Coto de Caza is a census-designated place and guard-gated private community in Orange County, California, set in the Saddleback foothills of the county's southern portion. With a population of 14,710 at the 2020 census, it is one of Orange County's oldest and most upscale master-planned communities. The community's history dates to 1968, when the site was first envisioned as a hunting lodge, which became the Lodge at Coto de Caza, the community's centerpiece. The master-planned development grew around that origin and was completed in 2003, evolving into a guard-gated residential enclave spanning roughly 5,000 acres. The name 'Coto de Caza' means 'hunting reserve' in Spanish, reflecting its beginnings as a place of open land and recreation. Coto de Caza's residential character is defined by gated privacy, large homes, and open space. The community includes Los Ranchos Estates, a separate 355-acre area of large custom homes behind the gates, and it offers equestrian facilities and an extensive network of trails for hiking and riding. Its setting in Wagon Wheel Canyon and the Saddleback foothills gives many homes hillside, canyon, and open-space views, and the community's design emphasizes a quiet, nature-oriented lifestyle removed from the density of coastal Orange County. Public education is provided through the Capistrano Unified School District, which serves the communities of south Orange County, including Coto de Caza and surrounding unincorporated areas such as Ladera Ranch and Las Flores. For residents, Coto de Caza offers a distinctive combination of gated security, master-planned amenities, and a natural foothill setting within one of Southern California's most established suburban regions.