Post By: Amandeep Kaur, Peer Mentor 2022
If you are an outdoors enthusiast like me, Irvine is the perfect place for you! Whether you are just looking to take a chill stroll in nature or an exciting adventure, there are plenty of options of varying degrees of difficulty available to you to explore the outdoors.
Below I have curated a list of trails near the campus. Most of these trails can be reached by car in only several minutes (the UCI ecological preserve can be accessed by walking as its located on campus/University Hills). Most of these trails are interconnected and span across the city. The trails highlighted have free public parking. I would recommend checking the temperature and bringing some water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and/or a hat before attempting any of these trails.
Here are some spots to explore:
Located on the UCI campus (adjacent to University Hills), this Ecological Preserve is part of UCI’s sustainability efforts to research and restore native vegetation and animal species. This Ecological Preserve offers opportunities to view bird species, such as the California quail and gnatcatcher. The Ecological Preserve is the perfect spot to take in some nature, birdwatch, and enjoy the panoramic views of the campus/Irvine. This is a perfect hiking spot for beginners and for those needing a quick respite from work.
This is another perfect hiking trail for beginners. This trail is nearly two miles and can be completed in less than an hour. You can listen to a self-guided phone audio tour while on the trail. If you are interested in learning about a particular location, you can look for signs prompting you to enter the number of the location to learn more about it. The trail also allows leashed dogs.
Connected to the quail loop trail, the shady canyon trail offers an easy to moderately challenging four-mile hike. Despite its name, the trail offers little to no shade, so hats and sunglasses are a must. This trail also connects to other trailheads like Juanita Moe Trail, and Bommer Canyon, so you can easily extend your hike.
These hiking spots are the zenith of Irvine. This hike could be considered moderate given it can take about two hours to complete the four-mile distance. Much like the other trails listed above, it can be approached from several different starting points. It may be worth hiking in the morning or evening for the scenic sunrise/sunset views.
Happy exploring!