The title says it all. This is your chance to venture deep in the Irvine backcountry. Join us for a challenging and beautiful adventure.

Hiking distance is up to 14 miles and is designed for advanced hikers. Participants must be physically fit and have distance hiking experience. Singletrack trails, steep climbs and descents are numerous on this route, with over 2,400 feet of accumulated climbing elevation.

Most months, the route stays in the Irvine Open Space Preserve for its entirety, but will occasionally feature hiking to the sea and back: beginning in Bommer, the hike will head into Crystal Cove State Park, then pass through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park before returning to the Irvine preserve.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-5 activity on the land.

Would you like to give back to Irvine Park and have fun at the same time?

Work alongside park staff in restoring the wild side of Irvine Park. Projects include trail work or natural habitat restoration on trails and nature gardens. Past projects have included brushing back trails, removing invasive weeds in the nature garden and restoring trails over grown with invasive plants. Projects change each month providing diverse experiences to participants.

Please be prepared for strenous work that may include up to a 1-mile hike to the work location. Please bring snacks and water.

We will provide gloves, tools and training.

Help monitor the health of Crystal Cove State Park at the first-ever Field Science Saturday on December 12 from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Become a citizen scientist and learn more about Moro Canyon’s ecosystem as we test new research protocols and study leaf litter microbes, vegetation cover, and water use in plants. Meet at the Berns Environmental Study Loop amphitheater. Day-use fee of $15 per vehicle. Please RSVP at www.crystalcovealliance.org/events/field-science-saturday/.

Are you a nature lover, hiker, gardener, or just need to get outside to refresh yourself? Does the idea of adopting a canyon across four seasons and being part of a longer term project interest you? Please come help Irvine Ranch Conservancy restore local habitat, native plants and wildlife so they may thrive in Agua Chinon.
No experience is necessary other than a desire to explore and care for our open space. Participants will engage in plant identification, removal of invasive weeds, and planting native plants. Simple tools will be provided for you as required. Sturdy footwear is recommended for walking on uneven terrain, kneeling, bending, and gardening in the wilderness.

This activity originates in the City of Irvine and travels into OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.  From our conveniently located Portola staging area, come venture out for something big each month, adopt Agua Chinon!

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.

If you like singletrack trails and getting your hands dirty – this program is for you!

The trails of Bommer Canyon need your help to improve drainage and trim trailside vegetation to stay in tip top shape through the El Nino. We will be clearing soil & debris from existing trail drainage structures and trimming back shrubs with hand tools.

The day’s activities will include up to a 3 mile round trip hike on some of Irvine’s finest single track trails. No previous trail work experience necessary … just the desire to work outdoors and get dirty!

Tools, gloves & light snacks will be provided. Please wear sturdy work shoes or boots, long pants, sun protection, & a hat. A small back pack is handy to carry water, gloves & snacks.

The California holly is special this time of year! We will explore the holly and other neighboring flora thriving in Buck Gully during the cooler, wetter wintertime. This is a slow paced hike on a fairly flat trail which traverses the lower half of Buck Gully. Suggested are sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and binoculars if you have them.

PLEASE NOTE: Poison oak grows in abundance throughout the entire Buck Gully Reserve trail system. If you are susceptible to poison oak, please plan accordingly.

Please review the Difficulty Ratings on the brown banner above before registering. Understanding the 1-through-5 ratings system will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land.

Enjoy a docent-led ride through moderate terrain in spectacular Limestone Canyon. We will ride through lush meadows and admire breathtaking views of the coastal plain, and see a diversity of plants, animals and a variety of trees.

Equestrians with trail riding experience, a fit and able horse, and the ability to trailer to the staging area are welcome to join the ride. Owners of unshod horses, please note that footing may include areas of gravel and pavement.

Discover the local canyons and hills through topographical map and compass reading.  This program is designed for beginners or those who wish to brush up on their orienteering skills. For those hikers, mountain bikers, rock hounds and world explorers,  this series of three classes cover all of the steps to using a map and compass to help you read the land.  Please bring your own compass if you have one, or use your smart phone compass application.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land.

Discover unique historical tales about the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks as we celebrate different cultures together! Each month, a different culture and celebration will be highlighted, usually with the program presented in multiple languages which will allow for everyone to fully enjoy the beauty of the land.

We will take a closer look at a Chinese practice to tea traditions.

This activity originates in the City of Irvine and travels into OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-1 activity on the land.

Join us on a backcountry wilderness tour filled with great sightseeing, photographic, and sketching opportunities. Our journey begins in the afternoon, at the foot of Santiago Dam and Irvine Lake, where you will board 4-wheel drive vehicles for an 11-to-17 mile tour of the hills surrounding Fremont Canyon.
We will stop frequently for 15-30 minutes or so to admire the views, take photos, sketch landscapes, and answer questions. From various vantage points (2,400 ft. elevation), you will view Lake Irvine, Orange County, Catalina Island (on a clear day), Los Angeles, Chino Hills and the San Bernardino Mountains.
 When not admiring the vistas, enjoy interesting rock formations, the wilderness setting, and rare Tecate Cypress. Depending on the season, fields of wildflowers will also present themselves.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-1 activity on the land.

Enjoy a low tide at Crystal Cove State Park on a guided tidepool walk to Pelican Point on Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m.  A volunteer will help identify animals and describe some awesome adaptations.  Meet at Pelican Point parking lot #2, at the top of the boardwalk near the parking lot (PCH coastward at Newport Coast, right at kiosk to first lot.)  $15 day-use fee

Enjoy an early evening family hike in Black Star Canyon, part of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. We will hike along a flat trail and cross a creek as we watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer. The hike will average 2-3 miles round trip at an easy pace with a medium level of interpretation.

This program is for participants who would enjoy a slower-paced and level hike. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes, and bring water for the hike. Be ready to enjoy the sounds and smells of early evening.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land.

Join us in Weir Canyon and Santiago Oaks for this slow-paced ride for the intermediate rider who has experience and skills, but sometimes needs to walk more technical areas and steep descents/ascents. This “hike-a-bike” program experiences a 1500-foot elevation change over 12 miles, and is designed for those in excellent cardio condition. The ride begins at Irvine Regional Park, and travels alongside the beautiful oak woodlands of Weir Canyon Road, then continues along the “Weir Loop” in Santiago Oaks Regional Park.  On the descent we will ride some hilly singletrack trails back into Irvine Park.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.

This is NOT a beginner ride. We do NOT ride on bike paths, but on hazardous rocky, rutted, sandy fire roads and singletrack trails. This is for adult riders only.

Led by Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers in partnership with OC Parks. If you enjoy using the park trails and aren’t afraid of a little hard work, this is your opportunity to give back by improving trails. You will also learn to see your favorite trails in a new way! Join Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks for a morning of trail maintenance. We will be using tools such as loppers, picks, shovels and McLeods to clear brush out of trails, restore features that protect the trail, and/or build new features to improve trail sustainability. Ages 17 and up. Lunch and refreshments served. Laguna Coast Wilderness, Willow Staging Area, (I-5 or 405 to 133 south, just past El Toro Road intersection, on right-hand side). Online registration required: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities.html. For more information please call Alan at (928) 853-9467. Parking: Free for Trail Stewardhip Day volunteers!

Join Preserve staff and other volunteers in enhancing the Bay’s habitat for local wildlife. Activities may include non-native plant removal, planting natives, watering, trash cleanup and Butterfly Garden maintenance. No experience is necessary; water, snacks and tools are provided.
•Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
•Please phone (949) 923-2275, or email unbic@ocparks.com or receive monthly email notifications.
•Minors aged 16 and younger must have legal guardian present at all times.
•Rain or heat advisories cancels event.

Come join this moderately challenging 5-mile hike as we listen to stories about the Irvine Ranch. Our tales includes the land’s earliest inhabitants, transitions to the rancho period, as well as James Irvine’s acquisition in 1876 in the Irvine family era, and ending through to today.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.

Are you ready to try a new exercise that is fun and energetic while enjoying the great outdoors? Come dance to the fantastic aerobic workout, ZUMBA!! Join us as we take on a variety of Latin flavor moves through dancing the Salsa, Maringa, Flamenco and more! Different dance routines feature interval moves from fast to slow rhythms, adding in resistance training to tone and sculpt your body while burning calories. You don’t need to be a professional dancer, just have the drive to try! It’s high energy, it’s zesty…it’s ZUMBA! Please wear comfortable workout clothes, closed toed shoes, bring plenty of water, and be ready to move!

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.

Come visit the Office of Natural Resources at the City of Newport Beach at the Back Bay Science Center every Sunday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM to experience the beauty of Upper Newport Bay while touring a research and education facility! Explore tidepool touch tanks, observe coastal bay and estuary birds, or examine some biofacts in the Teaching Lab. Open to all ages.  For any questions, please contact: marineeducation@newportbeachca.gov.

Learn about some of the fun and interesting animals that live at Crystal Cove State Park on Sunday, December 13, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Historic District Education Commons where Park Naturalist Alex will host a Beachside Chat.  Park in the Los Trancos lot (PCH inland at stoplight Los Trancos then walk through the tunnel or take the shuttle.) Day-use fee: $5/per hour (max. $15).

Learn how to take iconic pictures of some typical sites at Crystal Cove State Park including the tunnel, cottages, waves, reflections, rocks and the sunset, and practice camera setups and creative shooting techniques on a docent-led Photography Walk on Sunday, December 13, from 3:00 p.m. until sunset.  Meet at the Los Trancos lot at the trailer (PCH turn inland at stoplight “Los Trancos”).  Day-use fee: $5/per hour (max. $15)