The activities below are offered by a variety of organizations and their dedicated volunteers. All programs are FREE unless noted below. Programs led by IRC-Certified Volunteers require pre-registration, which closes at 4 p.m. on the day prior to the event. No walk-up registrations will be permitted for these events. For policies of other organizations, please use the sign-up information provided. For mobility device policies click here.
Note: Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for these events. For programs requiring online registration, each adult and child must be registered. |
Need help? For the fastest answers, look for organization-specific contact information in each event listing (click More Information for full listing). If no contact information is listed, email info@irconservancy.org for assistance.
Updated Difficulty Ratings: The Hiking and Fitness Difficulty Ratings have been updated to reflect our current activities. Please click below to read the ratings.
Click here to learn more about IRC-Certified Volunteers. • Click here to learn more about the Difficulty Ratings.
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Saturday, December 14, 2024
Intro to Cardio Hike: Weir Canyon
Thinking the cardio hikes might be too fast for you? If so, join us in beautiful Weir Canyon for this slower introduction to cardio hiking. Along the trail, you’ll pass through coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and oak woodlands where deer and bobcats are frequently observed. We will take breaks as needed but will try to keep a 2.5 mile per hour pace and will go 4 miles and around 900 ft elevation gain.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Seasonal Science Series: Oak Woodlands and the Invasive Threat They Face
Spend the morning learning about our local Native Oak, the Coast Live Oak and the invasive beetle that poses a very real threat to our oak woodland’s health and survival. We will take a slow-paced interpretive hike along the back-country ridges and valleys of Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. As we travel through the majestic oak woodland, we will discuss oak woodland health and current issues that they face, such as the Gold Spotted Oak Borer.
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Moderate Cardio Hike: Weir Canyon Rifle Range Loop
Join us in beautiful Weir Canyon for this moderate paced cardio hike. Along the trail, you’ll pass through coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and oak woodlands where deer and bobcats are frequently observed. Multiple steep climbs and descents, and sweeping views, are included throughout this 6-mile hike. Please make sure you are in excellent physical condition! Even though this is a slower cardio hike, it is faster than a walk. You must be able to hike 3+ miles per hour the entire time without stopping.
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Nurturing Oaks in Weir Canyon
Spend the morning in a beautiful oak woodland planting Coast Live Oak seedlings and native plants in Weir Canyon. To get to the planting site we will travel for 15 minutes in a safari style truck giving you majestic views of Weir Canyon. We may be using shovels and small handheld tools. No experience necessary.
Friday, January 10, 2025
Early Morning Hike: Santiago Oaks to Weir
Join us on this beautiful early morning hike passing through Irvine and Santiago Oaks Regional Parks and then crossing into Weir Canyon Nature Preserve, part of Irvine Ranch Open Space. Leaving Santiago Oaks, we drop into lower Weir Canyon, winding our way back to Irvine Regional Park. Distance is around 7 miles with a few steep climbs and descents.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Weir Canyon Fitness Hike: Oaks to Overlook Loop
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.
Monday, January 27, 2025
Equestrian Ride: Discover The Natural Wonders of Weir Canyon
Be prepared to experience the beauty and wonder of Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, steeped in history and lore, on this morning equestrian ride. The ride will travel through Weir Canyon, where the trail weaves its way through a beautiful oak woodland inhabited by deer, coyote, bobcat, and many different birds. You will travel the route of the Butterfield Stage and see a monument dedicated to the Mexican ox cart drivers. If time permits, we will climb to the Two Tower vista point to look at distant views. This ride travels on wide trails with several easy to moderate climbs. Equestrians who have trail riding experience and their own fit and able horse are welcome. You will need to transport your horse to the staging area. Owners of unshod horses, please note that footing will include areas of gravel and distances over asphalt pavement. Please bring water on the ride.
Friday, January 31, 2025
Early Morning Hike: Weir Canyon
Join us on this early morning hike enjoying beautiful Weir Canyon Nature Preserve, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. Starting in Irvine Regional Park, we pass through Lower and Upper Weir Canyon to a scenic overlook. We then head down Upper Blind Canyon as we wind our way back to our starting point. This hike is around 9.5 miles with one significant climb and descent.
GSOB Monitoring in Oak Woodlands of Upper Weir Canyon, Volunteers Only
The Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB) is an introduced non-native invasive beetle that is greatly impacting our native oak species. IRC is working to enhance and protect our oak woodland habitat by monitoring oaks throughout the landmarks in some of our major canyon bottoms. Join our annual GSOB monitoring efforts and help protect the oak woodlands on the Irvine Ranch Landmarks.
GSOB Monitoring- Participants will learn about the signs and symptoms of Gold Spotted Oak Borer infestations in oak trees, as well as survey techniques for detecting GSOB. Using a mobile data collection app, participants will locate known infested trees, inspect trunks for GSOB specific exit holes, identify and mark the holes, and update the data collection form for each surveyed tree. More information will be given at the training for future monitoring activities.
Monday, February 3, 2025
Equestrian Ride: Discover The Natural Wonders Of Weir Canyon
Be prepared to experience the beauty and wonder of Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, steeped in history and lore, on this morning equestrian ride. The ride will travel through Weir Canyon, where the trail weaves its way through a beautiful oak woodland inhabited by deer, coyote, bobcat, and many different birds. You will travel the route of the Butterfield Stage and see a monument dedicated to the Mexican ox cart drivers. If time permits, we will climb to the Two Tower vista point to look at distant views. This ride travels on wide trails with several easy to moderate climbs. Equestrians who have trail riding experience and their own fit and able horse are welcome. You will need to transport your horse to the staging area. Owners of unshod horses, please note that footing will include areas of gravel and distances over asphalt pavement. Please bring water on the ride.
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Nurturing Oaks in Weir Canyon
Spend the morning in a beautiful oak woodland planting Coast Live Oak seedlings and native plants in Weir Canyon. To get to the planting site we will travel for 15 minutes in a safari style truck giving you majestic views of Weir Canyon. We may be using shovels and small handheld tools. No experience necessary.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Enjoy Nature’s Story, Vistas, and Special Places – Intro Hike in Weir Canyon to Ox Cart Monument
Join us on a slow-paced hike along the back-country ridges and valleys of Weir Canyon, part of OCParks’ 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 5 miles with an elevation gain of 500 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. Please come prepared with a backpack, plenty of water (at least 1 liter), snacks, sturdy closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, first aid kit, and all other supplies to keep you safe and healthy on the trail. Each hiker must carry their own water and supplies. Under-prepared participants may be denied access to the event.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Early Morning Hike: Santiago Oaks to Weir
Join us on this beautiful early morning hike passing through Irvine and Santiago Oaks Regional Parks and then crossing into Weir Canyon Nature Preserve, part of Irvine Ranch Open Space. Leaving Santiago Oaks, we drop into lower Weir Canyon, winding our way back to Irvine Regional Park. Distance is around 7 miles with a few steep climbs and descents.
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Weir Canyon Fitness Hike: Oaks to Overlook Loop
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 1800 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.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Equestrian Ride: Exploring the Natural Wonders of Weir Canyon and the Overlook Trail
Be prepared to experience the beauty and wonder of Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, including the beautiful views from the Overlook Trail. This ride will travel through Weir Canyon, where the trail weaves its way through a beautiful oak woodland inhabited by deer, coyotes, bobcats, and a variety of native birds. You will travel the route of the Butterfield Stagecoach and see a monument dedicated to the Mexican Ox Cart drivers. We will continue our ride through coastal sage scrub over large rock formations past oak woodlands and up the Overlook Trail. On a clear day, we will be rewarded with sweeping views of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and more distant views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles Basin, and Cleveland National Forest.
The participant’s horse must be able to ride 9+ miles with an accumulated elevation gain of 1800 feet.
Monday, February 24, 2025
Monday Morning Super Trek: Weir Canyon to the Overlook Trail
Come start your week with us on our Super Treks in the Landmarks. Join us as we explore Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We will hike up over Rifle Range and continue to the Overlook Trail where we will be rewarded with sweeping views of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and more distant views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles Basin, and Cleveland National Forest. We will return through a beautiful oak woodland. Please wear hiking shoes/boots and bring water, a trail snack, sunscreen, hat, and any other necessary equipment to keep you safe on the trail. Participants must be able to hike 9+ miles with an accumulated elevation gain of 1800 feet at an average moving rate of 3 miles per hour.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Nurturing Oaks in Weir Canyon
Spend the morning in a beautiful oak woodland planting Coast Live Oak seedlings and native plants in Weir Canyon. To get to the planting site we will travel for 15 minutes in a safari style truck giving you majestic views of Weir Canyon. We may be using shovels and small handheld tools. No experience necessary.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Nature Hike in Weir Canyon
Spend the morning hiking through an Oak woodland at a pace that allows you to take it all in. Let’s get outside and enjoy nature at its finest along the back-country ridges and valleys of Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. As we travel through the majestic oak woodland, we will admire and appreciate the crunch of duff, the shade of a sprawling canopy, and the natural beauty of our native Coast Live Oak.
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Weir Canyon Fitness Hike: Oaks to Overlook Loop
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 1800 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.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Equestrian Ride: Exploring the Natural Wonders of Weir Canyon and the Overlook Trail
Be prepared to experience the beauty and wonder of Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, including the beautiful views from the Overlook Trail. This ride will travel through Weir Canyon, where the trail weaves its way through a beautiful oak woodland inhabited by deer, coyotes, bobcats, and a variety of native birds. You will travel the route of the Butterfield Stagecoach and see a monument dedicated to the Mexican Ox Cart drivers. We will continue our ride through coastal sage scrub over large rock formations past oak woodlands and up the Overlook Trail. On a clear day, we will be rewarded with sweeping views of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and more distant views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles Basin, and Cleveland National Forest.
The participant’s horse must be able to ride 9+ miles with an accumulated elevation gain of 1800 feet.