The clocks spring forward early March 10, marking the beginning of daylight saving time and OC Parks’ spring-summer operating schedule. Most regional parks close at 9 p.m. for the spring and summer. Wilderness parks close at sunset year-round.

Spring-summer hours for the following regional parks are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.:

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

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
• Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
• Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
• Wieder Regional Park

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

Hours for OC Parks’ beaches vary but are generally between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Salt Creek Beach opens at 5 a.m. and closes at midnight.

OC Parks facilities will remain on these operating hours until daylight saving time ends November 3, 2024. 

Irvine Regional Park is expecting an increase in visitation throughout the months of September and October, especially on weekends. The park entrance may be impacted and the park could close to vehicle traffic if parking reaches capacity. 

Overflow parking will be available at Santiago Canyon College, 8045 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA on the following weekends: 

• Saturday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 15 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Saturday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 6 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Santiago Canyon College is approximately a half-mile walk to the park. 

Parking is $10 per vehicle at Santiago Canyon College. Overnight parking is not permitted.

Permits for special events will not be issued during this time. 

Please note: OC Parks annual passes are not valid for parking at Santiago Canyon College.

(Anaheim, Calif.) – Discover prehistoric rock formations and surround yourself with stunning views at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness.

The 500-acre property located within OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space features 6 miles of new trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, along with lookout points that offer sweeping views of the surrounding canyons, Santa Ana Mountains and beyond. 

“Gypsum Canyon Wilderness is full of adventure waiting to be discovered,” said Chairman Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “I am proud to bring this park space to the residents of Orange County. I look forward to exploring the new trails and all the beauty this area has to offer.”  

Gypsum Canyon Wilderness features dramatic cobble and sandstone bluffs formed 16 to 20 million years ago when the earliest camels, horses, rhinos and saber-toothed deer roamed the area. Today, its protected and preserved native habitats are home to an abundance of wildlife including mule deer, red-tailed hawks, California gnatcatchers and bobcats. California poppies color the hillsides in the spring months while oak-studded meadows and large sycamore trees can be enjoyed year-round.

The area includes seven new trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, ranging from easy to moderate in difficulty. Take in the expansive views of the surrounding landscape and colorful rock formations from two scenic overlooks. Visitors will have the opportunity to provide voluntary feedback about Gypsum Canyon Wilderness through on-site participation surveys and offer naming suggestions for several unnamed trails.

Gypsum Canyon Wilderness is currently accessible through scheduled guided and self-guided programs with advance registration. OC Parks balances environmental stewardship with public access to ensure the area is preserved and enjoyed. Public usage and feedback, along with further monitoring of native habitat and wildlife populations will be considered when determining future access opportunities and availability. Free public access opportunities will begin Friday, November 17, weather permitting.  

November and December 2023 Activities and Programs at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness

Advance registration required for all activities and programs.
                                      Visit OCParks.com/irvine-ranch-open-space for more information and to sign up. Inclement weather may cancel activities and programs. 
 

November 17 – Morning Mountain Bike Ride at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
8 – 10:30 a.m.

November 18 and 25 – Wilderness Access Day: Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

November 22 – Plants Among Us: Learning About Plants at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
9 – 11:30 a.m.  

November 24 – Turkey Burner Fitness Hike in Gypsum Canyon Wilderness   
8 – 10 a.m.

November 24 – Afternoon Hike at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness   
1 – 3:30 p.m.

November 29 – Early Morning Fitness Hike: Gypsum Canyon Wilderness   
7 – 9:30 a.m.

December 9 and 23 – Wilderness Access Day: Gypsum Canyon Wilderness    
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

December 15 – Morning Mountain Bike Ride at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
8 – 10:30 a.m.

December 18 – Early Morning Fitness Hike: Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
7 – 10 a.m.

December 22 – Morning Hike at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
8 – 10:30 a.m.

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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

(Lake Forest, Calif.) – Celebrate the joy of the holiday season at OC Parks’ Heritage Hill Historical Park with two weekends of festive fun at Candlelight Walk and Holiday Lights this December. 

Experience the 37th annual Candlelight Walk December 8-10 from 5 to 9 p.m. Stroll through the merry grounds and enjoy historical buildings ornamented with holiday lights and décor. Join in the joy of the evening with live musical performances, holiday crafts for kids and a visit with Santa Claus. Refreshments will be available for cash purchase.

The celebration continues with OC Parks’ Holiday Lights December 15-17 from 5 to 9 p.m. Wander through twinkling light displays and snap pictures in front of various holiday-themed photo opportunities. Pets are welcome to join the fun on leashes no longer than six feet. Please note additional entertainment and refreshments will not be provided.

"We are excited to host another year of family-friendly festivities at Heritage Hill Historical Park with events like Candlelight Walk and Holiday Lights," said Chairman Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “The holiday season is the perfect time for friends and family to create wonderful memories and celebrate the rich history of Orange County."

Both holiday events at Heritage Hill Historical Park are free to attend with free parking. Inclement weather may cancel the events.

Heritage Hill Historical Park:
25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630  
(949) 923-2230 

37th Annual Candlelight Walk 
Date: December 8, 9 and 10   
Time: 5 - 9 p.m. 
Cost & Parking: Free

Holiday Lights 
Date: December 15, 16 and 17  
Time: 5 - 9 p.m. 
Cost & Parking: Free

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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

OC Public Works will be removing non-native invasive trees within Peters Canyon Wash, which will require daily temporary trail closure and need for traffic control along the southern portion of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Peters Canyon Wash and Regional Park provide open space for recreation, water conveyance and offer California Native Habitat for diverse flora and fauna. This habitat restoration project will improve CA native habitat.

Peters Canyon Trail at Peters Canyon Regional Park to be used for access during habitat restoration work. Activities include site preparation, non-native tree and plant removals and plant establishment.

This project is being conducted in compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws and regulations and is being implemented to offset environmental impacts from OCPW flood control channel maintenance projects.

WHAT:

OCPW and contractor personnel will be removing nonnative invasive tree species located throughout Peters Canyon Wash within the southern portion of Peters Regional Park. Equipment (skid steers, excavators, trucks) will enter the Park at Peters Canyon Rd., xst Silverado Terrace, and will use the maintenance road east of Lower Peters Basin, up through the “Mountains to Sea Trail”. (see map for locations) Each work day, 0.5 mile of the trail will experience temporary closures starting from the bathrooms at the southern entrance while equipment and dumpsters are delivered and removed.

WHERE: 

Haul route and traffic control area along Mountains to Sea Trail, Peters Canyon Regional Park.

Please observe all safety barriers, signs and personnel when near the project area.

WHEN: 

October 23, 2023 – January 31, 2024

The construction schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other factors.

Working Days/Hours:
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Equipment and hauling traffic along the trail will be as needed, but will always be monitored and controlled by Helix Environmental staff, signs and cones. 

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Cort DiStanislao

714-263-5312

ProjectInfo@ocpw.ocgov.com

ocpublicworks.com

INSTALLATION OF SIGNAL POLES AND LIGHTS TO BEGIN
Upcoming change in intersection traffic management. OC Public Works will be replacing existing "STOP" signs with new traffic signal system.

WHAT: 

Completed activities: 

• Underground utility work and installation of new fiber optic conduit (OC Public Works’ Traffic Management Center remote monitoring system).
• Asphalt/concrete restoration; curb ramp upgrades. 

Upcoming activities: 

• March 11—15, 2024: Minor utility work
• March 15—early May, 2024: Installation of traffic signal pole foundations, poles, signal lights and associated equipment; Painting of road striping and installation of traffic signs. Traffic signal lights expected to begin operating as early as April 2024. 

Attention: Be prepared for temporary closures!

• Intermittent lane closures to accommodate installation of traffic signal poles, signal lights and equipment.
• Temporary sidewalk closures are expected in the project area, yet sidewalks will re-open daily at the conclusion of work. Please use other available sidewalk during closures.
• Access will remain open to/from adjacent residential communities.
• Please observe all project safety signs and barriers when traveling near project work areas. 

WHEN: 

Early March - Early May 2024

The construction schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Working Days/Hours:
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Shannon Widor

(714) 667-9759

ProjectInfo@ocpw.ocgov.com

ocpublicworks.com

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. 27-Dec. 1, 2023    

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

Week of Dec. 11-15, 2023  

• Clark Regional Park
• Tri-City Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Week of Dec. 18-22, 2023            

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

Week of Jan. 8-12, 2024               

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

​​​​Week of Jan. 15-19, 2024

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

Week of Jan. 22-26, 2024

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

Week of Jan. 29-Feb. 2, 2024

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

Week of Feb. 5-9, 2024

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

Week of Feb. 12-16, 2024

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

Week of Feb. 19-23, 2024

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

Week of Feb. 26- March 1, 2024 

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

(Orange County, Calif.) – Celebrate the spooky season with OC Parks this October at various free, family-friendly events and programs throughout Orange County. 

Visit Santiago Oaks Regional Park after dark Friday, October 13 and discover critters that call the canyon home at Boo at the Oaks. The evening will be filled with fun nature stations, creative crafts, scavenger hunts for prizes and night hikes for all ages. Costumes are welcome but must be safe for hiking on dirt trails in the dark. Advance registration required.

Tour the decorated historical grounds at the third annual Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park during special park hours October 13-15 and 20-22. Snap photos at a variety of fall and Halloween-themed photo opportunities, find your way through the hay maze and complete a scavenger hunt for ghastly goodies.

Join the OC Zoo at Halloween Zoo-Tacular Saturday, October 28. Festivities will include a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating, spooky crafts for kids and watching zoo animals receive treat-filled pumpkins throughout the day. The first 100 children ages 12 and under in costume will receive a fun gift.

Returning this year, the popular Boo at the Bay takes place at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve Saturday, October 28. Enjoy a fun family Halloween party featuring spooky stories, creepy crafts, weird science experiments, bizarre animals and hair-raising games. The event will also feature booths and exhibits from Orange County Bird of Prey Center, Environmental Nature Center and the OC Parks Archaeology and Paleontology departments. All children who attend in costume will receive ghoulish door prizes.

Boo at the Oaks
Date: October 13
Time: 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Santiago Oaks Regional Park 
Address: 2145 N. Windes Drive, Orange, CA 92869
Cost: Free
Parking: Free 
Public Contact: (714) 973-6625 

Fall-O-Ween
Date: October 13-15 & 20-22
Time: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park
Address: 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Cost: Free
Parking: Free 
Public Contact: (949) 923-2230 

Halloween Zoo-Tacular at the OC Zoo
Date: October 28
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park
Address: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Cost: Free with paid zoo admission ($2 per person, ages 2 & under are free)
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Public Contact: (714) 973-6846

Boo at the Bay: Family Halloween Party
Date: October 28
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center
Address: 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Cost: Free
Parking: Free 
Public Contact: (949) 923-2290

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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

(Lake Forest, Calif.) – Celebrate the fall season with OC Parks at the third annual Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park October 13-15 and 20-22. Tour the decorated historical grounds during special park hours and take your picture at a variety of fall and Halloween-themed photo opportunities. Try to find your way through the hay maze and complete a scavenger hunt for ghoulish goodies at this free, family-friendly event.

“We’re thrilled to gather the community for this annual fall event at Heritage Hill Historical Park,” said Chairman Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “This year brings back two fun-filled weekends and a chance for family and friends to create festive memories in a historic setting.”                                                     

Costumes are encouraged and pets are welcome on leashes no longer than six feet. Be sure to grab your cameras as you celebrate the fall season with OC Parks at Heritage Hill Historical Park this October.

Fall-O-Ween

Date: October 13-15 & 20-22

Time: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park 

Address: 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Cost: Free

Parking: Free

Public Contact: (949) 923-2230 

Read this release in:

• Chinese-Traditional
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• 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

The clocks fall back early November 5, 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 10, 2024, through November 3, 2024.