Things to do in French Valley: A County Airport and Open Land Nearby
French Valley is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. A plain guide to its airport and the nature areas and lakes close by.
8 Oct 2026
French Valley is not a city. It is an unincorporated community in Riverside County, so it has no city government of its own. About 35,000 people lived here at the 2020 census. It sits at an elevation of about 1,368 feet, and the Tucalota Hills and Bachelor Mountain are among the landmarks nearby. Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee and Winchester are its neighbors.
It is mostly homes and schools, so there is not much to see in the community itself. There is a small county airport on the east side, and good outdoor places a short drive away.
French Valley Airport
French Valley Airport is a public airport owned by the county, on Highway 79 near Murrieta and Temecula. It opened in 1989, covers 261 acres and has one paved runway, 6,000 feet long. Almost all the flying is small private planes, so it is a calm place to watch takeoffs and landings.
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve
The Santa Rosa Plateau is the standout nature area near French Valley. It is an upland between Murrieta and Temecula, at the southeast end of the Santa Ana Mountains.
The reserve protects purple needlegrass prairie, Engelmann oak woodland, chaparral, coastal sage scrub and vernal pools. It is the only place in the state with a protected, reproducing stand of Engelmann oaks. At least 185 bird species have been recorded there, and 27 mammal species, including mule deer, bobcats and mountain lions.
A trail system of about 40 miles and a visitor center help you find your way. There are old buildings from Rancho Santa Rosa and acorn grinding holes in boulders that show Native American people lived here for thousands of years.
Diamond Valley Lake
Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, is one of Southern California's largest reservoirs. It covers about 4,500 acres. People fish for largemouth and striped bass, bluegill, trout and catfish, and the lake also has hiking.
When the lake was dug, workers found thousands of Ice Age fossils, including mastodons, mammoths and dire wolves. They are displayed at the Western Science Center in Hemet, one of the largest natural history museums in Riverside County. Its signature display is the Pacific Mastodon. The center has permanent exhibits alongside changing ones, and it runs school programs and hands-on science labs for young people.
Temecula and Murrieta
Old Town Temecula has historic buildings. It took shape after a railroad line reached the valley in 1882 and businesses moved next to the new depot. The Vail family ran a huge cattle ranch here until it was sold in 1964. The Temecula Valley Museum covers local history in a permanent collection and changing exhibits, and the exhibits are self-guided. Vail Lake was created in 1948 to hold creek water. Murrieta has city parks and trails of its own, with more than 20 miles of multi-use trails. The city's system covers about 1,350 acres, and its parks run from tiny neighborhood spots of under an acre to a 40-acre sports park. The Murrieta Creek Regional Trail is one of them.
For families
Watch planes take off and land near the airport.
See the fossils at the Western Science Center.
Stop in at the Santa Rosa Plateau visitor center.
A short drive away
The Santa Rosa Plateau, Diamond Valley Lake, Old Town Temecula and Murrieta's parks are all in nearby areas. Plan on driving to each of them.
Good to know
French Valley is unincorporated. Park and road questions go to Riverside County.
Nature reserves have rules. Stay on marked trails.
Check each venue's own website for current access.
Find local businesses
Planning a visit, or live nearby and need a hand with something? Browse the local businesses listed in the Temecula Valley guide to find who serves French Valley and the towns around it.
Useful links
About French Valley: the town at a glance
Own a business in French Valley? Claim or add your listing, free
By Thomas Hassett and Eric Andrews, Local Business America
Photo: Wingtipvortex, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Wikipedia, "French Valley, California" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Valley,_California); Wikipedia, "French Valley Airport" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Valley_Airport); Wikipedia, "Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_Plateau_Ecological_Reserve); Wikipedia, "Diamond Valley Lake" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Valley_Lake); Wikipedia, "Temecula, California" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temecula,_California); City of Murrieta, "Parks & Trails" (https://mainstreet.murrietaca.gov/649/Parks-Trails; also https://www.murrietaca.gov/649/Parks-Trails); Western Science Center, home page (https://www.westernsciencecenter.org/); City of Temecula, "History of Temecula" (https://temeculaca.gov/150/History-of-Temecula); City of Temecula, "Temecula Valley Museum (TVM)" (https://temeculaca.gov/facilities/facility/details/Temecula-Valley-Museum-TVM-72). Wikipedia text is available under CC BY-SA.