In partnership with OC Parks, join Newport Bay Conservancy for a fun-filled parent & child experience including storytelling, short nature walk and an art/craft. $5/child, pre-registration is required by calling 949-923-2269 or info@newportbay.org. Recommended for ages 2-5.

Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a durable yoga mat to rest on the dirt. An extra cloth or padding is highly recommended. Some evenings are chilly, so dress in layers that are flexible to move in; jeans are not recommended. Remember to wear sun protection for the hike such as a hat and sunscreen.

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

Enjoy the trails under the full moon’s light! We will hike along the paved Hicks Haul Road, traveling through coastal sage scrub in this dark canyon’s interior. The hike will cover about 3 miles round trip at a moderate pace as we hike along our trail discussing the night sky.  Wear warm layers as the canyon gets chilly at night and sturdy shoes. Please bring water and a red tinted flashlight for the hike. This program is for those that are interested in experiencing the trails after sunset, taking in the night sounds and smells along the full moon’s glow!

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

Join us for a fast-paced, early morning, extreme cardio hike in Fremont Canyon and Weir Canyon. This approximately 12-mile cardio hike, completed in 3 hours, includes a 2000-foot elevation change, and is for experienced, physically fit cardio hikers who enjoy the challenge of multiple steep climbs and descents.

You must be an experienced cardio hiker in excellent physical condition to participate in this program. There are no scheduled rest stops on this approximately 12 mile cardio hike, and the average four (4) mile per hour pace is extremely difficult over steep terrain in the wilderness setting.

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

Come along for a fast-paced hike (3.75-4 miles per hour) along the Agua Chinon and Limestone Canyon trails. The hike winds through the Agua Chinon wash and into Limestone, with breathtaking views of the city of Irvine and the Sinks, and on clear days, views of the ocean and Catalina.

The hike will travel at a very fast pace for a total of 10-12 miles, and includes steep climbs and descents with significant elevation gain (2200 ft. plus). Those in very good physical shape will enjoy this cardio fitness opportunity. Remember to wear appropriate shoes, a hat, sunglasses and bring plenty of water. Hiking poles are welcome as well. Under-prepared participants may be denied access to the event. This activity originates in the City of Irvine and travels into OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.

Ham Radio Communications & Logistics support for Earth Day Special Event @ Upper Newport Beach Preserve

Would you like to give back to Santiago Oaks and have fun at the same time?

Work alongside park staff in restoring the trails at “The Oaks.” Projects will include trail work or natural habitat restoration throughout our 20+ mile trail system. Past projects have included trail brushing, restoring eroded trails, removing invasive weeds and planting native plants. Projects change each month providing diverse experiences to participants.

Please be prepared for strenuous work that may include up to a 3-mile hike to the work location. Please bring snacks and water. We will provide gloves, tools and training.

Join Irvine Ranch Conservancy Land Stewards in hunting down and removing invasive woody plants like castor bean, tree tobacco and tamarisk from Santiago Creek. These plants invade stream beds and take water and space from native plants and wildlife. Volunteers have helped to restore Santiago Creek by removing most of these weeds over the last years. But we need to return every year to make sure that they don’t come back! We will be working in rocky stream beds and on uneven terrain and will use various tools to extract and treat plants. Wear sturdy shoes, sun protection and be ready for some serious searching and vigorous work, depending on how many weeds we find. Training, tools, gloves, and chaps will be provided. Activity will involve bending, stooping, kneeling, and pulling.

Led by Laguna Canyon Foundation in partnership with OC Parks. Enjoy an afternoon of unspoiled canyon views and learn about the geology of this area. The rocks and fossils reveal fascinating stories about the park’s ancient environments. Meet at the Nix Nature Center to begin this highly interpretive 3-mile hike (400-ft. elevation gain), on sometimes steep, uneven and rocky terrain. Led by Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-5/405). Online reservations required: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities.html. For questions call: 949-497-8324. Parking: $3.

Want to stand knee-deep in rows of blooming color? Want to refresh your senses while giving back to Nature?

Then sign up to help behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm in Irvine!  You will be harvesting seeds from native Spring wildflowers, like California Poppies and Arroyo Lupines. Tools and training with be provided, and no experience is needed.  You will get introduced to some of our beautiful native plants, and then we’ll get to work!

Come join a mid-morning wildflower walk in Limestone Canyon! Wildflowers come in all shades, shapes and colors. From the delicate and diminutive to the big and bold, April is a great time to explore these seasonal beauties! Get an up close look at the blooms and enjoy the majestic scenery of the surrounding canyons and rolling hills.

This walk will travel about 5.5 miles to gain breathtaking views of blooming buds. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat while we explore the wildflowers.

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

In partnership with OC Parks, Newport Bay Conservancy host the 26th Annual Earth Day at the Bay. Event includes environmental exhibits, a scavenger hunt for all ages, live entertainment, science discovery booths, arts and crafts, environmental film, food trucks, opportunity drawing and much, much more. Free, no reservations are needed. Please call 949-923-2290 for more information and directions.

The Newport Bay Conservancy offers a 2-hour guided kayak tour of the Back Bay in the heart of Newport Beach every Saturday. This is one of the best ways to appreciate Upper Newport Bay by getting out on the water. Kayaking in the Newport Beach Back Bay is fun and easy. Tours leaves from the Newport Aquatic Center at 10:00 am. They are great for both novices and experiences paddlers alike.

Enjoy nature with friends and family on the Mesa. We start our program by climbing a small hill at an easy pace to reach the top. Once up on the mesa, we will hike along a fairly flat trail as we watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer.  The hike averages 2-3 miles round trip at an easy pace with a medium level of interpretation. This program is for participants who would like a slower-paced hike.

Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes, and bring water for the hike. Be ready to enjoy the sounds and smells of the 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.

Crystal Cove State Park naturalists will lead a guided interpretive 2-hour, 4-mile Full Moon Hike on Saturday, April 23, at 7:00 p.m.  Terrain will be uneven and steep with a 700-foot elevation gain/loss in some areas on this moderate night hike.  Meet at the Berns Amphitheatre (PCH inland at stoplight School-State Park follow the signs to the Campground.) Wear sturdy shoes, bring water & a flashlight, and dress in layers.

Come along with us to visit one of the most photographed and famous sites on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.  This interpretative program will begin with a hike along a riparian corridor currently being restored with native plants.  If time permits, we’ll hike up to one of the two perennial springs in the Limestone Canyon Wilderness Preserve and will then visit both sides of The Sinks.  Along the way we’ll talk about the geologic processes that over millions of years created the geologic features of The Sinks, Loma Ridge, and Agua Chinon Creek.

This hike involves several steep climbs and descents. Please be prepared with plenty of water and closed toe sturdy shoes or boots, snacks, sunscreen and all other necessary elements to keep you healthy on the trail. 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-4 activity on the land.

For those of you who are interested in a more intense bird watching experience and the possibility of seeing something rare, one of Newport Bay Conservancy’s bird experts offers a 2- to 3-hour outing at Big Canyon on the last Sunday of the month starting at 8:00 AM. Suitable for beginners and advanced birders. Bring sun protection and binoculars if you have them. There is no charge for the program, but reservations are requested. Please call 949-923-2269 for more information and to RSVP.

Come and hike with us to The Sinks in Limestone Canyon, location of the Earthcache site — a special place people can visit to learn about unique aspects of the Earth — listed on www.geocaching.com. The cache is titled “The Sinks- Irvine Ranch Wildlands, GC1ZB6V.” This hike is open to existing geocachers, those curious about geocaching and non-geocachers alike. There will be as much time as needed spent at The Sinks so all geocachers can record their data and make their observations to confidently log their visit to this cache site.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land.

If you are new to mountain biking and interested in getting started the right way, or if you just want to hone your existing bike skills, this is the clinic for you.  IRC’s Mountain Bike Skills Clinic covers the basics of equipment, bike setup, braking, gearing, bike handling, trail-side bike maintenance and trail etiquette. Riding techniques will be taught and practiced at the Mountain Bike Skills Development area. 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-3 activity on the land.