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

Join OC Parks for a stroll through a majestic and mature oak woodland. We'll take a hike in upper Wood Canyon following Wood Creek under the canopy of beautiful coast live oak trees. This hike is approximately 2.5 miles with an estimated 200 feet of elevation gain. 

This is a wilderness hike: please wear closed-toe shoes, sun and weather protection and bring snacks and water.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

This hike begins at Canyon View Park, 22144 Canyon Vistas, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656.

Free street parking is available. 

For questions, call 949-923-2200.

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 very strenuous, fast-paced, 8-mile hike over very steep and uneven terrain with approximately 730 feet of elevation gain. This route begins at Aliso Creek Trail East, continues up Sheep Run and down Meadows Trail. Your hard work will be rewarded with sweeping views of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park!

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

Please review safety precautions and protocols when registering. 

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

*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. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

This hike begins at Canyon View Park, 22144 Canyon Vistas, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656.

Free street parking is available.

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

Aliso Creek is one of the best riparian birding sites in Orange County and gives access for a lovely morning hike.

OC Parks staff and volunteers will lead an easy 3-mile loop with 50 feet of elevation gain on uneven terrain. Travel along the creek on a dirt trail and return on a paved road while birding within the wilderness park. No experience necessary!

This program is for ages 12 and older (minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). Wear hiking or walking shoes and bring binoculars.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

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

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

Join OC Parks naturalists and bring your young ones (ages 3 and below) to explore Aliso’s wild backyard. Take a leisurely stroll through the garden and the creek where we will see bugs, plants and birds while exploring! OC Parks staff may even lead a game or introduce a local resident. Come join the fun!

This program begins at the Aliso and Wood Visitor Center at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring snacks and water. Please note most of the trail is not stroller friendly. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

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

Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and make up 80% of all known species. There are more varieties of bugs than all other types of animals combined!

Join us on a family-friendly trek around Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park to learn all about these amazing animals who have perfected the art of ecological specialization. Insects may have a reputation for being icky, but they're essential pollinators needed to sustain life on our planet.

Minors age 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring snacks and water.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

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

Join us at Mile Square Regional Park to learn how California Sagebrush is built to survive Southern California’s harsh climate!

Our program includes a short walk within Mile Square’s Nature Area where we'll discuss how California Sagebrush has adapted to the region and a creative drawing exercise using watercolor paint and colored pencils. 

Please bring sun protection and water. 

Advanced registration is recommended but not required. Learn more and register here.

We will meet at parking lot H in front of the Nature Area.

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

*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. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

This hike begins at Canyon View Park, 22144 Canyon Vistas, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656.

Free street parking is available.

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

Discover the joys of nature journaling with a short and slow guided hike at Mile Square Regional Park. No experience is necessary!

Nature journaling can be practiced in almost any space and combines observations with insights, questions and connections with the environment around us. It allows us to pay attention to details that might otherwise be overlooked and meditate on their forms and place within the natural world.

This program will begin with an introduction to the basic techniques for beginning and maintaining your nature journal, followed by a warmup activity, then a walk in the park to find a comfortable journaling space. Bring a sketch pad or journal and your own art materials such as pencils, pens or watercolors. A portable chair is recommended along with sun protection, water and snacks.

Advance registration recommended but not required. Learn more and register here.

We will meet at parking lot H in front of the Nature Area. Be prepared to move along the trail a short distance and sit to document the beauty around you. 

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

Join us on a slow-paced hike along the back-country ridges and valleys of Limestone Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We’ll travel on rough old ranch roads passing by woodlands of majestic oak trees and expanses of Coastal Sage Scrub and enjoy wonderful vistas. Total round trip distance is 8 miles with an elevation gain of 700 feet at an average moving rate of 2.0-2.5 miles per hour. Some of the hills are strenuous and we will take breaks as needed. Participants should be in good hiking condition and have previously completed a similar distance hike. Please come prepared with a backpack, plenty of water (at least 1 liter), snacks, sturdy closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, first aid kit and all other supplies to keep you safe and healthy on the trail. Each hiker must carry their own water and supplies. Under-prepared participants may be denied access to the event.

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, 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-3 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering. To learn more about the staging areas and activity locations, please visit our Staging Areas Playlist page.

Learn more and register here.