*This program begins at the James Dilley Preserve, 350 Artisan Dr., Laguna Beach, CA 92651*
Slow down and immerse yourself in the symphony of nature on a guided walk with OC Parks naturalists. Join us for a peaceful walk where we’ll listen for the sounds of nature. By listening closely, we’ll uncover insights into the ecology around us. Take a stroll through the beautiful James Dilley Preserve and discover what nature has to say!
All ages are welcome. Advance registration required. Please register all participants,including children. Learn more and register here.
The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle.
*This program will begin at Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters, 10 Phillips Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651*
Join OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation in beautiful Laguna Coast Wilderness Park at the native plant nursery as we care for native plants from their seed stage to their mature, ready-to-be planted stage. Volunteers may collect seeds, sow seeds in flats, bump plants up, plant at restoration sites, sterilize plant containers and help maintain the nursery.
All tools and equipment will be provided. Wear closed-toe shoes, layered clothing, sun protection and bring water.
This program is for ages 16 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.
(Santa Ana, Calif.) – Discover the work of local artists inspired by life in Southern California at Omnivision: Art Across Boundaries art exhibit, now on display at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana (211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.).
The collection, made up of more than 180 original paintings from over 60 local artists, features art pieces depicting diverse sceneries of nature, cityscapes, florals and more. The exhibit is hosted by OC Parks, in partnership with Southern California Plein Air Painters Association (SOCALPAPA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the tradition of plein air painting. The collection will include plein air pieces and original artwork of all sizes and mediums. In addition, the exhibit will feature art pieces from local students from the Orange County School of Arts. Artwork in the gallery is available for purchase, with sales going directly to the artists.
“Orange County is home to so many talented individuals,” said Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “It is wonderful to have a place in the heart of the County, at the historic Old Orange County Courthouse, to display the work of local artists where others can be inspired and introduced to a new art medium.”
Plein air, the French term for “open air,” is the practice of painting outside which provides artists a dynamic artistic experience to capture the spirit and essence of subjects while being outdoors. In addition to focusing on plein-air painting, SOCALPAPA's objectives include bringing artists together, promoting arts education and supporting local conservation efforts that protect our natural landscape.
Members’ paintings are also on display year-round in the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center located at OC Parks’ Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve. The artwork in the center often illustrates parks, wilderness areas and coastal spaces, similarly to what is showcased in the Omnivision: Art Across Boundaries exhibit.
Admission to Omnivision: Art Across Boundaries 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 March 13. 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.
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
Join OC Parks staff and volunteers to observe the sights, sounds and smells of nature during an intimate nature walk led by a certified nature and forest therapy guide. Through a series of invitations, you will be encouraged to explore in the present moment and deepen your connection with nature.
Please note this is a slow-paced program designed for ages 14 and older.
Please wear comfortable attire. You may also bring a blanket, seating pad or small chair if you wish. The program and parking are free. Adverse weather will cancel the program.
Join us for a tour to the dramatic sandstone outcrops known as “Mini Moab”. We’ll hike out-and-back along the high ridges overlooking Fremont Canyon. Along the way we’ll pass an abandoned coal mine, the Fremont Canyon Weather Station, and Lizard Rock. Bring a snack to enjoy while taking in the views at our destination. Distance is 14 miles with 2900 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.
Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratingswill help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-5 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ pagefor answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.
Please arrive 15 minutes early and 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.
This program is canceled due to wet and muddy conditions.
Take a leisurely equestrian ride through beautiful Limestone Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, and home of oak woodlands, grasslands, and coastal sage scrub. On a clear day this ride has beautiful views of Orange County and Catalina Island. This ride includes an approximate 900 foot climb in elevation.
Equestrians must have their own horse, trail riding experience, and the ability to transport their horse to the staging area. Horses must be fit, able to comfortably ride the distance as described, and be well-behaved in a group. This walking equestrian ride travels on single-track and wide fire roads. It may include a moderate, steady climb. Owners of unshod horses, please note that the footing may include areas of gravel and pavement.
We welcome riders who have their own horse and trail riding experience. Both rider and horse must be fit for 3-plus hours over moderate terrain, including hills. This ride travels on wide trails and single tracks with several moderate to steeper climbs as well as steep descents. . You will need to transport your horse to the staging area. Owners of unshod horses, please note that footing will include areas of gravel and distances over asphalt pavement. Please bring water on the ride.
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 Ratingswill 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.
Come start your week with us on our Super Treks in the Landmarks. Join us as we explore Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We will hike up over Rifle Range and continue to the Overlook Trail where we will be rewarded with sweeping views of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and more distant views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles Basin, and Cleveland National Forest. We will return through a beautiful oak woodland. Please wear hiking shoes/boots and bring water, a trail snack, sunscreen, hat, and any other necessary equipment to keep you safe on the trail. Participants must be able to hike 9+ miles with an accumulated elevation gain of 1800 feet at an average moving rate of 3 miles per hour.
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. Please visit our FAQ pagefor answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.
Limestone Canyon is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Join us for an afternoon, fast paced, 5.5-mile fitness hike with 750 ft of elevation. The hike will be a great introduction to fitness, cardio-style hikes as well as OC Parks’ magnificent Irvine Ranch Open Space. Views of Limestone Canyon, and the surrounding wilderness, from Limestone Ridge will be the highlight of our tour.
Please bring a minimum of 48 oz. water. Come prepared with a pack, sturdy closed-toed hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, first aid, and all other supplies to keep you safe and healthy on the trail for this hike in a wilderness area. Each participant must carry his or her own pack and water. 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-4 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.
Join us in the back-country wilderness for a journey filled with beautiful sights that are photographic and artistic sketching opportunities. Our journey begins in the afternoon. We will be deep in a secluded canyon, where time is measured in centuries, even millennia, in the sandstone cliffs of this ancient place called Limestone Canyon. You will board a 4-wheel drive vehicle for a 13-mile tour of the canyon and hills surrounding it. We will stop frequently for 15-30 minutes to admire the views, take photos, sketch landscapes, and answer questions.
Stops will include short walks with views of The Sinks, a trip up Cactus and Markel Spur, with optional, single track, one-mile hike into Box Springs or a 1.5 mile Markel Spur to East Sinks loop hike. Both the Box Springs and Markel Spur hikes provide the visitor a true back-country experience. An alternative, but similar, hiking trail may be used.
From the Augustine Staging Area, we proceed up an old ranch road that was paved to provide access to Irvine Lake and the mines in Black Star Canyon. At the research center, we head off-road up a narrow, windy, and sometimes bumpy trail to Loma Ridge and beyond. Bring your camera equipment, sketchbook, or just enjoy the ride.
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-2 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ pagefor 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.
Be prepared to experience the beauty and wonder of Weir Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, including the beautiful views from the Overlook Trail. This ride will travel through Weir Canyon, where the trail weaves its way through a beautiful oak woodland inhabited by deer, coyotes, bobcats, and a variety of native birds. You will travel the route of the Butterfield Stagecoach and see a monument dedicated to the Mexican Ox Cart drivers. We will continue our ride through coastal sage scrub over large rock formations past oak woodlands and up the Overlook Trail. On a clear day, we will be rewarded with sweeping views of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and more distant views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles Basin, and Cleveland National Forest.
The participant’s horse must be able to ride 9+ miles with an accumulated elevation gain of 1800 feet.
This ride travels on wide trails and single tracks with several moderate to steeper climbs with a steep switchback descent. Equestrians must have trail riding experience and their own fit and able horse. You will need to transport your horse to the staging area and please be ready to ride at 10:00 am. Owners of unshod horses, please note that footing will include areas of gravel and distances over asphalt pavement. Please bring water for yourself and your horse on the ride.
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 Ratingswill help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ pagefor answers to activity-specific questions you may have prior to registering.
