A view of Shoestring Road and the spadefoot toad habitat restoration site from West Loma Ridge.
OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve is a lush canyon full of oak woodlands, streamside habitats, and a rich diversity of native plants and animals, making it an exciting place for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians to explore. Since the 2020 Silverado and Bond Fires, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has been working to restore Limestone Canyon’s trails and infrastructure, while also making some improvements along the way.
Recently, IRC’s Planning and Infrastructure team and OC Parks maintenance staff collaborated to help restore the Shoestring Trail, which will be open ahead of this Saturday's Limestone Canyon Wilderness Access Day. The trail created in 2010, makes a loop between Shoestring Road, West Loma Ridge, Hicks Haul Road, and the Augustine Staging Area, and is considered difficult due to the steep nature of the terrain. During the Bond Fire, the Shoestring Trail bridge was burned and needed replacing to make the trail safe once again. The IRC team took the opportunity to not only replace the bridge crossing, but to make other enhancements as well.
Recently, IRC’s Planning and Infrastructure team and OC Parks maintenance staff collaborated to help restore the Shoestring Trail, which will be open ahead of this Saturday's Limestone Canyon Wilderness Access Day. The trail created in 2010, makes a loop between Shoestring Road, West Loma Ridge, Hicks Haul Road, and the Augustine Staging Area, and is considered difficult due to the steep nature of the terrain. During the Bond Fire, the Shoestring Trail bridge was burned and needed replacing to make the trail safe once again. The IRC team took the opportunity to not only replace the bridge crossing, but to make other enhancements as well.
“Instead of going with a new engineered bridge, we create a natural land bridge by armoring the area using boulders and natural materials. This combined with metal posts and steel cable also result in the new land bridge being fire resistant,” said Adam Maywhort, IRC’s Director of Planning & Infrastructure.
Along the trail, visitors may notice soil berm structures in an area that was recently mowed. This area is part of a spadefoot toad habitat restoration and enhancement project, where IRC, The Nature Conservancy and OC Parks will help provide standing water for Western Spadefoot Toads during the rainy season. Western Spadefoot Toads need shallow pools of standing water that last for at least 35 days in order to successfully breed. We ask that you remain on the designated trail to help ensure the success of these ponds.
Nature lovers can kick-off the month of October during Wilderness Access Day: Limestone Canyon tomorrow from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm and experience the newly enhanced Shoestring Trail. Registration is required for this event. Those interested in attending can sign-up at this link.
Limestone Canyon is only accessible through guided programs and Wilderness Access Days due to the sensitive habitat found in the area. For more information about the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and free activities in Limestone Canyon, visit LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Along the trail, visitors may notice soil berm structures in an area that was recently mowed. This area is part of a spadefoot toad habitat restoration and enhancement project, where IRC, The Nature Conservancy and OC Parks will help provide standing water for Western Spadefoot Toads during the rainy season. Western Spadefoot Toads need shallow pools of standing water that last for at least 35 days in order to successfully breed. We ask that you remain on the designated trail to help ensure the success of these ponds.
Nature lovers can kick-off the month of October during Wilderness Access Day: Limestone Canyon tomorrow from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm and experience the newly enhanced Shoestring Trail. Registration is required for this event. Those interested in attending can sign-up at this link.
Limestone Canyon is only accessible through guided programs and Wilderness Access Days due to the sensitive habitat found in the area. For more information about the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and free activities in Limestone Canyon, visit LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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