Activities and Programs

Be part of a hiking series inspired by current IRC projects in research, monitoring, and conservation. This rotating series highlights different areas of the landscape depending on the season and ongoing projects.

In this session, we’ll spend the morning exploring Limestone Canyon, observing local plants and animals, and learning how to identify them using the iNaturalist app.

Before arriving, please download the free iNaturalist app and create an account on your smartphone to fully participate in the activity.

During the hike, we’ll stop at 2–3 butterfly monitoring plots for 5–10 minutes each to document the flora and fauna we encounter using the app. It’s a great opportunity to contribute to community science while deepening your connection to the land.

Have you ever come across a mysterious track on a trail and wondered what animal made it? Was it a mountain lion? A deer? A bobcat, gray fox, or even an opossum? Where was it going—and what was it doing?

If you’re curious about the wildlife that moves invisibly around us, join us for a slow-paced, 3-hour Track & Sign Activity that invites participants of all skill levels to engage their senses and connect with nature. This guided hike will cover 2.5 to 3 miles with some elevation gain, taking you through a variety of habitats and up a single-track trail with switchbacks to an overlook point offering spectacular view of the canyon.

Along the way, you’ll learn how to identify animal tracks and signs, and how you can contribute as a citizen scientist to help the Irvine Ranch Conservancy gather important data. This information is critical for protecting both local habitats and the wildlife that depend on them.

Animals leave behind clues—footprints, fur, feathers, and even scat—that reveal who they are and what they’ve been doing. With a bit of practice, you’ll begin to interpret these signs whether you’re hiking, walking on the beach, or gardening in your own backyard.  Come prepared to slow down, look closely, and see the land through a new lens.