Activity Cards

You will enjoy a gorgeous sunset with panoramic views of Orange County while hiking in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space on the paved Hicks Haul Road. This hike travels 6 miles, out and back crossing over Loma Ridge. This is the perfect activity for you to get your work-out in and view the sunset. The hike is conducted at an average pace of 3 miles per hour, but you may travel a bit faster or slower, at a walk, run, or jog depending on your comfort level. Because of the paved surface of the road, you may wear regular running or walking shoes. Trail shoes are fine, but not required. Please bring adequate water.

IRC Volunteers are needed to support OC Parks’ managed Wilderness Access Day, a special event that provides the public with a rare opportunity to explore designated wilderness areas through a self-guided experience. Volunteer support is essential to ensure visitors enjoy safe, positive, and informative access to the land, while helping OC Parks maintain responsible use of these sensitive open spaces.

IRC Volunteers may register for either the first and or second shift. Upon arrival, OC Parks staff will assign each IRC Volunteer to a specific duty based on event needs. Possible assignments include:

• • Registration: Assist at the staging area to answer public questions, hand out maps, set up/take down equipment.
• • Gate Monitoring: Great folks as they enter the trail system, providing maps, answering questions, and most importantly, counting attendance via a clicker. The attendance numbers are critical for our reporting purposes.
  • Interpretive Booth: Provide interpretive/educational information at a booth to interested public participants.
  • Foot Patrol and Bike Patrol: Travel the trails as our eyes and ears as an IRC representative, make sure participants are staying on trail, answering questions, and keeping us updated on any emergencies. We will have radios for you to check out.
  • Equestrians, please email irvineranchopenspace@ocparks.com to volunteer for this event.

• First Shift: 7:30 – 11:30 AM; First shift volunteers will assist with event setup before heading out to their field assignments.
• Second Shift: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM; Second shift volunteers will return from the field approximately 30 minutes before the event ends to help with breakdown and wrap-up.

All IRC Volunteers must wear their official IRC Volunteer uniform, including the OC Parks landowner patch.

Your support helps make Wilderness Access Day possible!

Take a leisurely ride on beautiful Hall Canyon and Helo trail in the Black Star Wilderness Area, home of oak woodlands, grasslands, and coastal sage scrub. View evidence of the old ranch days when cattle once roamed the area and see wildflowers that are native to our area. You will see amazing views of the local canyons and red rock. Evidence of a more recent use of the land is an area used for helicopter landings and a large metal ball and chain the military and OC Fire departments used for training.