OC Explorer

Some Little Known Wilderness Trails in Orange County

2011-03-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

The word “trail” can have many meanings when it comes to outdoor recreation in Orange County. There are paved trails, dirt trails, bike trails, nature trails, and so on. A “wilderness trail” in Orange County is typically one that’s located in a relatively remote area with minimum to no services, like no water and no cell coverage.

While most people prefer the safety and convenience of urban trails, wilderness trails offer solitude from the crowds and the beauty of lesser-traveled areas. On these back country trails, one can see what the county’s environment was like before it was developed.

The more popular wilderness trails are Holy Jim, Silverado Truck Trail, Harding Truck Trail, Black Star, and Maple Springs in Cleveland National Forest, and county trails in Aliso & Wood Canyon and Laguna Coast wilderness parks. On weekends especially, these trails are favorites with mountain bikers, hikers, and runners.

But there are lesser-known wilderness trails to explore that have even less traffic, but are equally as enjoyable as the populat trails, if not moreso. Here are some examples.

Bell Ridge – Located high above Trabuco Creek, the Bell Ridge Trail is the Cleveland National Forest’s unofficial extension of the county’s Bell View Trail in Robinson Ranch. Bell Ridge is a hilly trail (almost 3,000 ft elevation gain in 7 miles) from the start, with views of Saddleback Mountain on one side, Starr Ranch on the other, and views all up and down the county and coast in other portions. It’s a singletrack that is the very definition of solitude the further up you go. It ends at a junction with the Los Pinos trail near North Main Divide Road, high up in the Santa Ana mountains. The return trip is all basically downhill, thankfully. Park on Robinson Ranch Road near Headland Dr.

Arroyo Trabuco – As the name suggests, this trail travels alongside Trabuco Creek between O’Neill Regional Park to the north and east and San Juan Capistrano to the west and south. From O’Neill, the trail meanders through woodlands, meadows, cacti patches,and overgrown tropical plants that form tunnels in some sections. The trail runs under several dramatic roadway overpasses and connects to other trails as it travels through Ladera Ranch and onto the San Juan Capistrano trail system. There are numerous entry points onto the trail so check the trail map links above to see your options.

Juaneno – Located in Caspers Wilderness Park, this trail is only open to hikers and horses, with an easy to moderate level of difficulty. However, due to recent rain damage, only about the first mile is open; park officials are hard at work to repair the trail. The trail has the San Juan Creek bed on one side and limestone cliffs on the other. Several portions head up into a wooded hillside that presents views and an appreciation for the isolated beauty of the trail. Connections to several other trails in the park add even more exploration to the experience. An entrance fee is required to park inside Caspers. If Juaneno is still closed for repair when you go, any other trail inside the park is worth the exploration.

See slideshow here.

Checking Trail Conditions in Orange County

2011-01-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

Orange County normally has some of the most enjoyable weather in the country. This allows many residents to spend a lot of time participating in outdoor recreation all year round.

But, as evidenced by the heavy rains of late 2010, federal, state, and county parks occasionally need to close down their trails for extended periods of time to either let the trails dry out or have them repaired from mudslides or other weather-related calamities. Elevated fire alerts will also cause trail closures in some of the back country areas of the county.

There are a number of ways to check to see if a favorite trail is open or closed after a weather or heat event.

For all Orange County Parks, their Special Alerts web page lists most trail closures and re-openings. Trails not listed can be further checked on by visiting their locations page and clicking through to find the phone number of the park and talking to one of their rangers to confirm what's open and what's closed. The county also send out regular trail updates through their Twitter and Facebook accounts.

For state parks and beaches, their Find A Park web page has links to all Orange County locations and their respective phone numbers.

Cleveland National Forest trail closures can be investigated on their Current Conditions web page or by calling the Trabuco District office at (951) 736-1811.

Private trails that require reservations to use their land, such as those at Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, will cancel their programs on the same basis as public lands, so it's important to call or check their Web site for updates.

Visit OCExplorer for another consolidated list of links to outdoor recreation locations in Orange County.

Outdoor Recreation in Lake Forest

2010-10-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

In 1991, the towns of El Toro, Lake Forest, and Portola Hills merged into an incorporated city with the name Lake Forest winning the name-the-city vote, much to the chagrin of El Toro residents. A few years later homes and businesses were built in the northern part of the city in the area known as Foothill Ranch, which is often mistaken for being a separate city itself. Regardless of Lake Forest’s identity crisis, the city is packed with outdoor recreational opportunities that support one of its mottos: “Where Work and Life Come Together Naturally."

Lake Forest is bordered by the Cleveland National Forest to the north, Mission Viejo to the east, Irvine to the west and Laguna Hills to the south. Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, at 1,600 acres, is Lake Forest’s most prominent open space and is a haven for mountain bikers, runners, and hikers. Three major trails extend north and south through the city: Aliso Creek, a paved bike trail that travels the entire length of the city, Serrano Creek, an off-pavement trail that stretches from Whiting Ranch to Irvine, and Borrego Canyon Wash, a short off-pavement trail that will eventually connect into the Great Park in Irvine. A vast number of secondary trails zig-zag through the neighborhoods, most through swaths of mini eucalyptus forests.

Twenty public parks dot the city with courts for tennis, handball, basketball and volleyball as well as playgrounds, tot lots, and picnic areas. The city also hosts family campouts, nature hikes and recreation classes.

The Lake Forest Golf and Practice Center has a 9-hole executive course and a driving range. The Serrano Creek Equestrian Center offers lessons and training for horse lovers.

The Etnies Skate Park is for skateboarding, in-line skates and BMX riding. The Lake Forest Beach and Tennis Club is accessible only for residents and their guests but offers swimming, tennis, basketball and volleyball.

For the future, Lake Forest will be one of the major portals into the open space wilderness areas of the Irvine Ranch Wildlands, of which 20,000 acres were recently donated to Orange County.

Share your Lake Forest outdoor recreation places and ideas in the comment section below.

Trail Information for San Juan Capistrano is Virtual, Highly Informative

2010-08-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

OC Parks, Cleveland National Forest, the state parks, and Orange County cities all provide downloadable drawn maps of their trail system. Some also provide photos and a few provide satellite imagery.

But the city of San Juan Capistrano has done something that has made them the leader in providing complete, useful trail information: they have a complete trail package experience available for each and every one of their trails that includes videos, colorful brochures, photos, virtual maps, satellite imagery, and driving directions.

This means a potential hiker, mountain biker, runner, or other outdoor enthusiast can practically "try before they buy," so to speak, and go to any of the trails fully informed on what to expect.

Here's how it works:

Start at the San Juan Capistrano City Trails Web page. There you will find the standard trail maps. But when you go to their Community View , you will see a satellite image of the city with its boundaries outlined. Click on "View"in the toolbar and scroll down to "Trails." You will then see the locations of all the city trails outlined in yellow. Double click on any part of the map to zoom in.

Each trail head is indicated by a yellow circle. By rolling your mouse over any of the circles, a pop up gives you the name of the trail and its elevations, as well as links to driving directions, trail head video, photo, brochure, and links to each of the trail's branches. The brochures give even more information about the trail by providing a detailed description, including GPS coordinates, presented in colorful, imaginative graphics.

With San Juan Capistrano's extra effort in providing outdoor recreation enthusiasts extraordinary information about their city trails, then time, money, and gasoline can be saved by having considerate, smart research available to anyone before making the trip.

Outdoor Recreation in Anaheim

2010-08-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Anaheim got its name from the Santa Ana River and the German word for home, which attracted a few farmers to the area as far back as 1857. These days, over 350,000 people call Anaheim home, and while the Santa Ana River may not be the meandering lifeblood of the city it once was, it does provide at least one of the many sources of recreation in the city today.

Stretching east / west from the Riverside County line to just a few miles from the Pacific, this northern Orange County city is the second largest in land area of all the other cities in the county. Within Anaheim's boundaries are two wilderness areas (Weir Canyon and Anaheim Wilderness), forty-six parks with dozens of ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, and other open recreational areas, a community pool, a 58-acre nature center, a skateboard park, and multiple youth and adult recreation programs.

Two 18-hole golf courses, Anaheim Hills and Dad Miller, are run by the city and offer affordable prices. Equestrian activities can be found at the Rancho Del Rio stables, and fishing can be done at the privately-owned Santa Ana River Lakes. Several miles of public trails are at Deer Canyon and Pelanconi Park, and the Santa Ana River Trail offers miles of paved, off-street bike paths for bicyclists, joggers, walkers, and roller bladers.

Anaheim is more than pricey amusement parks and professional sports. Anyone looking for outdoor recreation opportunities in the city wouldn't have to look more than a few city blocks for free or inexpensive fun. Share your Anaheim outdoor recreation places and ideas in the comment section below.

Outdoor Recreation in Rancho Santa Margarita

2010-05-31T23:16:00.000-07:00

When Ronald Reagan took office as president in 1981, Rancho Santa Margarita was nothing more than a mesa of land used mostly for cattle grazing and farming. Today, it's a city of more than 50,000 residents that has a tremendous amount of outdoor recreation opportunity available far beyond watching cattle or farmers.

Located near the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains between Mission Viejo and Coto de Caza, Rancho Santa Margarita, or RSM as most residents call it, saw its first residents move there in 1986, and was incorporated in 2000 as Orange County's 33rd city.

In the heart of the city is a 13-acre lake stocked with catfish, bass, and other small sport fish where people can try their fishing skills every day of the year. Fishing derbies are held every June and November.

Miles of paved trails weave their way through RSM neighborhoods, which encourage walkers, joggers and bicyclists to exercise safely and in beautiful surroundings. For the more hardy, access to wilderness trails, camping, and getting back to nature can be found at nearby O'Neill Regional Park and Cleveland National Forest, which literally are in the city's backyard.

Four pools are open year round for fun and fitness, and a beach club, complete with a sandy "shore" and two volleyball courts gives everyone the chance to soak up the sun.

Dozens of playgrounds, playing fields, and open spaces are located throughout RSM, presenting opportunites not only for pick up games of basketball and family fun time, but also for organized sporting events, such as AYSO soccer, Pop Warner football, and Little League baseball.

Central Park, near city hall, is one of the primary gathering points for community events and is also the location for an outdoor soccer arena for kids.

Tijeras Creek Golf Club is a public course sporting 18 challenging holes. Nearby Canada Vista park has a skate park as well as a dog park.

The Santa Margarita Landscape and Recreation Corporation (SAMLARC) sponsors many recreation programs throughout the year, such as Yoga classes, fitness boot camps, and other outdoor events.

Nearby to RSM is Starr Ranch, a 4,000 acre preserve owned and operated by the National Audubon Society with many public outdoor programs available.

You don't have to live in RSM to enjoy many of the outdoor recreation opportunities within the city. To discover more about Orange County's great outdoors, visit www.ocexplorer.com.

Tracking Wildlife in Orange County

2010-05-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Use any of the trails in Orange County and you'll likely see some kind of tracks in the dirt. At casual glance, the tracks are mostly those of hiking boots, running shoes, or mountain bike tires. But look closer and all kinds of animal tracks can be found as well.

Dick Newell, founder of Orange County Trackers, is just the person to let you know exactly what those animal tracks are, as well as what direction the animal was traveling, how long ago, and at what speed they were going.

Newell founded Orange County Trackers in 2006 because he saw a need in the outdoor community for better education on how to be an animal tracker. It wasn't just something to do for fun, though. Newell felt that if wildlife biologists, grad students, interpreters, rangers, naturalists, docents and others enhanced their tracking skills, they could better monitor animal activity. This, in turn, would help protect and preserve the local habitats through the understanding of movements and populations of local wildlife.

The Orange County Trackers Web site contains information, photos, and links to Orange County wildlife track patterns. One could imaginably become an amateur tracker just by absorbing all the information on the site. There is even a "mystery track of the month" to challenge your newfound tracking skills.

As an organization, Orange County Trackers is also actively involved in tracking bobcat and cougar movements in the county and encourages the general public to report sightings.

Although hands-on workshops are not offered to the general public, they are held for professionals in the wildlife profession. These workshops, in conjunction with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, take place in back country locations in the remote northeastern part of Orange County.

Naturalists like Dick Newell and the other members of Orange County Trackers are helping to keep Orange County a safe, cohabitational environment for people and wildlife. With almost 25% of Orange County designated as open space, their work helps ensure the future of the county's back country.

To learn more about the back country of Orange County, visit ocexplorer.com.

(Photo courtesy and (c) Dick Newell)

Geocaching as a Tactical Sport

2010-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Geocaching is typically a hide and find game that provides a lot of fun in the way of exercise, mental challenges, and imagination (see previous post on geocaching). But one organization has taken geocaching to a whole other level.

Land Ops, based in Orange County, conducts fun and challenging exercises called tactical geocaching, and, off road progressive geocaching.

Normal geocaching is a static event: a cache could remain in the same location for years and have hundreds of visits. Land Ops conducts geocaching events that: a) have a time limit, b) involve off-roading and camping, and c) may contain a code for redeeming geocached items.

Here's how they operate during an organized event. First, Land Ops hides caches prior to the event. Event locations could be local to Orange County or out somewhere like the Mojave Desert. Registered geocachers, after arriving at the event, are then tasked to find multiple hidden containers using a GPS device and an off road vehicle during a designated time frame.

Each participant is given a set of geographic coordinates to the first container or cache. When located, the contents will reveal a set of instructions to the next cache. The third container is the final one, containing a small "treasure" or prize for completing the mission. Past "treasures" include a new tent, a set of binoculars, or a gift certificate to a favorite camping or off road store.

All Land Ops events are free, as is membership to the Land Ops community. Participants, however, are required to have a vehicle that they are willing to take off road, as well as have the desire to camp. For more information, visit their Web site.

Geocaching in Orange County

2010-04-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

Geocaching in Orange County is an active and growing activity. It is basically an outdoor treasure hunt whereby people either hide or find hidden containers using clues and GPS coordinates. It's the hidden containers that are called geocaches, and hiders and seekers primarily communicate using online Web sites to share their clues and experiences.

Typically a geocache hider would start with some type of secure container, such as an ammo can or a plastic bin, and place any number of items inside, including some paper and a pen to act as a log for finders. The items in the geocache could be random or they could relate to some kind of theme, but mostly the items act as a unique identifier to the cache.

The hider will pick a public location to hide the cache then post clues to its location, including GPS coordinate teasers.

A seeker, after scanning a geocache Web site, would choose a geocache to find. When the geocache is located (and that's IF it's located since some geocaches can be more challenging to find than others), the seeker will write something in the log and usually take and/or leave an item in the geocache as a way of personalizing the find even more.

Some geocache hiders are known to use fake rocks, fake branches, and other concealing items to make the searches even more challenging. Hiding spots could be as urban as the inside of a lamppost on a busy street corner or as remote as the top of a mountain.

In Orange County, there are over 6,900 geocaches hidden within a 25 mile radius of Anaheim, according to geocaching.com. It would be difficult to determine the exact number of people who participate in geocaching activities in Orange County, but judging by the membership numbers of sites like socalgeocachers.com and socal4x4geocachers.org, there are thousands. Merit badges in geocaching can be earned by Boy Scouts and more families are beginning to discover the fun in searching for geocaches.

Of late, some geocaches have been mistaken for something suspicious and have been investigated and/or destroyed by bomb squads. (See article in OC Register.) Generally, however, it is a safe, fun game that promotes fitness, community awareness, and environmental sensitivity.

Finding the Perfect Playground or Park in Orange County

2010-04-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

Playgrounds and parks are ubiquitous in Orange County, but as any parent who takes their children to them knows, not all are equal in fun and amenities. That's why an innovative mom started a blog for posting reviews and pictures of playgrounds and parks throughout the county in order for other parents to know what to expect before heading out for their day of fun.

Started by Michele Whiteaker, the blog, FunOrangeCountyParks.com just marked its 2nd anniversary on the Web. This freelance writer and mom of two has reviewed over 120 playgrounds and parks so far with more being posted each week. She says she created the site as a playground journal to share with friends. "Blogging playgrounds made me realize my passion for promoting play and building community," writes Michele on her site.

Two years into it, the blog is one of the more popular outdoor recreation sites in the county, a fact not lost on advertisers and other sponsors, as well as parents.

Although Michele is the webmaster, designer, chief blogger, and imagination leader, she is assisted by Dara Bertagni. Dara's title is playground blogger, but she also helps contribute creative ideas and keeps things organized. The team is also supported by an army of moms who voluntarily recommend and submit reviews of playgrounds and parks.

An example of a recent review would be of Anaheim's Pearson Park. Included in the blog post is a brief description of the park, its highlights and hazards, detailed directions how to get there, a checklist, slideshow, and recommendations of similar parks. Other playground and park reviews follow a similar reporting style.

In addition to playground and park information, the site provides play ideas and many other outdoor-related helpful hints and information. If it's a hot day, the site can recommended shady play parks. If tidepooling is something on a parent's list for their children to experience, there are reviews for that. Want to know where wildlife can be viewed in a safe environment, there are recommendations for that.

With so much discussion these days about childhood obesity and nature deficit disorder in children, the dedication and information found with Michele and Dara's FunOrangeCountyParks.com gives all parents a greater opportunity to discover or expand an active lifestyle with their children.

Trail Running in Orange County

2010-04-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Trail running is a remarkable way to explore the many miles of urban and wilderness trails the back country of Orange County has to offer. Scenery is found at each twist and turn and hilltop, and wildlife sightings are plenty. Those who become addicted to OC's trails claim they hardly ever run on the street anymore.

A trail can be defined in many different ways, but trail running typically involves being on dirt paths that wind their way through parks and forests, canyons and mountains, and any other passable, unpaved pathway. In Orange County, those pathways exist within the OC Parks system, the Cleveland National Forest, two state parks, and many cities.

Most dirt trails within the OC Parks system are located in designated wilderness parks as well as some regional parks.

The Cleveland National Forest maintains hundreds of miles of trails within the Trabuco Ranger District, the section of the forest that lies within Orange County.

State park trails include those at Crystal Cove in Laguna Beach and Chino Hills State Park near Yorba Linda.

Some cities and towns in the county maintain their own set of trails. San Juan Capistrano, for example, has dedicated a lot of effort into mapping their trails and have created a virtual trail list for users that includes maps, video, photos, and satellite images. San Clemente shares its border with San Juan Capistano and some of their trails hook up with each other. San Clemente also has a coastal trail that extends from the north end of town down to San Clemente State Beach. A connecting trail extends further to the OC border with San Diego County.

Other cities and towns with official trails include Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Orange, Yorba Linda, and Fullerton. Several wildlife sanctuaries have trails open to runners. These include the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine and the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach.

It would be very difficult to list or map every single dirt trail in the county, but with a little research, anyone looking to either start trail running or try new trails would have plenty of choices. Visit ocexplorer.com for a compendium of most trails in Orange County.

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary is a Place for Quiet Reflection

2010-04-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

The San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine is 300 acres of trails, ponds, and wildlife that provides visitors a place to quietly reflect on nature.

There are miles of trails throughout the sanctuary where visitors can see multiple species of birds and hundreds of varieties of local flora. The different type of visitors to the sanctuary include bird watchers, photographers, walkers and runners, and those who just want to sit and relax on one of the many benches throughout.

Home to the Sea and Sage Audubon Society, the grounds contain a butterfly garden, an interpretive center, and a visitors center, all located near the parking area.

In the distance, visitors may see and hear the takeoff off planes from nearby John Wayne airport, and the skyline of Irvine, but it doesn't distract from the sounds of jumping fish, honking ducks, and skittering fence lizards. Roadrunners dash across the trails and you may even catch a glimpse of a bobcat on the hunt.

The sanctuary is located off Michelson Rd. in Irvine and is open every day from dawn until dusk.

See a slideshow of the sanctuary at http://tiny.cc/9ypvs .

Other sanctuaries in Orange County can be discovered at ocexplorer.com.

Bikeways of Orange County

2010-04-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

Whether it's a long paved bike path that extends from one end of the county to the other, or a bike lane that shares the roadway with city traffic, bicycling options in Orange County are plentiful.

According to the Orange County Transit Authority, there are over 1,000 miles of existing bikeways in the county, with another 700 miles planned.

They have provided the best source of bikeway locations with a Bikeways Map.

On the map are locations of Class I off-road paved paths, Class II on-road striped lanes, and Class III on-road signed lanes. The map can be downloaded and saved as a pdf or can be requested by contacting Commuter Connection at (714) 560-5588 or commuterconnection@acta.net.

Recreational riders use popular roadways like the Pacific Coast Highway, Santiago Canyon Rd., Laguna Canyon Rd., and a host of other city bike lanes. Popular off-road paved paths include the Santa Ana River Trail, the San Diego Creek Trail, and the Aliso Creek Trail to name a few.

Bike commuters are celebrated in May during National Bike Month and National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 21.

Mountain bike trails can be found by visiting ocexplorer.com.

Post your experiences using the bikeways of Orange County below. Listing your favorite routes would be appreciated.

What to Do Outdoors This Spring in Orange County

2010-04-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Not a day goes by in Orange County without some back country event taking place somewhere. Whether its a docent-led hike through private, pristine wildlands, a photographic exploration of wildlife, or a family campfire, there are multiple ways to enjoy nature nearby. Here are links to Event Calendars for outdoor activities in Orange County.

Orange County Parks
All urban and wilderness parks are open to the public and many events are held each month.

Laguna Canyon Events
The Laguna Canyon area is under the management of several organizations. Some events require reservations.

Irvine Ranch Wildlands and Parks
As the steward of over 93,000 acres of open space, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy manages dozens of events each month to allow everyone the chance to explore its stunning, but fragile wildlands. Most activities require reservations.

Starr Ranch Sanctuary
This 4,000 acre Audubon private reserve holds several public events throughout the year, as well as junior biologist programs and family nature workshops.

Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy
This 1,200 acre wilderness reserve, located on the historic Rancho Mission Viejo in southern Orange County, California, has nature walks, astronomy nights and other unique events.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands and Mesas - Third Sunday of each month has a free guided walking tour.

Sierra Club Outings - Organized Hikes

Ocean Institute - Ocean education

Orange County Department of Education - Astronomy Hikes, Night Hikes

Environmental Nature Center - Nature Walks

Share your experience of tent camping in Orange County in the comments section below. For more information about the back country areas of Orange County, visit ocexplorer.com.

Hiking With Children in Orange County

2010-04-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

If you’ve been thinking about going on a hike with your children but have some concerns about their safety, there are trails in the county that will give everyone a fantastic outdoor experience at minimal risk.

Many cities have off-pavement trails that traverse open spaces, wildlife corridors, or undeveloped areas, but are relatively safe for the little ones.

Some trails are located away from crowds and neighborhoods, but others actually run right through the middle of a city. What’s important is that your children have the opportunity to have a “back country” experience where they can enjoy the openness, smells, and wonders of the county’s natural environment.

Here are a few examples of trails to try:

Aliso Summit Trail in Laguna Niguel – With views of Saddleback Valley on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, this dirt-packed trail has picnic benches scattered throughout.

Yukon Riley Botanica Trail in Ladera Ranch – Another dirt-packed trail that runs through the center of town, complete with picnic benches, observation areas and places to find extra water.

Jeffrey Open Space Trail in Irvine – A beautiful, wide trail and park setting with interesting historical markers that describe Irvine’s orange growing heritage.

Juanita Cooke Greenbelt and Trail in Fullerton – An easy, wide 3 mile trail near downtown.

For other urban trail suggestions, visit explorer.com. There you will find plenty of other safe trails for you and your children for hiking and interacting on the scenery and environment.

Carry plenty of water wherever you go.

Please share your family hiking experiences in the comments section below.

Tent Camping the Orange County Way

2010-03-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

The best part about living in Orange County, CA, is that there are so many options to choose from regarding outdoor recreation, and within those options are extremes.

Take tent camping for example. You can choose to camp in style in one of the most expensive cities in the country, Newport Beach, or you can choose to backpack into a remote canyon using seldom traveled trails in the San Mateo Wilderness area of the Cleveland National Forest. Or, you can choose traditional camping at a number of public and private campgrounds throughout the county. In any case, you'll likely not be more than 25 miles from your home wherever you camp.

There are about 11 public campgrounds for tents in and around Orange County with a wide choice of sites that range from developed to primitive. Another three private campgrounds provide additional chioices of where and how you want to camp. Per night costs range from free (at some remote forest camps) to $60+ for a beachfront site at Doheny.

The links below will take you to each of the campsites' Web pages where you will find details such as amenities, fees, permitted vechicles, and reservations. These are other campgrounds in the county, but these are the ones that permit tent camping.

County-Operated Campsites
San Juan Capistrano - Caspers Wilderness Park
Trabuco Canyon - O'Neill Regional Park

State-Operated Campsites
Chino Hills - Chino Hills State Park
Dana Point - Doheny State Beach
Laguna Beach - Crystal Cove
San Clemente - San Clemente State Beach
San Onofre - San Onofre State Beach (OC border with San Diego County)

Cleveland National Forest Campsites

Individual and Group Campgrounds

Private Campsites

Baker Canyon - Santiago Event Center

Newport Beach - Newport Dunes

Silverado - Irvine Lake

Share your experience of tent camping in Orange County in the comments section below. For more information about the back country areas of Orange County, visit ocexplorer.com

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Springtime: A Rebirth in Progress

2010-03-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, located in Foothill Ranch, suffered devastating damage from the 2007 Santiago Fire. About 90% of the park was burned, closing it down to the public for almost 9 months. (See OC Parks press release from the time.)

But this past Sunday, a hike though the park shows amazing signs of recovery. What was once a moonscape of ash and charred trees and plants in some places, is now lush with grass, flowers and early tree regrowth. Whiting Ranch is recovering and its rebirth should be experienced while Spring is working its hardest.

View this slideshow to see what the park looks like this spring. You will truly appreciate all the hard work OC Parks and nature put into making Whiting, again, one of the county's premier wilderness parks. To see how far the rebirth of the park has come, view pictures taken just after Whiting reopened in July 2008.

Share your experience with Whiting Ranch in the comments section below. For more information about the back country areas of Orange County, visit ocexplorer.com.

Orange County's Best Kept RV Park Secret

2010-03-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

Very few places in Orange County allow those who enjoy recreational vehicle camping or living to reside in a natural setting of 100 year old oak trees, 1,000 year old stream beds, and 1 million dollar views. The Santiago RV Park, located in Baker Canyon, is just the place for back country recreational camping or living.

Situated on 550 acres in the foothills of the Cleveland National Forest between Silverado and Black Star canyons, the RV park's 100 spaces (60 with full hook ups) are unequaled in natural amenities compared to other RV parks in the county.

The ability to gaze up at a star-filled sky, the access to miles of hiking and biking trails, and the natural quiet that prevails in an area with little human habitation, provides residents a unique way of living, and all just a few miles from everything else Orange County has to offer.

Plenty of civilized perks exist as well at the park. There's a pool, club house, barbecue area, large playing fields, volleyball courts, jungle gyms, sand areas, and horseshoe pits. Wi-fi will soon be available. Pets are allowed.

RVs have to be self-contained and monthly tenants have to pay for electricity. There are no limits to vehicle size. Pull through spots for the larger vehicles are available.

Rates are $25 per night, $150 per week, or $550 per month. View the slideshow to see what RV camping and living in Baker Canyon is like.

Nature Centers Simulate Orange County's Natural Wonders

2010-03-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

If you're not quite ready to explore the back country but want to know what it's like out there, you can visit any number of nature centers and interpretive centers located throughout the county.

Nature centers in Orange County are the perfect place to examine the natural environment in a safe, abbreviated way. There you will find displays, hands-on exhibits, and a wealth of information on Orange County's natural world.

Operated by the county, cities and private organizations, nature centers give children and adults the chance to see, touch and learn about the indigenous plants and animals that make Orange County its home.

The following cities have a nature or interpretive centers.
Anaheim - Oak Canyon
Brea - Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Buena Park - Clark Regional Park
Costa Mesa - Talbert Nature Preserve
Coto de Caza - Riley Wilderness Park
Fullerton - Craig Regional Park
Huntington Beach - Shipley Nature Center
Irvine - Turtle Rock Nature Center
Laguna Beach - Laguna Coast Wilderness Park - Nix Nature Center
Orange - Irvine Regional Park
Orange - Santiago Oaks Regional Park
Trabuco Canyon - O'Neill Regional Park
San Juan Capistrano - Caspers Wilderness Park
Newport Beach - Muth Interpretive Center
Newport Beach - Environmental Nature Center

Museums & Institutes
The following organizations are dedicated to preserving a part of Orange County's natural resources through education and displays.
Dana Point - Ocean Institute
Irvine - Irvine Museum
Irvine - Orange County Zoo

Nature Schools
The following organizations offer hands-on outdoor classes for children.
Earth Roots Field School
Inside the Outdoors

Share your nature center visits in the comments section below. For more information about the back country areas of Orange County, visit www.ocexplorer.com.

Lake Fishing in Orange County

2010-03-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Although the Pacific Ocean occupies one full side of Orange County, not everyone likes to angle off piers or beaches, or take a chartered boat on a fishing expedition. Many in the county prefer the quiet nature of fishing a lake or stream, especially if children are along for the adventure. Families and others will be happy to know there are quite a few fishing lakes dotted throughout the county.

Orange County Parks offers seven stocked public lakes within it's regional parks. Fish include trout, bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and others. The hours are typically 7am to sunset, seven days a week. There is no fishing fee except for Laguna Niguel's lake. A current California fishing license is required at most county lakes for anyone over 16 years old. Fishing derbies occur throughout the year at most lakes.

Brea: Carbon Canyon Regional Park - 4 acre lake
Buena Park: Clark Regional Park - 3 acre lake
Fountain Valley: Mile Square Regional Park - 2 small lakes

Fullerton: Craig Regional Park - Small pond
Irvine: Mason Regional Park - 9 acre lake
Laguna Niguel: Laguna Niguel Regional Park - 44 acre lake - Fee information - No license required
Orange: Irvine Regional Park - Small lake

There are two private lakes in the county open to the public: Irvine Lake, a 750-acre stocked lake in Silverado, and Santa Ana River Lakes, which has several stocked lakes in Anaheim. Both have admission fees but neither requires a fishing license.

There are other lakes throughout the county run by city or neighborhood homeowner associations, but they typically are not open to the public. Likewise, many reservoirs run by water districts are closed to the public.

Real back country fishing is limited to just a few creeks, and success is dependent on water flow through the area. Watch for a future article about fishing Orange County's creeks and streams.

Share your fishing tips and experiences in the comments section below. For more information about the back country areas of Orange County, visit www.ocexplorer.com.

Fossil Hunting in Orange County

2010-03-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

The geology and fossil record of Orange County is nothing short of fascinating. From sand to solid granite, from seashells to whale bones, the county's trove of rocks and ancient fossilized creatures is worth exploration.

Of course, there are some laws that prevent the casual fossil hunter from removing anything from county, state and federal lands,but the activities and places listed below will give you a great respect for the county's "crusty" side and educate you further.

Fossil Reef Park - Laguna Hills. The Laguna Hills area sits atop 17 million years of fossils, from marine life through land dwellers. The city's community center presents an interactive display. See a slideshow of the display.

Irvine Ranch Fossil Safari Program - In partnership with the Discovery Science Center, this program uses student field trips to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks for a simulated fossil dig.

TCA Fossil Program - When the toll roads were being built, a great number of fossils were unearthed, from snails to whales, including some fossils believed to date back to the dinosaur days. Since then, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) has made many of these specimens available for viewing and as a free educational program for elementary students.

Orange County Dinosaur - The Web site of F. Joseph Bell, Orange County Dinosaur Hunter.

There are several clubs in the county that are dedicated to sharing their knowledge about local fossils, rocks, and gems. These include the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society and Santa Ana Rock and Mineral Club.

Irvine Valley College has posted a Geologic History of Orange County, by Carol J. Stadum, on their Web site. Possibly, the most interesting fact in the history is that the oldest exposed rocks in Orange County date back 225 million years. Those rocks can be seen up close on a hike up the Silverado Motorway.

Share your fossil hunting tips and experiences in the comments section below. For more information about the back country areas of Orange County, visit www.ocexplorer.com.

The Cleveland National Forest is Orange County's ultimate escape package

2010-03-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

Approximately 135,000 acres, or 210 square miles, make up the Orange County portion of the sparsely populated Cleveland National Forest's Trabuco Ranger District. That means it takes up about 25% of the county, yet has less than .1% of the population. That's a lot of breathing room. It's the ultimate escape from the county's urban pressures.

Hundreds of miles of trails wind their way through the recreational areas with whimsical names like West Horsethief, Holy Jim, Chiquito, and Fisherman's Camp.

Some trails are short and easy, like the El Cariso Nature Trail, and others will test a person's limits of endurance and pain, like Los Pinos. But all will give the visitor an experience worth remembering.

The forest service classifies the Trabuco Ranger District trails as non-wilderness trails and San Mateo Canyon Wilderness trails. Choose between any number of trails to get to the highest point in Orange County, Santiago Peak, at 5,689 feet, or choose one that explores one of many canyons.

Access to the forest is typically made through Black Star Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Modjeska Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, or off Ortega Highway. Some trailhead parking requires the display of an Adventure Pass.

There are two forest roads in Orange County accessible to vehicles: Maple Springs, also known as the Silverado Motorway because of its location at the end of Silverado Canyon Rd., and Main Divide, which mostly runs along the top ridgelines of the Santa Ana mountains from Coal Canyon in Anaheim Hills to Ortega Highway. These unpaved roads challenge even the hardiest of four-wheel drive vehicles and the nimblest of dirt bikes, so regular vehicles are not recommended.

Recreational activities in the forest besides trail hiking and running include mountain biking, camping, picnicking, and hunting. The forest is open "24/7." However, a Wilderness Visitor Permit is required for overnight visits.

Bring water! Water fountains may only be available in developed areas such as campgrounds. Streams and creeks are unreliable water sources. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed at all times.

If you visit the forest, share your thoughts in the comments section below. For more information about other parks and back country areas of Orange County, visit http://www.ocexplorer.com/.

Riley Wilderness Park provides families the perfect outdoor springtime experience

2010-03-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park is an island of luxury as only nature can deliver. Full of wildflowers in the spring and cool breezes in the summer, this park attracts butterflies and birds, as well as trail explorers searching for solitude and families looking for the perfect outdoor experience.

Made up of almost 500 acres of rolling hills and categorized as a coastal sage environment, Riley park is the best wilderness area to experience as a family because of its compact size, proximity to local services, picnic area, butterfly garden, and visitor center.

Located at the east end of Oso Parkway near the south entrance of Coto de Caza in south Orange County, this sanctuary of grasslands and woodlands has well-maintained trails and has informative signs throughout the park that describe the various plant and wildlife surroundings. During this time of year, the grasslands are at their greenest and wildflowers are blooming all around the park.

Don't miss visiting one of Orange County Parks' best sanctuaries during one of nature's best times of the year. Click here for a slideshow of the park showing how it looked on March 21, 2010.

Click here for location and hours. Parking is $3.00. Water is available at a fountain in the parking lot, but none is available on the trails.

If you visit the park this spring, share your thoughts in the comments section below. For more information about other parks and back country areas of Orange County, visit http://www.ocexplorer.com/.

Part 2: Using mass transit as an exercise training adventure - Trains

2010-03-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

Those who like to run or bicycle for exercise probably like to mix it up as far as what route to take from one day to the next. An interesting alternative to may be to use the county's bus and rail system (OCTA and Metrolink) as part of an exercise program. Part 1 of this series looked at suggested bus routes. This part will look at train options.

Passenger trains in Orange County travel to and from San Clemente to the south, Buena Park to the north, and Anaheim Hills to the east. Travelling from one end of the county to the other takes less than an hour. To go beyond the county, the trains travel south to San Diego, east into the Inland Empire and beyond, and north into Los Angeles and beyond. By taking a train from any one of the 10 Metrolink stations in the county, you can design your own training route.

Bicycles can be secured with the straps located across from the restrooms on each car. Up to four bicycles may be stored at each location. Other details on riding the trains can be found here.

Here is the list of stations (from south to north) in Orange County:
San Clemente Pier
San Clemente
San Juan Capistrano
Laguna Niguel / Mission Viejo
Irvine
Tustin
Santa Ana
Orange
Anaheim
Fullerton
Buena Park

Check fares and schedules first.

If you've used mass transit as part of your exercise program and have a route to share, or if you try one of the options above, leave a comment below or drop me a line at joe@ocexplorer.com.

Part 1: Using mass transit as an exercise training adventure - Buses

2010-03-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

Those who like to run or bicycle for exercise probably like to mix it up as far as what route to take from one day to the next. Running and biking through one's neighborhood is convenient and easy, but after awhile it becomes quite boring to some to see the same old roads and landmarks.

To mix it up, people might get into their car and drive to places out of their hometown just to run or bike someplace new. Cities like Irvine, for example, have a great system of paved trails that are worth driving to. The beach areas are always a nice place to get in a run or ride, and trail running or mountain biking through any of the county's regional and wilderness parks or forest areas are always worth the trip.

Yet, with the high price of gas and parking fees today, taking a vehicle somewhere and then running or biking for exercise seems a little off-kilter. What alternative is there, then, to being able to get good long runs or rides in while minimizing your carbon footprint?

The answer may be in using the county's bus and rail system (OCTA) as part of your exercise program. This two-part article will look at bus and train options to assist you in trying new routes with minimum use of your vehicle and maybe saving you high parking costs. This first part examines bus options. Part 2 examines train options.

You might be thinking this whole idea of using mass transit as part of your exercise program is a bit of a stretch of the imagination, but what's life without a little adventure and discovery?

Suppose you wanted to hike or run the trails of Crystal Cove State Park. Driving there will cost gas money and a whopping $15 to park, if you can find a spot. Instead, you could park your car at nearby Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach for free and hop on the bus that travels up and down PCH all day long. The southbound Route 1 bus will drop you off right near the park.

Perhaps you have a personal goal to run or bicycle the length of the Newport to Seal Beach bike trail but aren't sure you can do a round-trip distance. By parking your car at either end of the trail, and taking the Route 1 bus either to a starting point or back to your car, you can run or ride the distance you want.

The truly ambitious bicyclists can park at the terminus points of the Route 1 bus at either end of the county (San Clemente to the south or Seal Beach to the north) and have the opportunity to ride the entire length of Orange County's coastline without worrying whether you'll have enough left inside you for a round trip.

It takes 2 hours to travel the entire PCH route by bus. You could most certainly cut that time considerably by driving, but the point is that with a bus that has a route 40 miles long, along one of the most beautiful highways in Orange County, planning a run, ride or walk using the bus as a shuttle is an adventure and a green-friendly experience that will make for a great story.

There are other interesting bus routes that travel a single, long road in the county that can get you from one point to the other in about 30-60 minutes. Here are some suggested bus fitness routes that do not require transfers and are relatively quick:

Coastal route
As mentioned above, the Route 1 bus travels the length of PCH through Orange County. Stops are near beach trails, the Santa Ana Bike Trail, Crystal Cove State Park, and the San Diego County line. Check here for route information.

Cooks Corner - Laguna Beach
This is something of a mountains to sea trip. Although there is an official "Mountains to Sea" route in Orange County, using a bus to connect at one end or the other of that route is quite an endeavor and not worth it. But the Cooks Corner to Laguna Beach connection is feasible. The Route 89 bus travels El Toro and Laguna Canyon Roads, making it possible for you to park in Mission Viejo or Laguna Beach. Check here for route information.

Lake Mission Viejo - Laguna Niguel Regional Park
The Route 87 bus cruises this route. There are a number of off-street and on-street bike path options between these two points.

Irvine Spectrum - Dana Point
You can park for free at either point and use the Route 90 bus to your advantage.

Laguna Hills Mall to Dana Point
Again, free parking at either end, and the Route 187 bus will get you there or back.

Orange County Fairgrounds - Balboa Island
The Route 71 bus is the only one that goes almost to the end of the Balboa peninsula, and actually goes all the way to Yorba Linda, but a more reasonable time limit on the bus is going to or from the fairgrounds.

Buena Park - Huntington Beach
The Route 29 bus travels mostly on Beach Blvd., so there are a lot of options along the way. A trip to/from the Buena Park Metrolink Station and PCH will take about an hour.

Fullerton - Huntington Beach
The Route 33 bus travels Magnolia Blvd. A trip to/from the Fullerton Park-and-Ride and PCH will take about 45 minutes.

For longer distances, you can catch one of the express buses to take you to a point outside the county or away from your town, and ride your bike back (or run, if you're that hardy). This is a great way to get in lots of training miles without doing the same old, same old routes close to home. However, these express buses only operate Monday through Friday.

Huntington Beach - Downtown Los Angeles express (Route 701)
Fullerton - Downtown Los Angeles express (Route 721)
Santa Ana - Lake Forest (Route 206)
Seal Beach - Irvine (Route 211)
San Juan Capistrano - Irvine (John Wayne Airport) (Route 212)
Brea - Irvine (UCI) (Route 213)
San Juan Capistrano - Costa Mesa (Route 216)

It would be very interesting to be able to use mass transit to go to either end of the Santa Ana River Trail to do a one-way trip, but there was no reasonable way possible since it would involve multiple transfers and hours of travel time. Likewise for the county's Mountains to Sea trail that runs to/from Irvine Regional Park in Orange to the Newport Back Bay area. There are no direct buses along that route and no reasonable travel times if you used transfers.

These were just a few suggestions to use mass transit as part of an exercise program. To create your own fitness route, use the combination of the OCTA's system map and the Bikeways map. The opportunities to expand your training program can be quite adventurous.

Important information regarding Orange County buses
Fares: Most one way-fares for local trips are $1.50 (exact change required). Express buses are $3.00 - $4.50. Fares can be found here.
Schedules: Maps and schedules can be found here. Be aware that there are Monday - Friday schedules and weekend schedules, which could differ dramatically.
Bicycles: Racks are available on all large buses. Each bus can accommodate only two bikes at a time. Call OCTA to check if a specific bus has a bike rack.

If you've used mass transit as part of your exercise program and have a route to share, or if you try one of the options above, leave a comment below or drop me a line at joe@ocexplorer.com.

Calling all Harding Truck Trail Users - Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Needs Our Help

2010-03-15T12:55:00.001-07:00

If you are a frequent user of the Harding Truck Trail at the end of Modjeska Canyon Rd., you have likely parked your car at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary lot and/or used the on-site bathrooms. If so, you know how limited parking is and how limited the bathroom resources are. Until last weekend, I never fully realized how strained the sanctuary's infrastructure really is until I was informed by one of their workers that the bathrooms weres no longer available to trail users - it's reserved now only for sanctuary visitors. Trail users will have to use the public bathroom about a mile back down the road.

"What?" I thought to myself. I'd been running that trail for years and was never denied use of their bathroom before. Plus, I considered myself a patron of the sanctuary: I've donated, I've bought things at the gift shop, I've made sure I never left a mess. But ... I'm not much of a confrontationist, so I simply said "OK", immaturely rolled my eyes, internalized the conflict, and took off up the trail where nature was more accepting of my "needs" anyway.

One of the wonderful things about running is that you get to burn off negative energy and replenish it with positive energy. I ran up the Harding trail that Sunday morning feeling snubbed. However, by the time I returned, I was feeling more sympathetic to their cause and wanted to know the whole story.

All this might be sounding a little silly by now - what's the big deal about their bathroom anyway, you might be questioning? But, as life goes, nothing is always as it seems and I figured there had to be another side to this.

I found the lady who had informed me of the new bathroom rules and I asked her "why now?" She told me that Tucker is suffering like other organizations from budget cuts and that even going over budget on bathroom supplies was a critical loss. As she talked, it became clear to me that her decision to limit usage was not out of lack of concern for others, but that she was doing the best she could to make ends meet and make the sanctuary an enjoyable place for visitors. However, she has had to deal with users of the Harding trail as well, and with very little sympathy or support services from Cleveland National Forest (who manage the trail). She said she has requested the forest service to provide porta-potties and help manage the parking situation, but can't seem to get them to react.

Therefore, I think us Harding trail users should pitch in and help Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary any way we can. Sending money is always a welcome item for them, I'm sure, but there are a number of other ways we can help. Anytime you go to use the Harding trail, try to help the sanctuary with one of these methods:
1. Drop a dollar (or even whatever loose change you have in the car) in their donation box.
2. Bring a roll of paper towels, toilet paper, or liquid soap for their supplies inventory.
3. Bring a bag of bird seed.
4. Bring hummingbird mix.
5. Buy something in the gift shop.
6. Call ahead and ask them what they may need that week.
7. Write a note to Cleveland National Forest and press them to install porta-potties at the trailhead.

I'm not much of an activist, but I do believe that Tucker bears a heavy load on weekends when trail users far outnumber sanctuary visitors. Collectively, we can do little things to help that will add up to something big. We all look out for each other on the trails; we should also look out for those who share our passion for the outdoors and wildlife like those who work at Tucker. Thanks.

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
29322 Modjeska Canyon Rd.
Silverado, CA 92676
(714) 649-2760
http://nsm.fullerton.edu/tucker/

Are Trail Reviews Helpful?

2010-02-22T15:48:00.000-08:00

There are lots of Web sites and blogs out there dedicated to information regarding the trails of Orange County. I think that's great - I'm for anything that lets people know how to improve their health and quality of life, and discover our great trails. The back country of Orange County, with its intricate and beautiful network of trails, has more than once saved my sanity.

I personally discovered my first trail experience after reading a local newspaper article about the opening of a portion of the Arroyo Trabuco trail way back in 1995. Since the Internet was still quite new at the time, the main way to discover what other trails were out there was basically by word-of-mouth. I would come across other runners, hikers, or mountain bikers and we would share information on trails we had been on, and then I would try new ones based on what I heard.

Practically all of the OC trail Web/blog sites give basic descriptions of the trails, such as location and distance, and some also give detailed reviews of the trails' difficulty and condition. The problem I have with most of these detailed reviews is that they always turn out to be quite relative - that is, relative to the reviewer. Just as back in the day when word-of-mouth was the social media of the trails, what's easy to one person might be hard for me, what's a small hill to them might be a steep climb for me; what's a short run or hike to them might practically feel like an endurance run for me.

So how in the world can one be impartial on any type of review anyway?

Any of us who run outdoor Web sites or blogs can give turn-by-turn, hill-by-gully descriptions, but no two runs, hikes or rides are ever the same anyway. In my opinion, the best way to give an impartial review of a trail is simply to just present the important facts (such as availability of water, how remote it may or may not be, and the area's general topology, for example) and let the person, who knows their own abilities best, make the decision that any one particular trail is the one to try.

So, discover the important facts about a particular trail or park, give it a try, and then write your own mental review for future reference. Don't let any of us ever tell you which trails are best or which aren't worth it. When you go to a trail uninfluenced by another's experience, you'll build a better intimacy with the back country of Orange County. See you out there!