Category: Bommer Canyon

Spend Mother's Day with Mother Nature

5/2/2014

Treat your mom to time outdoors with these fun, free activities.

Spending Mother’s Day exploring the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks will not only shake up the brunch-and-flowers routine, but will create family memories that Mom will never forget. There are many different opportunities abound for spending time with your Mom – and Mother Nature – on Sunday, May 11.

Two programs are available for the active mom looking for a great workout on Mother’s Day. For a rewarding and relaxing activity, try Yiking. This popular program starts off with a strenuous hike and ends with a relaxing yoga session in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. Another activity to get the heart pumping and the feet moving is Zumba. This aerobic workout is also offered on Sunday in Limestone Canyon, and is open to participants 12 and older.

Trail Re-Opened in Bommer Canyon

4/11/2014

Trail-side habitat has been restored and paths upgraded along Bommer Pass Trail.

The Bommer Pass Trail in the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve re-opened March 28. The trail was closed in January so that the Irvine Ranch Conservancy could perform trail maintenance and habitat restoration. The Conservancy, which manages the City’s Open Space Preserve, worked with volunteers to restore habitat and improve trail drainage during the 3-month project.

The Bommer Pass Trail was opened for daily public access in 2011. Visitors use the trail to bypass the Cattle Camp events area, and to connect to the rest of the Bommer Canyon trail system. From Bommer Canyon, trails connect all the way to Crystal Cove State Park beach. During the closure, a path near Cattle Camp led visitors to the connecting trails. Informative signs along this path informed visitors of the work being done to the trail.

Fun, Free Outdoor Spring Break Activities

3/28/2014

Spend time outdoors with your kids while they enjoy spring break.

Right about now, you’re checking out your kids’ school calendar and wondering how to transform their week of vacation into fun for the whole family. On behalf of the OC Parks and the City of Irvine, Irvine Ranch Conservancy will be hosting several family-friendly programs in April that are perfect for a spring break outing.

Most programs require pre-registration and an adult to accompany the kids, so use the links provided to find out more about these opportunities.

Help Restore Bommer Pass Trail

3/14/2014

Volunteers needed to help restore trailside habitat in Bommer Canyon.

Volunteers are needed to help restore trailside habitat in the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon. On Tuesday, March 18, the Bommer Pass Stewardship activity will focus on the popular Bommer Pass Trail that has been closed since January. Irvine Ranch Conservancy, which manages the City’s Open Space Preserve, has been monitoring regrowth in the area and wants to take advantage of recent rains.

Love is in the Air and in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks!

2/7/2014

1 Comment

Show your love for the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks this Valentine's Day.

Days are getting longer, spring is on the way and love is in the air. Valentine’s Day must be getting near. Instead of dinner and a movie or the usual chocolates, do something different this year and spend time with loved ones outdoors.

Enjoy an evening hike under the full moon this Valentine’s Day. The City of Irvine has partnered with Irvine Ranch Conservancy to host a “Full Moon Hike – Bommer Canyon” on February 14. Full moon hikes are extremely popular as participants can experience the Irvine Open Space at night when trails are usually closed. The activity is on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is open to all over the age of 8.

1 Comment

Volunteers Needed to Help Restore Trail in Bommer Canyon

1/10/2014

Residents are invited to help City’s land stewardship partner repair trails and restore adjacent habitat.

The popular Bommer Pass Trail in the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve will be closed starting January 13 for repair and restoration by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, which manages the City’s Open Space Preserve. Residents are invited to help participate and work with Conservancy staff to restore habitat in Bommer Canyon.

This is the first time the trail has been closed for restoration since it was opened to daily self-guided access in 2011. Immediate work is necessary to make rapid repairs and replant habitat before the rainy season. The closure is expected to last until April 1.

‘Social’ Trails: A Nice Name for a Pesky Problem

1/3/2014

1 Comment

Informal and unauthorized trails can damage habitat and lead to trail closures.

Trekking along in Bommer Canyon, you see a narrow path that cuts straight down through a curving switchback trail. The path is not marked, but it looks like a shortcut. While the shortest route between two points may be a straight line, that is not always what’s best for the surrounding habitat. And that little shortcut may also lead to a citation or fine.

Why is taking a shortcut such a big deal? Unmarked paths like these are known as “social” or “informal” trails, and are not legal. Landowners have obligations to various local, state and federal agencies to maintain local open space; preserving habitat while providing recreation opportunities. These agencies require landowners such as OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach to develop Recreation and Resource Management Plans for the open space and wilderness areas they own. These plans not only include strategies for stewardship of the land, but they also include a system of authorized trails that will be maintained by the landowner for public use.

1 Comment

Learning the Origins of Halloween Traditions

10/18/2013

Upcoming activities explore history of Halloween in different cultures.

While some people gear up for Halloween, others are getting ready for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). These holidays may seem similar, but their divergent origins will be explored in upcoming programs hosted by Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

First, in OC Parks’ Fremont Nature Preserve, discover the origins of Halloween by learning about the Gaelic festival of Samhain (pronounced SAH-win). Traditionally, the festival marked the end of harvest season, and was observed with a feast where ghosts of deceased relatives were welcomed. However, harmful spirits were warded off by wearing masks or costumes to confuse them. People would carve turnips into lanterns with faces, which were used to scare off these evil spirits. References to this holiday can be found in early Irish literature, and over time the celebrations of Samhain, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ day merged to form the modern-day Halloween.

City of Irvine Hosts Earth Day in Bommer Canyon

4/10/2013

Free event includes hiking, bird watching and other earth-friendly ways to enjoy open space.

Every year, people around the world celebrate their connections to the environment on Earth Day. The City of Irvine and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy invite the public to celebrate Earth Day at Bommer Canyon, exploring the connections between urban life and the open spaces that are so close to home.

The event will be held in conjunction with the monthly Wilderness Access Day on Saturday, April 20, beginning at 9 a.m. Community partners will provide information on native plants, local wildlife, outdoor adventures, and the City’s environmental initiatives until 1 p.m. at Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp. Residents are invited to continue exploring all Bommer Canyon trails until 3 p.m.

Celebrating Spirits During Dia de los Muertos

10/19/2012

Learn how Mexican and Latin cultures honor loved ones during this annual holiday.

Halloween wouldn't be the same without images of spooky ghosts, but in Mexico and many Latin American countries, this is a time to celebrate the spirits of the dearly departed. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy invites you to learn more about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations through two outdoor activities this month.

While Halloween traditions teach us to fear spirits, you can learn how other cultures honor and remember their departed loved ones during the annual holiday of Dia de los Muertos. Participants will explore the cultural significance of this festive holiday, and even decorate skull figurines to decorate their homes. Docents from the Irvine Ranch Conservancy will explain the origin of this holiday, as well as the current ways in which it is celebrated around the world.

Painting and Watching the Birds of Bommer Canyon

7/6/2012

Ever see a bird in a faraway tree or soaring overhead and wish you could get a close-up look? That flash of yellow could be a Hooded Oriole, or the little birds scurrying along the trail could be California Quail. On Saturday, July 14, you can learn more about the winged residents of Bommer Canyon and even paint your own bird picture during "Painting Our Beautiful Birds in Bommer.”

The program will not only include a short bird walk to see wildlife in action, but will also make use of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy taxidermy collection so you can see the birds up-close. This activity is geared toward kids ages 8 and over, as well as adults who want to learn about the movement and form of local birds.

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.

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.

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.

Spring Brings a Bounty of Blooms

4/6/2012

The hills are painted with the colors of spring, and a variety of upcoming wildflower walks will make sure you won’t miss a single bloom. Spring brings native beauty to the Irvine Ranch, from the state flower, California poppy, to the whimsically-named bush monkey flower.

Whether it’s a wildflower walk or any other activity out on the landmarks, bring your camera and maybe a wildflower field guide in pursuit of the lupine, Parry’s phacelia, common fiddleneck, wishbone bush, blue-eyed grass, and chia in bloom now. The landmarks also have a large showing of yellow deerweed blooms and pink bush mallow flowers, as these are known as “fire followers,” which are more active in the years immediately following wildfires.

Turtle Ridge Trail Connects Neighborhoods to Nature

4/6/2012

While taking in the natural beauty of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you usually don’t stop to think too much about the path you’re on – and that’s the mark of a well-built trail. When a trail integrates seamlessly into the landscape, as if it had always been there, the experience is better for the visitor and better for the surrounding habitat.

The Irvine Ranch Conservancy kept this goal in mind when designing the new Turtle Ridge in the City of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve. The trail opened in November 2011, but it began back in 2005 as a plan to connect the Bommer Vista Point neighborhood park to the West Fork Trail in Bommer Canyon.

Vandalism Necessitates Closure of Turtle Ridge Trail

2/17/2012

Recently-restored native habitat along trail was damaged.

Turtle Ridge Trail was closed Monday after habitat restoration areas near the trail were vandalized, including destruction of several recently-planted Laurel Sumac hedges. An Irvine Police Department sergeant discovered native plant seedlings had been trampled, restoration notification signs pulled out of the ground, and trail markers destroyed along the trail in Bommer Canyon.

The public trail was completed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy in November 2011, and was the subject of a grant from REI and hundreds of hours of community volunteer work. Native plant restoration is key to trail building, helping to preserve the surrounding delicate habitat. The Turtle Ridge Trail in Irvine’s Open Space Preserve was open daily from dawn until dusk for hiking and biking. The Irvine Police Department regularly patrols Irvine’s Open Space Preserve.

Forward>>

Spend Mother's Day with Mother Nature

Trail Re-Opened in Bommer Canyon

Fun, Free Outdoor Spring Break Activities

Help Restore Bommer Pass Trail

Love is in the Air and in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks!

Volunteers Needed to Help Restore Trail in Bommer Canyon

‘Social’ Trails: A Nice Name for a Pesky Problem

Learning the Origins of Halloween Traditions

City of Irvine Hosts Earth Day in Bommer Canyon

Celebrating Spirits During Dia de los Muertos

Painting and Watching the Birds of Bommer Canyon

Bommer Canyon: Irvine’s Gateway to the Sea

Bommer Canyon: The Perfect Summer Playground

Prepare for Summer Adventure with Hiking Basics Clinic

Spring Brings a Bounty of Blooms

Turtle Ridge Trail Connects Neighborhoods to Nature

Vandalism Necessitates Closure of Turtle Ridge Trail

About

Archives

Categories