Many Newport Beach residents have enjoyed the trails in Upper Buck Gully, but now the trails are a lot more user-friendly – and habitat-friendly. A recent trail renovation project made possible by the City of Newport Beach, State of California and Irvine Ranch Conservancy included the dramatic placement of four bridges by helicopter, as well as other improvements along the three-mile gully.

Four aluminum bridges, ranging in length from 35 to 50 feet, were installed in April and anchored in place. The bridges span areas that were previously traversed in ways that weren’t optimum for the traveler, or for the ecosystem. Conservationists and planners call trails like the ones forged in Buck Gully “social trails.” These trails are created by the trail users, and can create opportunities for weed invasion and erosion. Since the trails are not created by public landowners, social trails in some areas can even lead into private property, causing the user to trespass unknowingly.

For Irvine residents, a trip to the beach usually means battling freeway traffic. However, a seven-mile hike through Orange County’s only National Natural Landmark is all that stands between standing on the sidewalk and feeling the sand between your toes.  

Those in the know have perfected the mountains-to-sea procedure. Just find a friend who would rather sit on the beach than hike. They drop you off at Bommer Canyon, then you take the scenic route on foot through the Irvine Open Space Preserve and Crystal Cove State Park to meet your driver, waiting on the beach. The trails also accommodate mountain bikers ready for a 14-mile round trip.  

As the weather heats up and people plan their restful summer vacations, plants are doing the same. Across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, the bright colors of spring are fading, and the plants of this Mediterranean climate are preparing for summer. You may look around and see the hills turning “brown,” but look closer, and you’ll see plants cleverly adapting to warmer weather as a means of survival.

Mediterranean climate areas such as Southern California cover less than 2% of the earth’s surface, yet contain nearly 20% of the known plant species in the world. These ecosystems are a worldwide conservation priority, and their ability to go dormant – in some cases, “brown” – over the summer is critical to their survival through the dry season. The dormant state of many perennial plants is an excellent survival adaptation that allows them to conserve energy and water.

For inland Orange County residents, a trip to the beach usually means battling summer freeway traffic. However, for those who have discovered the Bommer Canyon trailhead, a six-mile bike ride or hike through beautiful open space is all that stands between urban Irvine and feeling the sand between your toes in Crystal Cove.

Connectivity to Crystal Cove State Park is just one of the reasons Bommer Canyon is a hub of summer activity. Open daily, the Bommer Canyon trailhead is the gateway to a unique open space landscape, summer camps, and an expansive trail system that helps connect the mountains to the sea.

 Hikes and walks for kids of all ages help ease summertime boredom.

Summer is officially here – begin the countdown until your kids utter the dreaded phrase: “I’m bored.”

Be prepared with a list of family-friendly outdoor summer activities in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. From the mountains to the sea, opportunities abound for both daily-access trails and docent-led programs. The variety of activity will help avoid another summer of video games, and better still, offers outdoor experiences that create lasting family memories.