Category: Mesa Loop

Trade TV for the Trails

4/21/2016

Embrace Screen-Free Week and explore the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

With all the technology people have right at their fingertips, it can be easy at times to forget what adventures await outdoors. National Screen-Free Week, May 2-8, is a program by the non-profit Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood encouraging people to put their smartphones away and embrace life beyond digital entertainment. Multiple locations within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are close to Orange County residents, so it’s the perfect place to go to grab a breath of fresh air and connect with the outdoors.

Leap into the Landmarks

2/19/2016

Take a cue from mule deer and leap into the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks during a variety of docent-led programs.

This year is a leap year, giving us 366 days in 2016 instead of 365. While the Earth takes some much-needed time to completely orbit around the sun, why not make the most of the extra 24 hours? With our unseasonably warm weather and ample sunshine, take advantage of this year’s bonus day by exploring outdoors with your family and friends.

There are plenty of family-friendly programs happening on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. To help choose the best one for your group, the LetsGoOutside.org site lists a “Difficulty Rating” with each activity.

The difficulty rating is based on factors including the activity’s distance, elevation gain, and trail surface to help visitors determine which program is right for them. Activities assigned a Level 1 or 2 Difficulty Rating are often slower paced and a great option to consider when looking to connect with the land while bonding with your family. All programs listed below are a Level 2 Difficulty Rating, making them an optimal outing for nearly anyone in your group. Each activity has a minimum age limit, so check that out on the website as well.

Share the Landmarks with Someone Special

2/5/2016

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to spot hearts out in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Give those who matter most to you the gift of quality time together outdoors this Valentine’s Day.

Wildflowers are starting to bloom; the sun is out a bit longer each night; and if you look up in the sky, you just might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of raptors courting – all sure signs Valentine’s Day is nearing in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Rather than book a reservation at a crowded, overpriced restaurant to celebrate, surprise your loved one this year with an outdoor adventure.

Whether it’s a romantic night hike, an adventurous outing, or an excursion for the whole family, show the people who matter most to you one of the most special sights in Orange County by exploring the Landmarks together this Valentine’s Day. Read more below to see which activity is right for you.

Catch Sight of Birds Weathering the Winter

1/29/2016

White-tailed kite photo courtesy of David Furseth

Despite colder weather, there are still plenty of opportunities for bird-watchers visiting the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Many animals might hibernate for the winter, but this season can be prime bird-watching time for those in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. While birds don’t have to contend with blizzards or snowstorms here, they do employ certain tactics to handle the colder-than-normal temperatures of winter. Avoiding wind and roosting away in small, heat-enclosing spaces are common behaviors exhibited this season, according to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which studies birds and other wildlife. But our feathered friends also battle the cold by hanging out in large flocks for greater protection and eating as much as possible – activities that could keep them out and about (and easier to spot) to the delight of avian enthusiasts.

Not Too Late for New Year’s Resolutions

1/22/2016

Limestone Canyon photo courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer Alex Gurrola.

Whether it’s staying fit, giving back to community or spending time with the family, give your New Year’s resolution a second wind at the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Already slipping on your New Year’s resolutions? You may find the solution out on the trails.

A study by Franklin Covey showed that 35 percent of people will have already broken those commendable promises by the end of January. If you’re at risk for joining that group, let the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks give your New Year’s resolution a second wind. Year after year, the most popular resolutions include getting healthy, trying something new, giving back to the community, and spending more time with the family; whichever of these resonate with you most, there’s an activity outdoors that can help you still make 2016 your best year yet.

New Loop Trail is Both Simple and Breathtaking

1/1/2016

The Mesa Loop Trail opens for docent-led activities and spectacular plateau views.

There’s an area in OC Parks’ Black Star Canyon that locals call “the Mesa,” and it certainly lives up to its name. Standing at the top of the Library Trail along the Mesa Loop, you can take in a 360° view that includes Black Star Canyon, Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, and Cleveland National Forest. Beginning in January, visitors can check out this view for themselves during a variety of docent-led activities provided by OC Parks and led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

Events kick off Tuesday, Jan. 19, with Quick Cardio on the Mesa, where visitors can explore the sights and smells of coastal sagebrush and the vista of the canyons while getting a workout in. Additional programs tailored to different interests ensure there are a variety of ways to connect to the land, including Twilight Trek on the Mesa on Friday, Jan. 22, for night owls; family-focused activities such as Morning on the Mesa Loop Family Hike on Saturday, Feb. 13; and even Art on the Landmarks for those seeking inspiration from nature. There is a new program to enjoy on the Mesa Loop nearly every week throughout the winter, and you can register for them at www.LetsGoOutside.org/activities.

Trade TV for the Trails

Leap into the Landmarks

Share the Landmarks with Someone Special

Catch Sight of Birds Weathering the Winter

Not Too Late for New Year’s Resolutions

New Loop Trail is Both Simple and Breathtaking

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Trade TV for the﻿ Trails

Leap into the Landmarks

Share the Landmarks with Someone Special

Catch Sight of Birds Weathering the Winter

Not Too Late for New Year’s Resolutions

New Loop Trail is Both Simple and Breathtaking

About

Archives

Categories

Trade TV for the Trails