Irvine Ranch Conservancy
  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate

New Year Brings New Opportunities to Explore the Canyons

12/28/2012

 
Picture
Monthly Wilderness Access Days offer self-guided exploration in Black Star and Limestone canyons.

The new year will bring new opportunities to discover the natural beauty of the local canyons. With monthly self-guided access days in addition to docent-led beginner programs and a new foot bridge, exploring local open space has never been easier.

OC Parks has partnered with Irvine Ranch Conservancy to expand popular monthly Wilderness Access Days to Black Star and Baker Canyons. The Wilderness Access Days were held monthly in Limestone Canyon, and beginning January 5, the Wilderness Access Days will rotate monthly between Black Star and Limestone canyon staging areas. New trails in Baker Canyon were opened in October 2012, and in January a new bridge over Baker Creek will connect the staging area directly to the new SilMod Loop trail.

This new path will make it easier for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians to move between trails without having to travel along Baker Canyon Road. As people cross the bridge, they will probably give little thought to the ingenuity it takes to construct an eco-friendly 50-foot bridge in a canyon.

“The bridge was custom-built for the site, with both aesthetics and visitor experience in mind,” said Michael O’Connell, Executive Director of Irvine Ranch Conservancy. “OC Parks wanted to provide a safe connection between trails without spoiling the natural beauty of the canyon.”

Wilderness Access Days offer self-guided access to the trail systems with the support OC Parks Rangers and Ranger Reserves, along with Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and volunteers. Black Star, Baker and Limestone canyons are part of 40,000 acres permanently-protected open space in the historic Irvine Ranch. The land was designated a National Natural Landmark for both its geological and biological significance to the nation. OC Parks and the Conservancy offer many docent-led programs weekly, and self-guided exploration is offered during these monthly Wilderness Access Days.

These events are perfect for those who are yearning to get out into the local wilderness but don’t know where to start. Staff and volunteers are on hand throughout the trail systems, so even less experienced outdoor enthusiasts can hit the trails with confidence. During each Wilderness Access Day, the Conservancy also leads a beginner-level hike, teaching the basics in topics such as wildlife, plants and trail etiquette. During the January 5 Black Star Canyon Wilderness Access Day, a birding specialist will lead “Bird Walk in Baker Meadow” at 10 a.m., a beginner birding hike.

During winter months, Wilderness Access Days begin at 9 a.m., with trails closing at 3 p.m. The events are free, and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information or to sign up, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org/activities.

Comments are closed.

    About

    Welcome to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy "News from the Field" blog. These articles are written by Conservancy staff about activities and projects in and near the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. 

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    Agua Chinon
    Baker Canyon
    Big Canyon
    Birds
    Black Star Canyon
    Bommer Canyon
    Buck Gully
    City Of Irvine
    City Of Newport Beach
    Crystal Cove
    Dripping Springs
    Equestrian
    Family Friendly
    Fire
    Fire Watch
    Fremont Canyon
    Grasslands
    Habitat Restoration
    Hicks Haul Road
    Hiking & Fitness
    Interpretive
    Invasive Plants
    Irvine Open Space Preserve
    Irvine Ranch Open Space
    Irvine Regional Park
    Laguna Coast
    Limestone Canyon
    Mesa Loop
    Mountain Biking
    Native Plant Nursery
    Native Plants
    Native Seed Farm
    Nighttime
    OC Parks
    OC Zoo
    O'Neill Regional Park
    Orchard Hills
    Peters Canyon Regional Park
    Quail Hill
    Red Rocks
    Round Canyon
    Safety
    San Joaquin
    Santiago Oaks Regional Park
    Stewardship
    The Sinks
    Tracking
    Trails
    Trail Work
    Upper Newport Bay
    Volunteers
    Weir Canyon
    Wilderness Access Day
    Wildflowers
    Wildlife

    RSS Feed

Irvine Ranch Conservancy  •  4727 Portola Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92620  •  714-508-4757  •  info@irconservancy.org

© 2016 Irvine Ranch Conservancy, All Rights Reserved.   Irvine Ranch Conservancy reserves all rights under copyright, including (without limitation) rights to photographs. No permission to copy or publish any portion of this web
site or any material posted on the website is granted without the express written permission of Irvine Ranch Conservancy. 
  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate