Blog Archives

Social Trails Become Sustainable Trails in Upper Buck Gully

6/29/2012

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.

Bommer Canyon: Irvine’s Gateway to the Sea

6/29/2012

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.

It’s Summer Vacation Time for Plants, Too

6/29/2012

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.

Bommer Canyon: The Perfect Summer Playground

6/29/2012

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.

Keep Kids Busy with Family Outdoor Activities

6/22/2012

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.

Conservancy Volunteers Lead the Way Through OC’s Wilderness

6/15/2012

Trained volunteers help people discover the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks while restoring and sustaining local wildlife habitats.

The question most asked on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks may be: “What’s that?”

Whether the subject is an odd-looking plant along the trail or a bird flying high overhead, this question is answered many times a day on wilderness programs led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers. While the more than 350 volunteers come from a variety of professional backgrounds, they receive technical naturalist and stewardship training that allows them to easily and enthusiastically answer just about any nature question thrown their way.

Prepare for Summer Adventure with Hiking Basics Clinic

6/8/2012

Free workshop will cover equipment, maps, safety and basic guidelines for walking and hiking in the local wilderness.

If you've wanted to explore the wilderness all around you in Orange County but weren't sure where to start, one workshop will have you hitting the trails with confidence. On June 16, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and the City of Irvine will host “Introduction to Walking and Hiking in the Outdoors” in Bommer Canyon. The workshop is free and aimed at providing basic information to new or novice hikers ages 12 and over.

Beginners looking to gain confidence and knowledge will learn trail etiquette, proper preparation, and how to choose equipment such as clothing, shoes, packs and day hiking gadgetry. The two-hour workshop begins at 9:00 am Saturday, June 16, and will be led by Certified Interpretive Guide Brian Hughes, Irvine Ranch Conservancy Interpretive Specialist. Guests are encouraged to bring folding portable chairs for the presentation-style clinic.

Improved Buck Gully Reserve Trails Now Open

6/1/2012

Reconstructed trails are better for visitors and for the environment.

Newport Beach Mayor Nancy Gardner was joined by residents and partners to dedicate more than three miles of renovated trails in the Buck Gully Reserve. 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 in the 300-acre 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.

Social Trails Become Sustainable Trails in Upper Buck Gully

Bommer Canyon: Irvine’s Gateway to the Sea

It’s Summer Vacation Time for Plants, Too

Bommer Canyon: The Perfect Summer Playground

Keep Kids Busy with Family Outdoor Activities

Conservancy Volunteers Lead the Way Through OC’s Wilderness

Prepare for Summer Adventure with Hiking Basics Clinic

Improved Buck Gully Reserve Trails Now Open

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