 Avenida De Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita
Healthcare3
Rite Aid
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
31541 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Map of Trabuco Canyon
123 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 (8 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, 16 miles away.
- Rancho Santa Margarita 3 mi south, about 5 min by car
- Lake Forest 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Mission Viejo 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Coto de Caza 6 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Laguna Hills 8 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Temescal Valley 9 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- Laguna Woods 9 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
- Ladera Ranch 9 mi south, about 15 min by car
- Irvine 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Aliso Viejo 10 mi southwest, about 17 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
- Trabuco Canyon photo Don Ramey Logan, Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0
- California - Modjeska House - 20180915141520, Coolsheep2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saddleback church Lake Forest building 1, Brent, CC BY 2.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.