Rancho Summit Park
Rate this placeNearby: Legacy Park Olive Grove Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Rancho Summit Park is a beautiful park located in the state of California with many good reasons to visit.
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Summary
The park boasts over 160 acres of natural beauty, including hiking trails, picnic areas, and scenic views. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, and birds.
One of the main attractions at Rancho Summit Park is the hiking trails. The park offers a variety of trails for all skill levels, ranging from easy and flat to more challenging and steep. Some of the most popular trails include the Summit Trail and the South Ridge Trail.
In addition to hiking, Rancho Summit Park also offers a variety of picnic areas and barbecue pits, making it a great spot for a family outing or a day trip with friends. The park also has a playground for children, as well as a volleyball court and basketball court for sports enthusiasts.
Interesting facts about Rancho Summit Park include that it is home to the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat, and that it was once part of a large ranch owned by the family of former President Richard Nixon. The park is also situated in the San Gabriel Mountains, which are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species.
The best time of year to visit Rancho Summit Park is in the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the park is at its most beautiful. Summer can be quite hot, while winter can bring snow and ice to the trails, making them more difficult to navigate. Overall, Rancho Summit Park is a wonderful destination for anyone looking to enjoy the natural beauty of California's mountains and spend time outdoors.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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