Looking for a way to give back to Nature this Autumn? Come help us behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm in Irvine! Every day at the farm is different; depending on the needs of the farm we will be harvesting seeds, weeding, trimming, or planting seed of our beautiful native plants.

Working with us at the Native Seed Farm is a great way to grow your community and cultivate knowledge about local native plants, ecology, and wildlife! Absolutely no experience or special equipment required! 

The seed collected will be used for habitat restoration within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. These plants were specially selected to support local wildlife and promote resilience in the ecosystem. Come help us heal the wildlands within the Landmarks! When you sign up, check the confirmation email to see tips on how to be prepared for your time with us.

Please note that you will be asked to adhere to the following measures in order to participate:

• Be registered in advance, no walk-up registration is permitted.
• Arrive with all necessary equipment to keep you safe, including water, snacks, sun protection, long pants, closed-toe footwear, first aid, health needs etc.
• Restrooms will be available, but facilities will not be sanitized for each individual.
• All participants are required to sign a liability waiver upon arrival at the staging area and before beginning the activity. The waiver can be previewed here: IRC Liability Waiver
• Please note our Minors Policy for all public activities: All minors (under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by their respective parent or legal guardian. Both parent and their accompanying minor(s) must be registered for the Irvine Ranch Conservancy led activity they wish to attend.
  • Minors must be 8 years of age or older to participate in activities at the Native Seed Farm.

Note: Activity leaders may turn away participants who are under-prepared and wearing improper attire for work at the Native Seed Farm. This is for your own safety and to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone who attends.

Additionally, in an effort to respect and protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not sign up or attend if you are not feeling well, exhibiting any symptoms of illness or have been in recent contact with someone who was ill.

Reviewing the 1-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this Level 2 activity. Activities may include bending, stooping, crouching, squatting, long periods of standing, reaching, pulling, grabbing, and pushing.

Learn more and register here

Join us Sunday morning in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space for a fitness-focused hike on the Hicks Haul Road, West Loma and Shoestring trails in Limestone Canyon. Hikers will enjoy wonderful views and a panoramic overview of Orange County. The hike starts at Hicks Haul Road staging area and will cover a distance of 8.5 miles, about 5 miles of the hike is on paved surface and rest on trails. Participants are expected to hike close to 3 miles per hour and come prepared with closed toe hiking boots or shoes, water, trail snacks, sunscreen, hat, day pack or fanny pack, and any other necessary equipment or supplies you might need to keep you safe on this hike.

Please note that you will be asked to adhere to the following measures in order to participate:

• Be registered in advance, no walk-up registration is permitted.
• Arrive with all necessary equipment to keep you safe on the trail, including water, proper attire, and closed-toe footwear, first aid, health needs etc.
• Restrooms will be available, but facilities will not be sanitized for each individual.
• All participants are required to sign a liability waiver upon arrival at the staging area and before beginning the activity. The waiver can be previewed here: IRC Liability Waiver
• You may be prevented from participating if you do not adhere to the above protocols.

Additionally, in an effort to respect and protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not sign up or attend if you are not feeling well, exhibiting any symptoms of illness or have been in recent contact with someone who was ill.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land. To learn more about the staging areas and activity locations, please visit our Staging Areas Playlist page.

Learn more and register here.

(Orange County, Calif.) – Join OC Parks, Newport Bay Conservancy and fellow volunteers for Coastal Cleanup Day at Upper Newport Bay on Saturday, Sept. 20. Lend a helping hand, protect local coastlines and wildlife, and contribute to the removal of thousands of pounds of trash and recyclables that make its way into the Bay from all areas of the Newport Bay Watershed.

Each year, people from around the world gather to remove trash from beaches and waterways on the third Saturday in September. In Orange County, various groups volunteer their time cleaning up Upper Newport Bay, one of the largest estuaries in Southern California, as well as numerous other sites.

"One third of Orange County’s tourism economy is bolstered by our ocean economy. Coastal Cleanup Day in the Upper Newport Bay highlights the vital role we all play in protecting the environment and our natural resources,” said Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Keeping our beaches, waterways and bays clean preserves our local habitats, maintains their unique beauty, and supports a critical piece of our local economy.” 

Approximately 1,000 volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to remove trash and invasive plant species. Volunteers will meet at various mini-cleanup day sites around the 11-mile loop of the bay. The exact meeting location will be shared prior to Sept. 20.  

Participants are encouraged to wear old clothes and closed-toe shoes (tall/rubber boots are best). Remember to bring a refillable water bottle, gloves and a trash bag or bucket. A commemorative t-shirt will be given to all volunteers.

Coastal Cleanup Day
Date: September 20
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cost and Parking: Free
Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Register: www.eventbrite.com/coastal-cleanup-day 
Additional Event Partners: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, City of Newport Beach, Orange County Coastkeeper, Newport Aquatic Center and Inside the Outdoors.

Read this release in:

• Chinese-Traditional
• Korean
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

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OC Parks
OC Parks manages nearly 60,000 acres of parks, historical and coastal facilities and open space for the County of Orange as part of OC Community Resources. http://www.ocparks.com

Please be aware this is a fitness hike and not for beginners; the pace is approximately a 19-minute mile. 

Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this difficult, strenuous and fast-paced, 7.2-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain with 1,050 feet of elevation gain. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water.

The program will begin at the Nix Nature Center parking lot. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

Participants must be 16 or older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. 

Adverse weather may cancel this program.  

*This program is cancelled due to inclement weather. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you.

Join OC Parks on a guided hike and learn about key landmarks, trail connections, scenic viewpoints and the incredible wildlife and native plants within Laguna Coast Wilderness Park! We’ll share tips for exploring and stewarding the land responsibly along the way. This program is perfect for first-time visitors, new volunteers or anyone who wants to feel more at home in the coastal canyons. 

This moderate hike is approximately 5 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain. Closed-toe shoes, sun protection and plenty of water are recommended. 

The program is designed for ages 12 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. 

Adverse weather may cancel the program. 

Dates shown are week of stocking. Schedule is subject to change and will be updated as available.

California Fishing License required age 16+ at all parks besides Irvine Lake.

Week of Nov. 24-28, 2025    

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park
• Irvine Lake
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Week of Dec. 8-12, 2025  

• Clark Regional Park
• Irvine Lake
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Tri-City Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park

Week of Dec. 15-19, 2025            

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park
• Clark Regional Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park 
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park

Week of Jan. 5-9, 2026               

• Clark Regional Park
• Irvine Lake
• Irvine Regional Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park

​​​​Week of Jan. 12-16, 2026

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park
• Irvine Lake
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park

Week of Jan. 19-23, 2026 

• Irvine Lake
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Tri-City Regional Park

Week of Jan. 26-30, 2026

• Clark Regional Park
• Irvine Lake
• Irvine Regional Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park

Week of Feb. 2-6, 2026

• Irvine Lake
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park

Week of Feb. 9-13, 2026

• Carbon Regional Park
• Clark Regional Park
• Irvine Lake
• Irvine Regional Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Week of Feb. 16-20, 2026

• Irvine Lake
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park

Week of Feb. 23-27, 2026

• Clark Regional Park
• Irvine Lake
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Tri-City Regional Park

The clocks fall back early Nov. 2, marking the end of daylight saving time and the beginning of OC Parks’ fall-winter operating schedule. Most regional parks close at 6 p.m. for the fall and winter, and wilderness parks close at sunset year-round.

Fall-winter hours for the following regional parks are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park
• Clark Regional Park
• Craig Regional Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Mason Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Tri-City Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park
• Irvine Regional Park (opens at 6 a.m.)

Wilderness parks and the following regional parks open at 7 a.m. and close at sunset year-round:

• Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• Caspers Wilderness Park
• Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (parking lots open at 8 a.m.)
• O’Neill Regional Park
• Peters Canyon Regional Park  
• Riley Wilderness Park
• Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• Talbert Regional Park
• Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
• Wieder Regional Park
• Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Irvine Lake will continue to operate Friday-Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Salt Creek Beach and Strands Beach open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight. Capistrano Beach and Bayside Beach (in Newport Harbor next to the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol facility) open at 6 a.m. and close at 10 p.m.

OC Parks facilities will remain on these operating hours until daylight saving time and spring-summer hours return March 8, 2026, through Nov. 1, 2026.

Phase I has been completed as of Feb. 27, 2026. Phase II work will begin fall 2026. 

OC Public Works will perform pedestrian bridge improvements within the Wilderness Area at Mason Regional Park, east of Culver Drive. This work will help reduce flooding and improve public safety in this area. 

Trail closures are necessary to complete this important work and maintain public safety.

WHAT: 

• Crews are installing eight (8) pedestrian bridges in two phases throughout the Wilderness Area at the locations shown above.
• Phase I will include six (6) bridges. Phase II will include work on the remaining two (2) bridges once Phase I is complete.
• Trail closures are necessary near the work areas to accommodate these important trail improvements.
• Pedestrians can use open, available trails connecting Rockview to University Dr. at Goldenglow St. and University Dr. at Yale Ave. during Phase I.
• Sidewalks along Culver Dr. and University Dr. are also available to bypass the work areas.
• Intermittent closures may occur along the open areas to allow for passing construction vehicles.

Your safety is our top priority! This is an active construction area. Please observe all trail closure signs, barriers, flaggers and project vehicles moving in and out of the work area.

WHEN: 

Anticipated Construction Duration:
Fall 2025 — Spring 2026

Working Days/Hours:
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Trail closures in effect at all times. The construction schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other factors.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Larry Quach, Project Manager
714-245-4593

Mario Garcia, Supervising Inspector
714-599-0681

ProjectInfo@ocpw.ocgov.com
ocpublicworks.com 

Join OC Parks for a kid-friendly hike and explore the natural wonders of Irvine Regional Park!

This program will begin at parking lot C and includes a short hike. Program content is tailored for ages 2 to 6, but all are welcome to attend. Water, comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes are recommended. Strollers are permitted on this walk.

Advance registration is required. Learn more and register here.

The program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle.

Inclement weather may cancel the program.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Shelly Marshall at shelly.marshall@ocparks.com.

(Santa Ana, Calif.) – Step into the compelling photographic experience at The Other Side of Memory: Photographs by Luis C. Garza exhibit now on display at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana (211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.). With striking visuals of historic moments of activism and community from the 1960s and ‘70s, the nationally touring exhibition features rare black-and-white images drawn from Garza’s archive, many of which are on public view for the first time.

The captivating images in this exhibit document powerful defining moments of activism that took place on both coasts and abroad, including the Chicano civil rights movement in Los Angeles, Young Lords Party protests and feminist marches in New York and global gatherings such as the World Peace Conference in Budapest. Printed as silver gelatin fiber prints, the photographs reflect a personal visual record of resistance, identity and collective memory.

“We are very fortunate to display this special and rare collection of photos depicting pivotal historic moments for our community at the Historic Orange County Courthouse,” said Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “The images featured in The Other Side of Memory (El Otro Lado de La Memoria) document the significance of the Chicano civil rights movement in Southern California and beyond, capturing the spirit of activism and shedding light on the untold stories of these events.”

Garza became an indispensable chronicler of the Chicano movement for La Raza magazine, capturing intimate and unsparing moments of resistance, identity and community with uncommon immediacy. Today, his photographs can be found in major museum collections such as The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros (Mexico City) and The Autry Museum of the American West.

Admission to the exhibit is free and open to view at the Old Orange County Courthouse gallery Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through the end of the year. Metered parking is available at the on-site lot and surrounding street parking. Additional parking is available at lot P8 (301 W. 5th Street). Parking fees apply.

For information about the art exhibit and the Old Orange County Courthouse, please visit ocparks.com/historic-sites/old-orange-county-courthouse.

Read this release in:

• Chinese-Traditional
• Korean
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

###

OC Parks

OC Parks manages nearly 60,000 acres of parks, historical and coastal facilities and open space for the County of Orange as part of OC Community Resources. http://www.ocparks.com