Natural Parkland Trail shows Highland's citrus-era water layer

Highland’s trails do more than offer exercise. They also show how the city sits between foothills, citrus land, water lines, and the Santa Ana River system. Natural Parkland Trail is a good place to see that mix in a small, local way.

The city trail map lists the Natural Parkland Trail as a 1.6-mile route. It also points out orange-grove remnants, weir boxes, flumes, irrigation pipes, Plunge Creek, and the old North Fork Ditch Pipeline. Those details help explain why Highland’s open space has both a nature feel and a working-water history.

Treat the map as a first look, not a promise that every trail link is easy or complete. Some trail information can age, and foothill routes can change with storms, maintenance, and heat. Check the city map first, bring water, and use the official route instead of guessing from an old path.

If you are comparing Highland routes, this one is best read slowly. The small water-system pieces are easy to miss, but they help explain why the foothill edge, old citrus land, and creek crossings still feel connected.