Join us every Wednesday night in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space for a fitness-focused hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road. During the spring, summer and fall, hikers will enjoy wonderful sunset views and a panoramic overview of Orange County. This hike travels about 3.5 miles, up to the top of Loma Ridge and back down. The hike is conducted at an average of 3-3.5 miles per hour, but you may travel a bit faster or slower, at a walk, run, or jog depending on your comfort level. Most participants finish the route in about 1 hour. 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.

Explore beautiful Limestone Canyon, part of OCParks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, on this serene morning hike to Dripping Springs. Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve is one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the county. Dripping Springs is an extremely sensitive area and an essential watering hole for wildlife. We’ll hike through coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and oak woodlands as we take in this iconic destination. This 7-mile hike moves between 2.5 and 3 mph with a total elevation gain of 1300 feet. This is not a fast cardio paced hike! Please come prepared with a sturdy day pack, water, snacks, closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, first aid, and all other supplies to keep you safe and healthy on the trail.

Come search for evidence that animals leave behind in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. Mule deer, bobcats, coyotes and even mountain lions call this hidden canyon home. Gain the basic tracking techniques as we search for evidence such as tracks, fur, bones, homes, and even scat. You never know what you may find! Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that you do not mind getting a little dusty. This program is focused on older children and adults.

Enjoy an afternoon family hike in Agua Chinon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We hike a gradual climb of 500 ft elevation as we watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer.  This activity originates in the City of Irvine and travels into Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. The hike will average 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 gradual climb hike. Hikers should be in good health able to do a beginning hike over a variety of terrains. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes and bring water for the hike. Be ready to enjoy the sounds and smells of early evening.

Come along with us on this morning hike through beautiful Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. You’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of The Sinks as well as sweeping views of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains. This hike involves steep climbs and descents on both double and single-track trails.

Ready for a workout? Forget the gym for the day and head outside! Join us for an exhilarating morning fitness hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. This hike allows you to choose between a 3, 6, or 8 mile route, all of which are conducted at the speed of about 3.0 to 3.5 miles per hour. The footing on the asphalt paved road is smoother than dirt roads and single track trails normally found in Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, but is beginning to show its age with cracks, crevices and an occasional dip. Otherwise, the terrain is smooth, so this is a great walk for anyone who wants a “wilderness experience” without getting dirty! The 6 and 8 mile routes experience two fairly steep ascents and descents. The 3 mile route takes you to the top of Loma Ridge and back down. Along the way, you will have sweeping views of much of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains. Various animals, like hawks, deer, and lizards are also frequently seen in this area.

Join us on a slow-paced hike along the back-country ridges and valleys of Agua Chinon Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We’ll travel on rough old ranch roads passing by woodlands of majestic oak trees and expanses of Coastal Sage Scrub and enjoy wonderful vistas. Total round-trip distance is 6 miles with an elevation gain of 1000 feet at an average moving rate of 2.0-2.5 miles per hour. Some of the hills are strenuous and we will take breaks as needed. Participants should be in good hiking condition and have previously completed a similar distance hike.

Explore beautiful Limestone Canyon on this challenging distance hike to the “water tank” beyond the East Sinks viewing area. This distance hike rewards hikers with panoramic unobstructed views of The Sinks, an ancient and dramatic formation of exposed sandstone cliffs. Limestone Canyon is one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the county. In addition to providing sweeping views, the trail passes through coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and oak woodlands. This hike moves between 3 and 3.5 mph with multiple sustained climbs.

Join us every Wednesday night in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space for a fitness-focused hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road. During the spring, summer and fall, hikers will enjoy wonderful sunset views and a panoramic overview of Orange County. This hike travels about 3.5 miles, up to the top of Loma Ridge and back down. The hike is conducted at an average of 3-3.5 miles per hour, but you may travel a bit faster or slower, at a walk, run, or jog depending on your comfort level. Most participants finish the route in about 1 hour. 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.

Spend your morning helping to plant and weed within the new butterfly habitat islands in Limestone. With your help we will be able to maintain “islands” of host and nectar plants for butterflies in decline in Limestone Canyon. You will be transported from via a safari style truck from butterfly island to butterfly island through a beautiful oak woodland.

Do you want to explore the Sinks, a geological rock formation that has got its reputation as “Orange County’s miniature Grand Canyon”? Come out and join us on a hike from the Portola staging area to the West Sinks in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon. Distance is about 6 miles, with some sustained climbing in one section. Participants must wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes. Remember to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, and all other necessary equipment to keep you safe on the trail. This activity originates in the City of Irvine (Portola Staging Area) and travels into OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space.

Spend the morning helping youth from the Suavecito Foundation plant Coast Live Oak seedlings within a beautiful oak woodland and then hike to Dripping Springs, a natural water source dripping out of an earthquake fault and down a gorgeous fern-covered rock face. Your work on the trail will benefit the rare plants and animals that this unique feature supports!

We will meet at the Hicks Haul Road Staging Area and will drive in a safari vehicle to Dripping Springs.

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.

Join us Sunday morning in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space for a fitness-focused hike on the Hicks Haul Road, West Loma and Shoestring trails in Limestone Canyon. Hikers will enjoy wonderful views and a panoramic overview of Orange County. The hike starts at Hicks Haul Road staging area and will cover a distance of 8.5 miles, about 5 miles of the hike is on paved surface and rest on trails. Participants are expected to hike close to 3 miles per hour and come prepared with closed toe hiking boots or shoes, water, trail snacks, sunscreen, hat, day pack or fanny pack, and any other necessary equipment or supplies you might need to keep you safe on this hike.

Come and hike with us to the East 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.

Limestone Canyon is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Join us for an afternoon, fast paced, 5.5-mile fitness hike with 750 ft of elevation. The hike will be a great introduction to fitness, cardio-style hikes as well as OC Parks’ magnificent Irvine Ranch Open Space.  Views of Limestone Canyon, and the surrounding wilderness, from Limestone Ridge will be the highlight of our tour.

Do you want to explore the Sinks, a geological rock formation that has got its reputation as “Orange County’s miniature Grand Canyon”? Come out and join us on a hike from the Portola staging area to the West Sinks in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon. Distance is about 6 miles, with some sustained climbing in one section. Participants must wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes. Remember to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, and all other necessary equipment to keep you safe on the trail. This activity originates in the City of Irvine (Portola Staging Area) and travels into OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space.

Come and hike with us to Dripping Springs, location of the Earthcache site listed on www.geocaching.com. The cache is titled, “Dripping Springs Aquifer- Irvine Ranch Wildlands, GC1ZC04.” This hike is open to existing geocachers, those curious about geocaching and non-geocachers alike. There will be as much time as needed at Dripping Springs so all cachers can record their data and make their observations to confidently log their visit to this cache site. Dripping Springs is a natural spring and fern grotto found in the heart of Limestone Canyon. This hike will follow Limestone Canyon and then up the Sandtrap trail and down to Dripping Springs and back through Limestone Canyon for an approximate 7-mile loop. Total climbing elevation is around 1300 feet.

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.

Ready for a workout? Forget the gym for the day and head outside! Join us for an exhilarating morning fitness hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. This hike allows you to choose between a 3, 6, or 8 mile route, all of which are conducted at the speed of about 3.0 to 3.5 miles per hour. The footing on the asphalt paved road is smoother than dirt roads and single track trails normally found in Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, but is beginning to show its age with cracks, crevices and an occasional dip. Otherwise, the terrain is smooth, so this is a great walk for anyone who wants a “wilderness experience” without getting dirty! The 6 and 8 mile routes experience two fairly steep ascents and descents. The 3 mile route takes you to the top of Loma Ridge and back down. Along the way, you will have sweeping views of much of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains. Various animals, like hawks, deer, and lizards are also frequently seen in this area.