Category: Crystal Cove

Hitting the Trails in Summer

6/5/2015

Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks locations offer a variety of outdoor activities for adventurous families.

Sunday, June 21, is the official start of summer. As schools begin to let out, and as kids look for ways to fill their days, you can help steer them away from the television remote or video game controller and toward some healthy outdoor adventures. While there are plenty of scheduled, docent-led activities for families, it may not always be easy to plan ahead. For busy families, there are also plenty of fun destinations open daily within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks that can help create lasting family memories.

Catch a Spring Sunset This Week

5/9/2014

Free programs in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks take advantage of cool evenings.

Longer days and milder weather are an invitation to get outside in the evening, perhaps to take in a spring sunset. From easy family walks to challenging fitness hikes,www.LetsGoOutside.org is your source for a variety of convenient evening programs in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Free evening programs this week include fitness hikes in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve on the paved Hicks Haul Road. These hikes are offered on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, with the Thursday hike at a slower pace, perfect for beginners. A Friday evening hike will also be available this Friday in the same area along Hicks Haul Road. Sunset yoga and a full moon hike are both on Wednesday at Bommer Canyon in the City of Irvine.

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.

Beyond Hiking and Biking

2/28/2014

There are many ways to enjoy local wilderness, with benefits for your body and soul.

While hiking is a familiar way to enjoy the outdoors, there are other activities like trail running or habitat restoration which offer a new and different way to experience the land. Expanding your outdoor activities is a great way to get fit while enjoying the natural world.

Sticking to sidewalks or the track can become boring for runners. Luckily, the numerous trails in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offer a variety of alternatives. Those who are new to trail running may find it best to start on wider, flatter trains to build up muscles needed for balance. There are several regional and wilderness parks in the OC Parks system that have trails perfect for the novice trail runner. Good examples include Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park and Irvine Regional Park. The beachside wilderness trails at Crystal Cove State Park are also a good choice.

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.

Hitting the Trails in Summer

Catch a Spring Sunset This Week

Fun, Free Outdoor Spring Break Activities

Beyond Hiking and Biking

Bommer Canyon: Irvine’s Gateway to the Sea

Bommer Canyon: The Perfect Summer Playground

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