San Joaquin Hills, Coastal mountain range in Orange County, California, United States.
San Joaquin Hills is a coastal mountain range in Orange County that runs between Newport Beach and San Juan Capistrano. The range rises to its highest point at Signal Peak, which reaches 1,168 feet above sea level.
The range takes its name from Rancho San Joaquin, established in 1842 by Jose Andres Sepulveda, which eventually became part of the larger Irvine Ranch. This land grant period shaped the development of the region for many decades.
The hills were home to Tongva and Acjachemen communities who established villages here, including a settlement called Genga. These indigenous roots remain part of the area's identity and story.
State Route 73, known as the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road, runs through the range and connects Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano. This main roadway provides vehicle access across the hills.
Paleontological excavations during toll road construction uncovered more than 40,000 fossils, including whale remains estimated at five million years old. These discoveries reveal that the area was once covered by ancient ocean waters.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
