
October is on the horizon, bringing a chill to the air and new opportunities to get fit outdoors in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. There are opportunities to explore Orange County’s only National Natural Landmark every day of the week, and now Irvine Ranch Conservancy offers free weekly Zumba and Yoga classes.
Here is a sampling of activities for every day of the week; all are free and require online pre-registration (unless otherwise noted). For more activities, or to register, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org.
Monday: Got a case of the Mondays? Unwind during a refreshing hike along Hicks Haul Road. This 3.5-mile hike takes you up a slight, winding hill into Limestone Canyon and back, walking or jogging at your own pace. This free, docent-led activity begins Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 pm.
Tuesday: Enjoy the early quiet of Limestone Canyon when you hike Hicks Haul Road in the morning. You can choose from a 3-, 6-, or 8-mile route while you watch for hawks and deer. This free, docent-led activity begins Tuesdays at 9:00 am.
Wednesday: Listen to the rustling of the sycamore trees as you stretch out during Yoga in Bommer Canyon. Every Wednesday, this docent-led activity hosted by the City of Irvine will begin with a one-mile warm up hike and continue with an hour of yoga instruction. This free activity will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays.
Thursdays: Head to the bay with your little ones on Thursdays for Tideland Tykes. Hosted by OC Parks at the Muth Interpretive Center at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, this hands-on class focuses on plants, animals and habitats found seaside. This class is for kids 8 and under, and the class fee is $5 per student.
Friday: The end of the week brings even more opportunity for outdoor adventure. While there are no regular weekly programs on Fridays, events for families such as monthly Full Moon Hikes and October’s popular Dia de los Muertos activity are on Fridays.
Saturday: Give back or get fit: you choose! On Saturdays you can volunteer at the Native Seed Farm, harvesting and preparing seeds for use throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Or you can hit the trails during a Wilderness Access day, enjoying self-guided access to Bommer Canyon, Limestone Canyon or Black Star Canyon. Saturday is a busy day for docent-led activities, with everything from mountain biking to bird watching to horseback riding.
Visit www.LetsGoOutside.org for more information or to register for these and other activities.