Body On June 29, 2010, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to accept a donation of 20,000 acres from the Irvine Company to the County for preservation and guided recreation. Additional acreage was donated in late 2014. The historic Irvine Ranch’s origins date back to the 1830s as a Mexican...

Body The history of the ranch began with James Irvine. He joined two others owning the property before becoming the sole owner of it in 1878. After his death in 1886, his son James Irvine II (J.I.) became the successor of his father’s ranch. The ranch grew significantly and transformed into...

Body The first recorded archaeological excavation in Orange County was conducted by the American Museum of Natural History in 1912 around Newport Bay. After a hiatus because of World War II, efforts picked up in 1961 when local citizens formed an advocacy group, the Pacific Coast Archaeological Society, with the goal...

Body Beach Access Drinking Fountain Hand Canoe/Kayak lunching Picnic Area Guest Dock Restrooms Showers Swimming Tables Volleyball Courts

Body Newport Harbor was created naturally. In 1825, heavy flooding changed the course of the Santa Ana River. It began emptying into the sea in the area now known as West Newport. Sand carried downcoast by the prevailing currents and by the river during the rainy season, began to build up...

Body Beach Access Boat Launching Facilities Boating Restrooms: Restrooms at marina Showers: Showers at marina

Body Riley Wilderness Park is as rich in local history as it is in native wildlife. The first Spanish presence occurred in 1769 when Captain Gaspar de Portola and his entourage of 63 soldiers and 2 priests made their way into the area in search of suitable mission sites along the...

Body The Ramon Peralta Adobe is located on land that once was part of the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. While the Peralta Adobe was not the oldest adobe built in the Santa Ana Canyon, it is the only one still standing in the canyon today. The Peralta Adobe contains a...

Body Marina Manager Sue Sigrist (562) 592-2833 Sunset Aquatic Shipyard Office Manager Terri DeVries (562) 592-2841 Shipyard Manager Karl Adriany (562) 592-2841 There are no specific operating hours for the harbor itself, but a 10:00 p.m. curfew law is enforced at all beaches. There are five marinas within the Sunset Harbour...

Body The Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center is open Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Mondays and major holidays. No fees are collected at this time. Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve represent approximately 1,000 acres of open space. Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve...