Ahh...! I love Limstone Canyon. It's fairly well-preserved since it's accessible by wilderness…read moreaccess days or organized event only. You can have advanced beginner or intermediate hikes here, based on the trails you take. You can get some good elevation on some of the hills that seem a bit never-ending. Things are still looking green with the rain this winter/spring. Definitely recommend a visit. Look at LetsGoOutside.org for events. 2023: 31/100

Access is very limited. I visited on a Wilderness Access Day; I think this is about once a month…read more I planned on visiting the previous month but like many trails in OC after it rains, they close for couple days after. It was my first time visiting so I am not sure whether this happens on every open Access Day that traffic builds up on Santiago Canyon Rd about a mile from the gate. Parking is at the Augustine Staging Area. The main lot filled up so I was directed to park up the hill on Hicks Haul Rd, a little extra mileage. If I were to estimate how long I was in traffic to get inside, I would say 40 minutes. By the time I parked and got to the trailhead, they were not letting any more cars in. I overhead a hiker saying she had parked somewhere else and took an Uber in. I intended on hiking to "The Sinks"; likely the most scenic view throughout the park. It is referred to as a mini Grand Canyon. They have a platform you view it from and you actually do look down into it. I consider it an easy hike to The Sinks and pretty straight forward, staying on one main trail. I took on some extra mileage by hitting up the small off-shoot trails which actually had some gain, recommended if you're looking for a workout. A second platform exists off Limestone Ridge for the "East Sinks" but the view isn't as great. It's a little more work to get to. They want you in your car and out of the park by 2:00pm so keep that in mind. They also patrol the trails not only on foot but also bike to make sure people get the steppin' when it gets close to closing time. As other reviews mentioned, check the website for other activities. Unlike Wilderness Access Day, they require you to sign up and limit the number of people.

Had a good time hiking at this spot. Nice trail located right off of Cannon street. Great place to…read moreexercise outside in an urban setting. Several paths to walk through so the hike can vary in length. It's relatively steep to get to the top, but not more than a few hundred meters. Once on top it's pretty flat and easy. Lots of cactus . Best part is you can take dogs.

A 3.25 to a high of 3.75 star rating. Around 4 major entry points- no true parking lot - seek…read moreparking in local neighborhoods and or local school parking spaces. Pathways are thorny and filled brush and loose rocks and steep pathways lined with jagged large boulders. Made for walkers hikers and joggers. Not for quick running and pets must be on a leash. Lack of a visitor center, lack of trails benches, lack of bathrooms . The trails are moderate to hard - care must be taken- rocks are loose and can cause injuries . No trash cans - bring your junk and take your junk. Overall trail can from a rountrip can be around 3.5 miles to around 4.5 miles. Great scenic shots and lots of cactus

Nothing shady about this trail, had such a pleasurable walk this morning at Shady Canyon. The trail…read moreseems to stretch forever. I was only able to do a mile before turning around, but can't wait to come back for a longer walk. I did not realize it had as much elevation as it did, because the walk itself feels easy (262 elevation gain for 2 miles). Lots of greenery, plants, and scenery to enjoy along the way. It is both paved and dirt, and I saw both walkers and runners. Shady Canyon is connected with Quail Hill, and also there is a park across which leads to another trail. The possibilities are endless, and all so enjoyable. Great place to get those miles in.

Shady Canyon Trail is an out-and-back 7.8 mile trail in Irvine. It starts from Quail Hill Loop,…read morepasses the Shady Canyon and Turtle Rock neighborhoods, and ends when you hit Culver Drive. There was some but not much incline throughout and is a good walking, jogging, or biking trail. There is some parking at the Quail Hill Loop but most people seem to park at the Quail Hill Community Center next to the park. We walked through the trail and although we didn't go all the way, it wasn't a difficult hike.

This is a great wildlife refuge to visit, especially if you're looking for easy, flat walking…read moretrails. The Audubon Society is located right there, and it's worth stopping in for information. They have a small gift shop, clean restrooms, and I even saw people borrowing binoculars, so that's another option if you don't have your own. There are a few shady parking spots, which were especially nice on a very hot day, and there's also an overflow parking lot, so finding a space shouldn't be a problem. The first three large ponds are a particularly good area for birding. You can continue farther back on the trails, although there's less water and I found it a little harder to spot birds. If you're mainly looking to get some exercise and enjoy a walk, though, there are plenty of trails to explore. Overall, the refuge is kept in really good condition, and I enjoyed my visit. My only complaint is something that's unavoidable: it's close to the airport. You can hear planes flying overhead, and occasionally you can even smell aircraft fumes. That's really the only drawback I noticed.

You know, if we hadn't gotten stuck in the wrong lane on our way back to our hotel, we might not…read morehave ever discovered the San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. Without knowing what it is, I would've guessed this was just an open green space in the middle of Irvine. Little did I know, this place is a whole lot more interesting than that...and a beautiful gem, too! While there are multiples ways in and out of the sanctuary, the main entrance and parking lot is on Riparian right off of Campus Drive (there is a second, smaller lot on the Michelson end of the same street, but the stretch in between is gated off). Regardless of which way you get in, though, among the first things you'll probably notice is how big this place is and how peaceful and tranquil it feels. Walking along the dirt paths through their 300+ acres of foliage and ponds/marshes, it doesn't take long before you start to feel far removed from all of the nearby office complexes, strip malls, and housing communities. As much as we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon walking around, it could've been so much better if we had been better prepared. For one, we parked and entered by that smaller lot, so we missed out on checking out the learning center, Audubon house, visitor center, and the Duck Club. What's more, we also missed out on the butterfly garden and didn't see many birds or wildlife. Part of that could've just been due to the time of year we were here, but it probably would've helped if we had gotten ourselves informed as to what to keep an eye out for! As awesome as the San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary obviously is, perhaps the most impressive thing about it is how it was actually built to act as a water filter, but disguised as a nature preserve. Quite an accomplishment to build something to serve an infrastructural, urban need while still benefiting nature! Even more of a reason to come back on my next trip to spend more time exploring the rest of the preserve, learning center, birds, and butterflies!

This is a great trail where you can safely walk. In the Irvine area there are other trails that…read morebranch off from Peters Canyon trail. I like parking at the Marketplace and walk several of the trails. You can walk or run several miles and still not be to far from your car since you can basically walk in a circle on all the trails. If you want a longer walk go all the way to Newport Beach. I think the sign says Mountains to the Sea. To get back to the Marketplace, take OCTA bus 1 to Newport Transportation center switch to the 79 to get back to the Marketplace.

Free parking at Hicks Canyon Park…read more Starting point of the trail is at the end of Hicks Canyon trail which is across the road from the elementary school There are 2 versions to this trail - paved and gravel. Better suited for bikes, joggers and strollers as it's a straight path. The path leads you under a couple of airy tunnels which is great as you don't need to stop at lights. Can get boring as it's a straight path. I turned around after 3k so not sure what the rest of the trail is like or whether it loops back.

Two mile hike that has a fork in the trail that leads to Bommer trail or quail hill trail head…read more Very calm and well maintained trail. There's pickle ball courts, tennis courts, volleyball nets, a basketball hoop and playground. The park has an extension for the bike trail and a bridge with a little stream. Perfect location for a walk.

Helpful staff, beautiful area with lots of options for kids. Can't wait to explore more of the…read moretrails. Well maintained park and bathrooms and the indoor center is super cute. My kids had so much fun

The Pacific Ridge trail which begins in a residential area in Laguna, will take you directly to…read moreCrystal Cove. It is a great hike as the views it provides are spectacular, even on a foggy day. Be warned, it is also very challenging, as it is a lot of uphill and downhill movement. It takes about 2 hours to get down to Crystal Cove which is around 4.5 miles but the views are incredible. It takes you to a section of the beach that is very secluded and lovely. It makes it feel all the more rewarding :)

If you want to do crystal cove hike but don't want to pay for the parking then park at the pacific…read moreridge trailhead. There are plenty parking spots and clean bathrooms nearby. If you hike on it for 1 miles you should reach crystal cove hiking trailhead. They are connected. We took the left side loop(shorter) and turned right into a single trail hiking area. That trial Was very secret and peaceful. covered with a lot of yellow flowers and greens. about 2 miles long. The end will lead you into the main trail. If you have bad knees and want to try the hidden trail make sure to bring hiking sticks. Give a 5 stars, will definitely come back

So beautiful!! It's mountain lion county so be aware but for the most part it's very nice &…read morecomforting

Gorgeous and manageable hike. Some steep areas for climbing but if you pace yourself, you can…read moretotally do it! While there is ample parking spots in the neighborhood, depending on when you go in the morning, you may need to wait 5-10 minutes for a spot to open up closer to the trailhead. We arrived at 10:30am and cars were parked all the way into the cul de sac. There are gorgeous green hills with native California wildflowers everywhere, including yellow mustard, mountain lupine, yellow California bush flower, and blue corn flower. The golden poppies were the most popular spots and were nestled ontop of various ridges. Pro tip: Arrive after 11:30/12 noon for easier parking.