Mile Square Regional Park has some of the highest bird diversity in Orange County and this gentle paced walk led by highly trained OC Parks volunteers will help bird watchers of all experience levels discover what the park has to offer. All are welcome and binoculars will be available.

Participants should be prepared to walk on paved and dirt trails for up to 2 miles. Closed-toe shoes, water and sun protection are recommended.

The program will begin in parking lot H.

Minors 16 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian.

Space is limited and advance registration is required. Learn more and register here.

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

Inclement weather will cancel the program.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Averil Lough at averil.lough@ocparks.com or call (657) 735-3596.

*This program begins at Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters, 10 Phillips Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

Join OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park as we learn and work together to create a healthier habitat for the native plants and wildlife that call the canyon home. Depending on the time of year, volunteers will assist with various stewardship activities, including removal of non-native plants, hand watering, seed collection, and/or planting of native plants. Come help restore the wild lands we all enjoy! 

No experience is necessary and all tools will be provided. Wear long pants, closed-toe shoes and sun protection and bring water. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here. 

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

The program and parking are free for volunteers. 

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

*This program will begin at Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters, 10 Phillips Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

Join OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation at the native plant nursery in beautiful Laguna Coast Wilderness Park 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 designed for ages 16 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

The program and parking are free. 

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

*This program begins at the Willow Staging Area, 20070 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

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 strenuous, fast-paced, 6-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain with 1,150 feet of elevation gain. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

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

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

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

Step into the enchanting world of trees with OC Parks naturalists! Join us as we use our senses to ‘meet’ a tree up close, discover the secrets of how they grow and stand in awe of their incredible beauty and strength.

This program is designed for ages 7 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.   

The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. We will meet in parking lot A. 

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

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

*This program begins at the Willow Staging Area, 20070 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

Enjoy a moderate 3.8-mile hike through Laurel and Willow canyons with approximately 600 feet of elevation gain. Discover various plant communities, from coastal sage scrub to oak woodlands, and enjoy a view of the ocean at the top. Minimal interpretation is provided, but questions are welcome. 

The program is designed for ages 12 and older. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

Advance registration required. Please register all participants, including children. Learn more and register here.

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

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

Spring Into Summer at the Old Orange County Courthouse! 

Join OC Parks on Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Spring Into Summer, a free celebration that is fun for the whole family! Bring your blankets and chairs and kick off the summer season with OC Parks with live performances from The Como La Flor Band: A Tribute to Selena and Yari Moré Latin Band on the historic Courthouse lawn and enjoy tasty treats from the food trucks. 

Spring Into Summer will also include step-by-step art demos, a native plant and animal exhibit in the Third Floor Exhibit Gallery, tours of the courthouse, hands-on paleontology and interpretive activities, crafts for kids and much more! 

This event is free with free parking. Parking is available at P8/Transit Tower Parking Structure located at 301 W. 5th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701.

As the day starts to settle into the night in OCParks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, bats awaken, stir and streak into the evening sky. Come hear fascinating tales of our flying mammals. We will head out towards a popular roosting location as we watch our nighttime heroes begin their nightly adventures. This program is ideal to visually observe the bats in flight, though bat detectors are available to listen for their high-frequency calls. Be prepared to walk about 1/2 a mile. Dress warmly as it may be a chilly evening. A camping chair is welcome as we will enjoy an extended period of time listening for bats that fly about in the night.

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.

Children under the age of 5 are permitted to attend the hike if they are secured in a carrier or all terrain stroller for the duration of the hike.

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-1 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.

Join us for a strenuous, extremely challenging, fast-paced, early morning cardio hike in Red Rock Wilderness part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. Along the way we’ll be rewarded with panoramic views and possible wildlife sightings.  This is an 9-mile cardio hike, completed in 2.5+ hours, includes a 1000+ foot elevation change. This hike is for experienced, physically fit hikers who enjoy the challenge of multiple steep climbs and descents. This hike is much faster than a regular walking hike. We average four (4) miles per hour, fast-paced and is extremely difficult over steep terrain in the wilderness setting.

Please bring a minimum of 100 oz. water and trail snacks.  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 extreme fast-paced 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 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-5 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.

Spend your morning watering newly planted Coast Live Oak trees within a beautiful oak woodland in Baker Canyon. No experience necessary.

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 page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.

Learn more and register here.