*This program takes place at Mile Square Regional Park, 16801 Euclid St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708*

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. 

Join OC Parks staff and volunteers to earn a unique Jr. Ranger badge for Mile Square Regional Park. We will meet in parking lot H near the entrance of the Nature Area.

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 is free and parking is $5 per vehicle.

Inclement weather will cancel the program.

Advance registration is required. Learn more and register here.

For questions, please email Resource Specialist Phoebe Lett at Phoebe.Lett@ocparks.com.

Click here to learn more about the OC Parks Jr. Ranger Program.

Birds are among the most colorful and entertaining forms of wildlife on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Bring your binoculars and join us on a slow/medium paced walk in OC Parks’ Gypsum Canyon Wilderness, as we search for resident and visiting birds of the local coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, riparian, and grassland habitats. We will discuss the diverse features of the birds we observe and how they match the season, their habitat and lifestyle. We will travel mostly on ranch roads, usually without shade. Beginners to advanced bird enthusiasts are welcome. Please wear sturdy shoes suitable for hiking and bring water, along with sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen. A small birding field guide may be useful if you have one. A few binoculars will be available to borrow.

Please note that you will be asked to adhere to the following measures during the activity 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-2 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering. 

Learn more and register here 

Enjoy riding in the wilderness on empty trails? Then join us on a docent-led mountain bike ride that loops through Baker Canyon. The route features expansive views of Silverado and Santiago Canyons, Irvine Lake and the Santa Ana Mountains, as well as the flora and fauna of the Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park. This is a great opportunity to enjoy this seldom visited wilderness area of Orange County!

This ride is designed for the experienced beginner to intermediate rider who is physically fit and can climb moderate climbs of up to one mile and is comfortable riding single track trails with some short/beginner technical sections. The ride is on largely non-technical single track trails and the fire roads that interconnect them. The ride will regroup and rest as needed and an opportunity will be provided for a snack break.

Please note, the ride is approximately 10 miles long with 1500 feet of elevation gain. The route has climbs with some moderately steep sections.

This activity originates and ends at the Baker Canyon Staging Area and takes place in OC Parks’ Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park.

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-3 activity on the land. Electric Mountain Bikes of any class or type are not permitted.

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 8.25 miles, about 5 miles of the hike is on paved surface and rest on trails. Participants are expected to hike close to 3.5 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 he 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 

Registration for this event is not required, nor does it guarantee entry. Registration is available on the website for those needing a map/driving directions to OC Public Library’s Library of the Canyons. The staging area will be available for parking on a first come, first served basis for arrival anytime between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. Trails close at 1:00 pm. You will not be required to sign-in upon arrival.

Mesa Loop Exploration Day offers 2.5 miles of self-guided access along the Mesa Loop, which offers a panoramic view of Black Star Canyon, Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, and Cleveland National Forest. Begin your travels through the shaded Nature Loop Trail near the library, ideal for families. A 300-foot elevation gain takes you to panoramic vistas of Irvine Lake, Silverado Canyon, and the beauty of the Santa Ana Mountains as you reach the top of the Mesa. 

Enjoying the Day

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

• Participants are required to stay on designated trails at all times.  Reminder: The Mesa trail system has rare and sensitive habitat. Your responsible behavior helps ensure continued access. This area is characterized by certain inherent dangers including mountain lions, rattlesnakes, poisonous insects, poison oak, ticks, extremes in weather, loose rocks, and steep/rugged and uneven terrain. Your safety cannot be guaranteed.
• Arrive with all necessary equipment to keep you safe on the trail, including plenty of water, proper attire to protect you from the sun and inclement weather, closed-toe footwear, first aid, medications, hand sanitizer, etc. Please see Trail Tips on the Lets Go Outside website for more tips. The map can be found here.
• The Library of the Canyons will offer a fun craft, free seed packets from the seed library, browse local wildlife books, and remember to pick up your hiking sticker!
• Multi-use trail etiquette: Please remember that bikers yield to hikers when sharing the trails. Click here for more trail tips.

Other Important Notes:

• OC Parks Rangers require all trails to be cleared for closure by 1:00 pm
• No new trail users will be permitted onto the trails beginning one hour prior to closing.
• Dogs are prohibited on the Irvine Ranch Open Space. By nature, dogs are predators; their presence and their lingering scent disturb the indigenous wildlife and disrupt vital routines long after a dog has left the area.
• Minors, ages 17 and under, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Adult mountain bikers are requested to wear helmets. Minors are required to wear helmets per state law.
• Inclement weather or fire danger will cause the program to be cancelled.
• To minimize the human impact on wildlife and their habitat, there may be unannounced trail closures or the rotation of areas being open and closed. This is an adaptive management approach to accommodate both the human users and the wildlife needs.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land.

Learn more about the Canyons Staging Area

Enjoy the relaxation of riding in the wilderness on empty trails. Join us on this docent-led mountain bike ride through Limestone Canyon, part of OCParks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We will visit the East Viewing Platform for a panoramic view of the geological feature call The Sinks. The route to The Sinks will include a fun downhill ride on the Dripping Springs single track. The return route will take us on the Limestone Ridge single track with views of Limestone Canyon, Santiago Canyon and the Santa Ana Mountains.

This is a slow-paced ride designed for the beginner that has experience riding fire roads such as Limestone Canyon or Telegraph Canyon but wants to develop their climbing and riding abilities. The ride can also be enjoyed by more advanced riders looking for a relaxed ride in a beautiful setting.

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. Motorized recreation vehicles of any class or type are not permitted for use in the Nature Preserve.

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.

Learn more and register here 

Join us in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space for a challenging docent-led mountain bike ride for very experienced off-road riders in excellent cardio shape through Fremont and Weir Canyons to Sierra Peak.

We will climb out of Irvine Regional Park on Coal Mine Road to the Fremont Canyon Weather Station and then continue on past the Tecate Cypress grove, Lizard Rock and Mini-Moab on the way to Sierra Peak . We will return to the staging area via much of the same route but will finish by riding through Upper Blind Canyon to Weir Canyon.

This ride is entirely on fire roads, but includes sections that are steep (both up and down) and potentially will have loose rocks/soil. The ride will regroup and rest as needed and multiple opportunities will be provided for a snack break.

Please note, the ride is a challenging 25 miles long, with approximately 4100 feet of elevation gain and will take up to 5 hours to complete. It is important that participants bring sufficient food and water for a ride of this difficulty and duration. This program originates at the Weir (Outdoor Education Center) Staging Area inside Irvine Regional Park and ventures into the Fremont Canyon Wilderness Park, the Weir Canyon Wilderness Park, the Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve and the Cleveland National Forest.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-5 activity on the land. Electric Mountain Bikes of any class or type are not permitted.

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.

Learn more and register here 

Join us in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space for a challenging, docent-led mountain bike ride through Fremont Canyon to the unique geological formation known as Lizard Rock. This 16-mile out-and back ride, with approximately 2,500 feet of elevation gain is designed for experienced off-road riders in excellent cardio shape and will take up to 3 hours to complete.

The ride begins at the Weir (Outdoor Education Center) Staging Area inside Irvine Regional Park. We’ll climb out of the park on Coal Mine Road, passing the Fremont Canyon Weather Station and a grove of rare Tecate Cypress. Upon reaching Lizard Rock, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of upper Fremont Canyon, Sierra Peak, Cathedral Rock, and a sandstone formation locally known as Mini-Moab. We will return to the staging area via the same route.

While the ride is entirely on fire roads, be prepared for steep sections (both uphill and downhill) and potentially loose rocks and soil. We’ll regroup and rest as needed, with multiple opportunities for snack and water breaks.

This ride is entirely on fire roads, but includes sections that are steep (both up and down) and potentially will have loose rocks/soil. The ride will regroup and rest as needed and multiple opportunities will be provided for a snack break.

Please note, the ride is a challenging 16 miles long, with approximately 2500 feet of elevation gain and will take up to 3 hours to complete. It is important that participants bring sufficient food and water for a ride of this difficulty and duration. This program originates at the Weir (Outdoor Education Center) Staging Area inside Irvine Regional Park and ventures into the Fremont Canyon Wilderness Park, the Weir Canyon Wilderness Park, the Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve and the Cleveland National Forest.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-5 activity on the land. Electric Mountain Bikes of any class or type are not permitted.

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. 

Learn more and register here 

Join us for an extremely challenging and strenuous hiking adventure in the scenic Fremont Canyon Wilderness Area. This 16-mile loop hike is for experienced, physically fit distance hikers. The hike is on fire/SCE dirt roads with numerous significantly steep, unrelenting climbs and descents. We hike the entire rim of Fremont Canyon, passing by an abandoned coal mine, the Fremont Weather Station and the remnants of a rare stand of Tecate cypress. Along the way we’ll have sweeping views of Orange County, the Santa Ana Mountains and surrounding mountain ranges.

There is minimal to no shade on the route.  Please bring a minimum of 100 oz. water and trail snacks. Come prepared with a pack, sturdy closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, first aid, and all other supplies to keep you safe and healthy on the trail for the full-day hike in this remote wilderness area. Each participant must carry his or her own sturdy pack and must be comfortable maintaining an average moving pace of 3 miles per hour for the duration of this difficult hike. Under-prepared participants may be denied access to this activity.

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.

To learn more about the staging areas and activity locations, please visit our Staging Areas Playlist page.

Learn more and register here 

Join us for a tour of the canyons enjoying the oak woodlands of Weir Canyon and the vistas of the Fremont Canyon high ridges. This hike will start at the mouth of Fremont Canyon and cross over to Weir Canyon via the hills above Irvine Regional Park. We’ll enter Weir Canyon at Rifle Range Rd and walk to the very top at the Overlook. After a quick snack break, we’ll begin the return circuit through Upper Blind Canyon gaining the upper ridges of Fremont Canyon and descending to the starting point passing an abandoned coal mine along the way. Distance is 14 miles with 2400 feet of elevation gain at an average of 3 mph – designed for advanced hikers. Periodic brief breaks are planned. Participants must be physically fit and have distance hiking experience.

Please come prepared with a daypack, around 100oz. (3 quarts) of water, trail snacks, closed-toe hiking shoes, sunscreen, first aid, and any other supplies needed to keep you safe on the trail. Each participant must carry his or her own pack and water and be comfortable hiking at an average moving pace of 3 mph. Under-prepared participants may be denied access to this program.

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-5 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.

Learn more and register here