Riverside and More

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is located in the City of Riverside, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles and 75 miles north of San Diego. The small-city feel and proximity to the large metropolitan areas allow UCR students to experience the best of both environments. Like the rest of Southern California, the climate is generally mild and sunny, and Riverside was recently named on of America's top ten Most Livable Communities. The Pacific Ocean is located about 1 hour west of campus, while the San Bernardino Mountains and ski areas are located about 1 hour east. UCR’s location is ideal in the sense that students can take advantage of a large variety of recreational activities near campus, some of which are described below.

Parks and Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

Riverside has many local parks that are within a few miles of the UCR campus. Two popular areas for hiking and mountain biking are the Box Springs Mountain Preserve and the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park.

There are several national parks and national forests within a two hour drive of campus, including Joshua Tree National Park, the San Bernardino National Forest, and the Cleveland National Forest. There are several resort areas located in the San Bernadino mountains, including Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake.

Southern California has many beaches for swimming and surfing in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Some popular public beaches that are easily accessible from Riverside include Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach and Venice Beach.

There are several ski areas located within a 1.5 hour drive from campus. Two popular ones are Bear Mountain and Mount Baldy.

Cultural Attractions and Amusement Parks

Southern California is home to several famous theme parks, including Disneyland, Universal Studios and Sea World.

Riverside is home to several museums, including the Riverside Municipal Museum, the UCR/California Museum of Photography and the Riverside Art Museum. The greater Los Angeles area has many additional cultural attractions, including the Getty Art Museum, the Huntington Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the La Brea Tar Pits, and the LA County Museum of Art.

Information about local concerts and happenings in Riverside can be found in the Press-Enterprise, while information about the greater Los Angeles area can be found in the LA Times Guide.