Join OC Parks naturalists as we explore the native plants of the coastal sage scrub ecosystem! We will learn how the native plants are connected to other parts of the ecosystem, historical uses of the plants and we will end by making our own native plant tea to drink. 

The native tea is sourced and not taken from the park. Collecting or removing plants and other materials from the park is prohibited.

Please note this program involves consuming tea. Please talk with park staff before the program if you have any allergies they should be aware of.   

This program is designed for ages 7 to 12. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian. 

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

Advance registration required. Learn more and register for Kids Cold Native Plant Tea!

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Shelbi Richardson at shelbi.richardson@ocparks.com.

Adverse weather, including wet or muddy trail conditions, may cancel the program.

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. 

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

Advance registration required. Learn more and register for Fitness Hike – Nix/Little Sycamore.

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

Adverse weather may cancel this program.

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We love the nightlife! Explore the landscape of Santiago Oaks Regional Park as we set out to search for the nighttime critters that call this park home. From humble toads to graceful owls, you never know what you’ll see!

The program will begin at the nature center. Warm clothes, sturdy footwear and water are recommended. Red-tinted flashlights are highly encouraged. This hike is not recommended for very small children or strollers. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the program.

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

Advance registration is required. Learn more and register for Parks After Dark: Santiago Oaks.

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

Bring your furry friend and join OC Parks staff and volunteers for a dog walk at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve. 

Come enjoy an easy, 3-mile hike over uneven and unpaved terrain with approximately 175 feet of elevation gain. We'll stop along the way to learn about the bay, and discuss ways to keep you, your dog and wildlife safe when out on the trails. 

Please wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection as needed, and bring water for you and your four-legged friend. 

To ensure an enjoyable and safe experience for all, participants must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Two-dog maximum – Each participant may bring a maximum of two dogs.  
• Behavioral Expectations – Well-socialized dogs that are up-to-date on their vaccines are welcome.
• Leash Requirement – To ensure the safety of other participants and wildlife, dogs must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times within the nature preserve.
• Owner Responsibility – Owners are fully responsible for their dog’s behavior and will be asked to closely watch their canine companions.

The program and parking are free.

Space is limited and advance registration is recommended. Learn more and register for Paws on the Trail.

Adverse weather will cancel the program.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Boulter at emma.boulter@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

*This program takes place at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660*

The OC Parks Jr. Ranger Program encourages park guests to explore the outdoor world within OC Parks by developing a sense of belonging, becoming a part of nature and feeling empowered to be stewards of Orange County’s natural and cultural resources. 

This program is designed for ages 7 to 12, but all are welcome.

Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the program. Sunscreen, sturdy footwear and water are recommended.

The program and parking are free. Inclement weather will cancel the program.

Advance registration is required. Learn more and register for Jr. Ranger Adventure: Upper Newport Bay.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Boulter at emma.boulter@ocparks.com or call (949) 923-2277.

Learn more about the OC Parks Jr. Ranger Program.

Bring your little ones and learn more about opossums with OC Parks. This fun and engaging program includes story time, an age-appropriate hike and themed craft.

The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for the preschool level (ages 2 to 5), but all are welcome to attend. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes. The trail for the hiking portion of the program is not stroller-friendly.

The program and parking are free.

Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and register for Critter Investigation: Outstanding Opossums. 

Inclement weather will move the program indoors. 

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Boulter at emma.boulter@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Join Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve staff and volunteers in enhancing the bay’s habitat for local wildlife. Activities may include non-native plant removal, planting natives, watering, removing trash and Butterfly Garden maintenance.

No experience necessary. Please bring a hat, sunscreen, snacks and a refillable water bottle. Water and tools will be provided.

Minors 16 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian. 

The program and parking are free. 

Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and register for Upper Newport Bay Habitat Stewards. 

Inclement weather will cancel the program. 

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Boulter at emma.boulter@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Join OC Parks for an interpretive bike ride around Upper Newport Bay! Participants will have the opportunity to raise their heart rate and pedal around the Bay while spotting all different kinds of birds. 

Home to more than 200 year-round species of birds, Upper Newport Bay is considered to be a birding hotspot. Over the course of the ride, you will learn how to identify different types of birds based on their size, shape, and habitat. We'll also work together as a group to identify the birds that we see! Binoculars will be provided for those that need them.

This moderately-paced ride will cover a 10-mile section of the Back Bay Loop Trail over the course of 2.5 hours with approximately 155 feet of elevation gain. We will stay on the paved portion of the trail and make birding stops along the way.

This program will begin and end at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. The program and parking are free. 

Participants must provide their own bike and helmet. Minors must have a guardian present at all times. 

Adverse weather will cancel the program.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register for Birding by Bike.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Boulter at emma.boulter@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

This program begins at Canyon View Park, 22144 Canyon Vistas, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656*

Explore Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park where you might see deer, bobcats and hawks. Learn about acorn woodpeckers, the wonderful ways of woodrats and the peculiar nature of certain plants. Enjoy wildlife sounds, smells and sights on this moderate 5-mile hike on rocky terrain with less than 500 feet of elevation gain. 

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

The program and parking are free. Limited street parking is available nearby.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register for Discovery Hike - Wood Canyon.

Inclement weather may cancel this program. 

For questions, call 949-497-8324 on weekdays or 949-923-2200 on weekends. 

Unplug and relax outdoors on a nature meditation walk through Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. 

Allow your natural sense of wonder to engage in playful activities, deepening connections with the outside world and ourselves during this guided program. 

The program will begin at the visitor center and includes a brief walk and tea ceremony of reciprocity. Please note this activity involves drinking tea from sustainably sourced plants. Participants are asked to notify the program leader of any food allergies or sensitivities upon arrival. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and bring water. 

Advanced registration required. Learn more and register for Nature Meditation Walk.

This program is designed for ages 10 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

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

Inclement weather will cancel the program.