Discover the joys of nature journaling with a short and slow guided hike at Clark Regional Park. No experience is necessary!

Nature journaling can be practiced in almost any space and combines observations with insights, questions, and connections with the environment around us. It allows us to pay attention to details that might otherwise be overlooked and meditate on their forms and place within the natural world.

This program will begin with an introduction to the basic techniques for beginning and maintaining your nature journal, followed by a warmup activity, then a walk in the park to find a comfortable journaling space. Bring a sketch pad or journal and your own art materials such as pencils, pens, or watercolors. A portable chair is recommended along with sun protection, water and snacks.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

We will meet at the Interpretive Center at 8:00am. Be prepared to move along the trail a short distance and sit to document the beauty around you.

This program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle.

Take a leisurely double loop equestrian ride through beautiful Baker Canyon 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 some of the wildflowers that are native to our area.  You will gain amazing views of the local canyons and Irvine Lake.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity-specific questions you may have prior to registering.

Join OC Parks on a stroll through a majestic and mature oak woodland. We’ll take a hike in upper Wood Canyon following Wood Creek under the canopy of beautiful coast live oak trees. This hike begins at the Canyon View Staging Area and is approximately 2.5 miles with an estimated 200 foot elevation gain.

Please note the following safety precautions and protocols:

Pre-registration on lagunacanyon.org/events is required for this event. No walk-ups. Register here. Please register all participants, including children.
Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A waiver, provided on arrival, must be signed by each participant at the start of the program.
This is a wilderness hike: please wear closed-toe shoes, sun and weather protection, and bring snacks and water.
For questions, please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org
In an effort 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.

Location: Meet at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area. From Pacific Park/Canyon Vistas intersection, go northwest on Canyon Vistas. Park legally (note street signs) on or near Canyon Vistas, preferably between Coastal Oak and Madia (22144 region of Canyon Vistas). We will meet on the paved sidewalk easement leading toward Wood Canyon Trail.

Parking: Free.

Please note: Wet or muddy trail conditions may lead to cancellation of this event.

Spending time outside is one of the best ways to nurture curiosity and instill a love of the natural world. Bring your young ones and join OC Parks staff to learn all about the Newport Back Bay.

Our Wild Tales program is offered every Friday from 10:00-11:00am and includes a story time, an age-appropriate hike, and a themed craft. Each week will focus on a different topic that encourages young ones to learn about the outdoors.

The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for the preschool level (ages 2-5), but all are welcome to attend. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes.

Advance registration is required. Program and parking are free.

Adverse weather conditions may move the program indoors or cancel it.

As the day starts to settle into the night in OCParks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, bats awaken, stir and streak into the evening sky. Come hear fascinating tales of our flying mammals. We will head out towards a popular roosting location as we watch our nighttime heroes begin their nightly adventures. This program is ideal to visually observe the bats in flight, though bat detectors are available to listen for their high-frequency calls. Be prepared to walk about 1/2 a mile. Dress warmly as it may be a chilly evening. A camping chair is welcome as we will enjoy an extended period of time listening for bats that fly about in the night.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-1 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.

As the day starts to settle into night at OC Parks Yorba Regional Park, bats awaken, stir and streak into the evening sky. Come hear fascinating tales of our flying mammals. We will walk along the lake and turn into a forested area where we will watch our nighttime heroes begin their nightly adventures. This program is ideal to visually observe the bats in flight. Be prepared to walk about 1/2 mile. A camping chair brought from home or a seat at a picnic table is welcome as we will spend some time learning about bats before heading out on our bat walk. Please wear closed-toed shoes and assess the evening weather in case you want to bring a light jacket.

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.

Join us on this moderate-paced hike over the ridge and the through beautiful Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We will enjoy short breaks at the East and West Sinks viewing platforms before hiking back through the canyon. We will enjoy a view of wonderful vistas in addition to spectacular view of The Sinks. This hike involves hiking on both double and single-track trails with an elevation gain of 1000.

If you enjoy riding in scenic wilderness on uncrowded single/double track trails, then please join us on this docent led ride in Gypsum Canyon Wilderness Park. Gypsum is a new addition to OC Parks wilderness park offerings and while compact in size it has five new single-track trails that wander up to and around an overlook providing panoramic and interesting views of Gypsum Canyon and the surrounding lands.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land. Electric Mountain Bikes of any class or type are not permitted.

Join Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks at one of our Land Tending Days in Aliso and Woods Wilderness Park as we learn and work together to create a healthier habitat for the native plants and wildlife that call Aliso Creek their home. Depending on the time of year, volunteers will assist with various stewardship activities, including removal of non-native plants, hand watering, seed collection, and/or planting of native plants. No experience is necessary, and all tools will be provided. Come out and join the team to help restore the wild lands we all enjoy!

Please note the following safety precautions and protocols:

Pre-registration on lagunacanyon.org/events is required for this event. No walk-ups. Register here.
Each participant must register individually. For group registration or questions, please email Dulce at dulce@lagunacanyon.org.
Group sizes will be minimized for safety purposes.
Participants must be at least 16 years old and those younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A waiver, provided on arrival, must be signed by each participant at the start of the program.
Please wear long pants, closed- toed shoes and sun protection, and bring water.
In an effort 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.

Location: Volunteers will meet Foxborough Park (27101 Foxborough
Aliso Viejo, Ca 92656) and we will walk to the project site together.

Parking: Free street parking on Foxborough.

Please note: Wet or muddy trail conditions may lead to cancellation of this event.

Access is first come first served until parking capacity is reached. No registration required.

Equestrians, while space is not guaranteed we encourage you to please email irvineranchopenspace@ocparks.com to coordinate parking.

Come explore 3.3 miles of new trails at Saddleback Wilderness, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, through this self-guided opportunity. Designated trails will be open for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian use. There are multiple trail loop options which vary in distance and level of difficulty. Choices range from an easy one-mile loop to multiple figure-8 configurations for those looking to maximize their mileage. Regardless of distance, nearly all options feature scenic views including a destination vista point offering 360-degree perspectives from the mountains to the sea.

Please review our Trail Tips page and FAQ page to prepare for your experience in the wilderness area.

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.

Join us for this evening program as we explore biodiversity at the local level with that most diverse group of organisms, the insects! Taking advantage of the fact that UV light is highly visible to most insects, we will attract them by using black-lights (low energy/low frequency UV lights). We can then examine them up close, record the different types (and their numbers). Don’t forget your camera as you’ll see creatures that are normally buzzing around, but not highly visible. You will be able to help us document what we find.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-1 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.

Come enjoy an early morning hike in Fremont Canyon Nature Preserve, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. Our hike climbs steeply from the mouth of Fremont Canyon, past an abandoned coal mine up to the Fremont Weather Station where winds have been clocked at up to 100 mph. After enjoying the view, we’ll hike back the same way to our starting point. This hike involves steep hills and a 1200’ elevation change but the rewards are panoramic views of Orange County, the Santa Ana Mountains and surrounding areas as well as possible wildlife sightings. Please arrive 15 minutes early; the entrance gate will be shut and locked 5 minutes before start of the activity. Be sure to 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.

Experience the early morning serenity of Bommer Meadow during this slow-paced hike in the Irvine Open Space Preserve. We’ll experience mature coastal sage scrub and wildlife. This hike is 2 miles and includes 200 feet of total elevation.

Visitors to IRC’s Native Seed Farm are first greeted by our Demonstration Garden, providing inspiration for regionally suitable plant gardens. Our garden hosts a variety of native plant species which support a healthy local ecosystem!

IRC Volunteers are invited to help at our monthly Garden Maintenance Day! Our tasks each day are to be determined, but we’ll be tackling whatever jobs are a top priority to keep our Garden teeming with native plant life. Weeding, clearing, cutting, digging, watering, whatever it takes! Activities may include bending, stooping, crouching, squatting, long periods of standing, reaching, pulling, grabbing, and pushing.

If you are new to mountain biking and interested in getting started the right way, or if you just want to hone your existing skills developing terrain-influenced bike handling over several types of man-made features, this is the clinic for you! The class begins with a brief overview of rider fundamentals starting with platform position and weight transfer then covering equipment basics & setup, braking, gearing and a brief bike maintenance Q&A session followed by a series of exercises demonstrating terrain-influenced bike handling over a variety of man-made features including log piles, rock step-ups, A-frames and many more. These 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’ Irvine Ranch Open Space.

Join Mile Square Regional Park staff and volunteers in enhancing the Nature Area habitat for local wildlife. Activities may include non-native plant removal, planting natives, watering, trash cleanup, and Butterfly Garden maintenance.

No experience is necessary; please bring a hat, sunscreen, snacks, water, wear closed toe shoes and a long sleeve shirt is recommended. Tools are provided. Please arrive on time, as work will begin promptly at 8 am.

Please note, this is a weekly reoccurring activity and space is limited. Please park in the Overflow/gravel lot and meet at the volunteer shed just a few yards west of the Overflow/gravel lot entrance.

• Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
• Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times.
• Rain or heat advisories cancel the event

Do you want to unplug and relax into nature? Come on a “Nature Meditation Walk.” Join a Naturalist on a guided walk to truly be outside and allow your natural sense of wonder to take you to a mindful space outside.

We will walk (less than 1 mile) and take stops along the way to engage in playful, “invitations,” activities, to deepen our connection with the outside world and ourselves. Our walk will end with a tea ceremony (local herbs and honey) of reciprocity, a segue from the special, quiet space we share on our walk, back to the busy world.

Disclaimer: This program involves making and drinking tea made from sustainably sourced native plants. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, please be sure to notify park staff upon arrival.

Please wear close-toed shoes, sun protection, and bring water. A yoga mat or portable chair is suggested. Sitting materials will be provided for those who need it. For the program, expect to quiet your cellphones.

Recommended for ages 10 and older. No experience necessary!

Pre-registration on lagunacanyon.org is required for this event. No walk-ups. Register here. Each participant must register individually. For group registration or questions, please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org.

Parking is $3.

We will begin on the patio of Nix Nature Center. This is a 2-hour program. Please note that adverse weather may cancel the program.