Exploring the OC Grand Canyon

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” -John Muir

I had the opportunity to attend a press tour on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. The Landmarks are made up of more than 50,000 acres of open space preserves that span from the mountains to the sea, and some of the views are just gorgeous. Irvine Ranch Conservancy manages the Landmarks in partnership with OC Parks, the City of Newport Beach, and the City of Irvine encourages the community to register for programs and enjoy a variety of fitness, recreational, and interpretive activities.

All activities are FREE with required pre-registration, which is open until 4pm the day prior to the event. Some programs are family friendly, which I have a few listed below, others are suitable for children 12 years of age or older. For more info visit LetsGoOutside.org/activities.

My morning was filled with adventure right from the start. We started our tour on an open-air truck that took us along the Loma Ridge into Limestone Canyon. I can only imagine what some of these hill sides would look like in the spring time!!

Then we hopped off and took a short half-mile walk down to Box Springs trail ending at a shady oasis.

After that we loaded back up and headed to the Sinks, or otherwise known the Orange County “mini-Grand Canyon.” The views were gorgeous and I definitely want to go back at sunset with the family.

I learned that they offer fitness programs including hikes, mountain biking, yoga, Tai Chi and more. I have never done yoga outside, but I will be checking out all their upcoming “open-air” activities.

Below you can find a list of upcoming events, and for more information on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and programs offered in partnership with OC Parks, the City of Irvine, and the City of Newport Beach, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org. The first few listed are family friendly hikes and we are going to be checking them out soon!

• Family Hike: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park: Saturday, October 7th from 3:00-5:00pm is a 2.5 mile hike over moderate terrain to Barbara’s Lake and back.
• Family Hike on the Mesa: Saturday, October 14th from 4:00-6:00pm is a 2-3 mile hike looking for red-tailed hawks and mule deer at an easy pace.
• Exploring Bommer: All About Kids Family Hike Saturday, October 21st from 9:00-10:30am is a fun interactive hike looking for clues that animals left behind and discovering what it is like to be an animal.
• Into the Wild Fremont Canyon 28.8K Trail Race on Saturday, September 30 kicks off at 7:30 a.m. in OC Parks’ Fremont Canyon Nature Preserve and offers breathtaking views of the San Gabriel Mountains.
• Advanced Cardio Hike: Limestone Canyon to Raptor Limestone Ridge on Thursday, September 21 begins at 6 p.m. and offers visitors a fast-paced and challenging hike from Limestone Canyon with a 1,000-ft. elevation change.
• The After Work Fitness Hike on Paved Hicks Haul Road on Wednesday, September 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. is a hike lead at a fast-paced walk or jog and continues Wednesday evenings.
• Orchard Hills Evening Hike on Thursday, October 12 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. encourages visitors to enjoy an evening on the Orchard Hills loop trail to gain a sweeping view of the scenic west. This reoccurring hike continues throughout the year.
• Meditative Yoga and Meadow Walk kicks off on Wednesday, October 4 in Bommer Canyon and continues Wednesday mornings from 9:30 – 11 a.m. throughout the year.
• YIKING: Cardio Hike and Yoga on Sunday, October 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. invites visitors to raise their heart rate before connecting with nature in an instructor led yoga class held alongside the scenic West Loma Ridge.
• Tai Chi in the Canyon is a reoccurring program encouraging participants to begin their week with Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese exercise known for its low-impact movements with meditative qualities.
• Tuesday Morning Fitness Hikes on Paved Hicks Haul Road choose from a 3, 6, or 8-mile route through OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.
• Flow Yoga in the Hills: Join in on a mid-day yoga session in Orchard Hills on Fridays from 12:30 – 1:30 pm starting October 6.
• Wilderness Access Days at Limestone Canyon, Bommer Canyon, and Black Star Canyon invite visitors to enjoy self-guided access through these highly-protected lands.

*Some photos are curtesy of The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks*