Activities and Programs

Join us for a five-mile moderate fitness hike (averaging about 3 mph) with rolling hills before experiencing yoga the Cattle Camp. This historic old west setting connects us with the history of The Irvine Ranch and the barn’s outdoor stage is perfect for yoga. The hike is highlighted with beautiful views of the canyon and the yoga is suitable for those with little or no experience, focused on hips, legs and core. Our focus on breath calms the nervous system and has a positive effect on mental, emotional and physical health. If you have never been to the Cattle Camp before you will be surprised how connected you feel to the cowboys that worked on this land. Please bring water, a yoga mat plus a large beach towel and wear shoes appropriate for hiking.

Looking for a way to give back to Nature this Autumn? Come help us behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm in Irvine! Every day at the farm is different; depending on the needs of the farm we will be harvesting seeds, weeding, trimming, or planting seed of our beautiful native plants.

Working with us at the Native Seed Farm is a great way to grow your community and cultivate knowledge about local native plants, ecology, and wildlife! Absolutely no experience or special equipment required! 

Take a leisurely ride on beautiful Hall Canyon and Helo trail in the Black Star Wilderness Area, home of oak woodlands, grasslands, and coastal sage scrub. View evidence of the old ranch days when cattle once roamed the area and see wildflowers that are native to our area. You will see amazing views of the local canyons and red rock. Evidence of a more recent use of the land is an area used for helicopter landings and a large metal ball and chain the military and OC Fire departments used for training.

Bommer Canyon is home to a variety of birds whose unique songs and calls fill the air to enhance our experience in nature. In this activity we will focus on identifying birds by their vocalizations, making it an inclusive and accessible experience for all, including those with visual impairments.

The activity will start at the Cattle Camp with an introduction on how to recognize and distinguish bird sounds by pitch, tone, and pattern. Then embark on a short walk to immerse yourself in the audible sounds of nature and practice identifying birds by their distinct vocalizations. We will walk slowly for about half a mile through a maintained hard packed dirt trail about four feet wide.

No prior experience is necessary. Participants can bring their own birding enhancement equipment and extra binoculars will be available. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and join us in appreciating and enjoying our feathered friends through the power of sound.

Be sure to bring water and all items needed to keep you safe during our activity. If you need any specific accommodations, please email info@irconservancy.org.

Looking for a way to give back to Nature this Autumn? Come help us behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm in Irvine! Every day at the farm is different; depending on the needs of the farm we will be harvesting seeds, weeding, trimming, or planting seed of our beautiful native plants.

Working with us at the Native Seed Farm is a great way to grow your community and cultivate knowledge about local native plants, ecology, and wildlife! Absolutely no experience or special equipment required! 

Join us at Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters’ native plant nursery as we care for native plants from their seed stage to their mature, ready-to-be planted stage. Volunteers may collect seeds, sow seeds in flats, bump plants up, plant at restoration sites, sterilize plant containers, and generally help maintain the nursery. Gain hands-on experience with habitat restoration while working alongside other zany and interesting plant lovers!  

Age: 16 or older. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  

Location: Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters (10 Phillips St. Laguna Beach, CA 92651, West side of highway 133) 

Parking: Free for Native Plant Nursery volunteers! Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged. 

Difficulty Rating: 2/5  

Materials: Participants must bring plenty of water, closed-toed shoes, long pants, and sun protection. Gloves and tools are provided. 

Safety precautions and protocols: 

• Advanced registration required. Every individual, including children, must be registered. Register here.

• Group sizes are minimized for safety purposes. For group registrations or questions please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org 

• Participants must individually sign a waiver at the beginning of the program. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver. 

• To protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not attend if you are not feeling well, have symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone who was ill. 

Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org or dulce@lagunacanyon.org with any questions. 

Weather, including high temperatures and wet or muddy trail conditions, may lead to cancellation of this event. 

If you use the Wilderness Parks for hiking, biking, photography or just relaxing, Trail Work might be right up your alley! Get up close and personal with the trails you use; you’ll see them in a whole new way. No experience necessary. This is FUN hard work. Whatever your skill level is, there is a job to do: clearing drains to get the water off the trail, pruning vegetation back to keep users on the trail, moving dirt to rebuild eroded tread, and restoring impacted areas are just some of the tasks we will accomplish. We will be using tools such as loppers, picks, shovels, and McLeod’s to improve the user experience, protect the fragile habitat and increase the sustainability of our trails. Expect to hike up to 4 miles while carrying tools.  

Age: 16 or older. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  

Location: James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (I-5 or 405 south to 133 south to stoplight at 73 toll road; and make a U-turn, go 1 block. Dilley is on the right.).   

Parking: Free parking for volunteers at James Dilley Preserve parking lot. Parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. 

Difficulty Rating: 3/5  

Materials: Participants must bring at least 3 liters of water, closed-toed shoes, long pants, and sun protection. Gloves and tools are provided. Feel free to bring your own gloves if you prefer! 

Safety precautions and protocols: 

• Advanced registration required. Every individual, including children, must be registered. Register here.

• Group sizes are minimized for safety purposes. For group registrations or questions please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org 

• Participants must individually sign a waiver at the beginning of the program. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver. 

• To protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not attend if you are not feeling well, have symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone who was ill. 

Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org, craig@lagunacanyon.org, and nicholas@lagunacanyon.org with any questions. 

Weather, including high temperatures and wet or muddy trail conditions, may lead to cancellation of this event. 

PRE-REGISTRATION is REQUIRED for this event. 

All participants are required to have, a printed copy or on their phone, the confirmation email to show through the window of their vehicle to drive through the entry gate.

You will need the confirmation email for you and your guests to enter the trail system.

Come experience Limestone Canyon’s beauty from the back of your horse. Designated trails will be open for self-guided access hiking, biking, and equestrian use during Wilderness Access Day in Limestone Canyon. Equestrian riders who have trail riding experience with a fit and able horse will enjoy the historic ranch roads of days gone by. Take in the awe-inspiring vistas from the mighty ridge tops and drink in the cool canyon shade through the oak grove.

There is limited space for equestrian parking. Riders must also have the ability to transport their horse to the staging area.

Join us for a leisurely walk through the Native Seed Farm to see plants maturing throughout the year. We’ll stick to the hard-pack roads around the fields – bring your camera to take photos or simply enjoy the scenery. You’ll learn about the plants we grow and why we grow them and see pollinators in action.

Enjoy an afternoon family hike in Baker Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We will hike along a flat trail as we watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer. The hike will average 2 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.

You will enjoy a gorgeous sunset with panoramic views of Orange County while hiking in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space on the paved Hicks Haul Road. This hike travels 6 miles, out and back crossing over Loma Ridge. This is the perfect activity for you to get your work-out in and view the sunset. The hike is conducted at an average pace of 3 miles per hour, but you may travel a bit faster or slower, at a walk, run, or jog depending on your comfort level. Because of the paved surface of the road, you may wear regular running or walking shoes. Trail shoes are fine, but not required. Please bring adequate water.

The title says it all. This is your chance to venture deep in the Irvine Open Space Preserve. Join us for a challenging and beautiful adventure. Hiking distance is up to 17 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 2,800 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.

Join us for a challenging and beautiful adventure as we hike to the Hangman’s Tree Monument on Loma Ridge. Hike distance is 6 miles and affords fantastic views along the way, spanning the Pacific coastline, San Gabriel peaks and the Santa Ana Mountains. Several very steep climbs and descents are part of this route. We’ll accumulate almost 1800 feet of climbing elevation.

Enjoy miles of lush oak studded canyons, fascinating rock formations and sweeping views from the Overlook Trail in the tranquility of the Weir Canyon back country, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. On a clear day we’ll be rewarded with glorious views of the San Gabriel and Santa Ana mountains. This is a fitness hike and features an 1500 ft accumulated elevation gain. There are multiple steep climbs and steep descents. Please make sure you are in excellent physical condition! You must be able to hike uphill at an average pace of 3 mph without stopping. A backpack and water are required. Please bring snack, sun screen, hat and wear sturdy closed-toe shoes.

Experience the beauty of Bommer Canyon that takes you to the back gate of Hogback Ridge, during this moderate-paced, interpretive hike in the Irvine Open Space Preserve. We’ll experience the mature coastal sage scrub and fantastic views overlooking the city of Irvine and the backside of Hogback Ridge and return to view the hillsides to the north. This hike is just 4.7 miles and includes 1000 feet of total climbing elevation with several very steep inclines. The steepest section ascends 300 feet in a quarter-mile. Participants must be in good physical condition.

Be inspired by both the natural beauty and recent history of Newport Beach’s Buck Gully Reserve, as we explore this protected area and the collaboration that made it possible. Buck Gully is a natural coastal canyon that opened to the public in 2012 with the installation of four bridges to provide safe public access. The bridges allow exploration of the entire Buck Gully Reserve, and also provide unique vantages and viewing platforms from which to pause and observe the abundant life in and around the stream that runs through the gully year-round. Our guided program starts with a short walk from the Oasis Senior Center to the beginning of the Buck Gully trail, with a visually dramatic entrance into this special canyon. We’ll cross two bridges on the first section of our walk, and then enter the canopied singletrack portion of the trail as we pass by the third bridge. At the fourth and last bridge, we will pause to enjoy the shaded beauty of this hidden refuge, and then retrace our route back to the Oasis.

We start our ride through OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space on the paved Hicks Haul Road, the extension of Jeffrey Rd north of Portola Pkwy. As we warm up on the climb to the top of the road, we enjoy increasingly beautiful views over Irvine. We then follow Loma Ridge to the East, with fantastic vistas of Orange County, the surrounding wildlands, and even Catalina Island on clear days. From Loma Ridge, we descend on a single track to Box Springs which provides year-round water for wildlife like deer.

After the springs, we continue to the Sinks, Orange County’s own “Grand Canyon,” where we enjoy our snacks during a short break. On our way back, we ride along Limestone Ridge, a fun singletrack that leads us towards the Augustine Staging area, enjoying views of Saddleback and Santiago Canyon. From there we will climb back up to Loma Ridge, and then coast back down on the paved Hicks Haul Road to our starting point. Motorized recreation vehicles of any class or type are not permitted for use in the Nature Preserve.

The Irvine Ranch Open Space Ultra Distance, series is designed for experienced hikers who thrive on long days, big climbs, and the satisfaction of pushing physical and mental limits. This hike covers approximately 18 miles with 3,400 feet of elevation gain, traversing some of the most rugged and remote sections of the Irvine Ranch Open Space. This route combines steep ascents, rolling ridgelines, and exposed terrain with panoramic views that make every step worth the effort.

This is not a casual stroll — it’s a test of endurance, pacing, and preparation. Participants should have prior experience with strenuous, half-day or full-day hikes and be comfortable navigating challenging terrain in varying conditions.

Self-Sufficiency is Required There are no water sources, food stations, or supply drops along this route. Every participant is responsible for carrying all the gear, water, and nutrition they will need for the day. We strongly recommend: Water: Minimum 70 oz per person (more in hot weather) Food/Snacks: High-calorie, easily portable items to sustain 7 hours of hiking (energy bars, trail mix, sandwiches, electrolyte chews) Gear: Closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), extra layers, basic first-aid kit, trekking poles (optional but recommended) Under-prepared participants may be denied access to the hike.

Pace & Timing Expect to be on the trail for 7 hours, with extended climbs and limited shade. A steady, sustainable pace is critical. We will take short breaks as needed, but hikers should be able to maintain consistent forward progress throughout the day.

Important Notes This hike is physically demanding and not suitable for beginners. There will be no early exit points — once you commit, you must be prepared to complete the route. Weather conditions can greatly affect difficulty. Hot days will make the climbs especially punishing; cold or wet weather can increase risk and exposure. If you’re ready for a true challenge, breathtaking views, and the camaraderie of fellow Sufferfest enthusiasts, join us for the Irvine Ranch Open Space Ultra Distance Hike — and earn every mile the hard way.

Do you want to take a hike with other nature enthusiasts? Enjoy a 3.8-mile, moderate (600-ft. elevation gain) hike through Laurel and Willow Canyons led by Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers in partnership with OC Parks. You will experience a variety of plant communities, from Coastal Sage Scrub to Oak Woodland and enjoy a view of the ocean at the top. Minimal interpretation is provided, but questions are welcome. The terrain can often be rocky and uneven.

Age: 12 or older. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Location: Willow Staging Area, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (West side of Laguna Canyon Rd/SR-133, just south of El Toro Road).

Parking: $3/car at Willow Staging Area parking lot. Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged.

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

Materials: Participants must bring plenty of water, closed-toed shoes, and sun protection. Hiking poles are recommended.

Safety precautions and protocols:

• Advanced registration required. Every individual, including children, must be registered. Register here.
• Group sizes are minimized for safety purposes. For group registrations or questions please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org
• Participants must individually sign a waiver at the beginning of the program. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver.
• To protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not attend if you are not feeling well, have symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone who was ill.

Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org with any questions.

Weather, including high temperatures and wet or muddy trail conditions, may lead to cancellation of this event.