OC park officials this month unveiled an iconic local open space in the hills just outside Irvine and Orange known as the Red Rock Wilderness – a rare chance to walk the area formed millions of years ago.
About 1,500 acres of the open space were opened to public trails – part of a 25,000 acre donation made by the Irvine Company.
Many activists played a part in encouraging the Irvine Company to donate the piece of open space and prevent this iconic piece of land from becoming another strip of houses, through many lawsuits over a four-year period with the aim of keeping the land pristine.
The resulting Red Rock Wilderness area is made up of three miles worth of walkable trails, ranging in difficulty and length that wind up around huge red rock formations providing great views.
A network of OC Parks and IRC certified volunteers help manage the trails and public access.
Earlier this month, local residents who got their first chance to see the area gave it great reviews.
“Impressive,” was the reaction from Craig Bassett, 64, who visited the area with his wife, Shelly Bassett, 64.
Martin and Jennifer Sasaki brought their four boys for a hike on the trails with Martin referring to the red rocks as “the highlight of the hike.”
The Red Rock Wilderness is home for many different forms of wildlife such as various species of wildflowers, Mule deer, Grey fox, Prickly Pear Cactus, a variety of bird species, snakes and more.
The Red Rocks that make up these species homes were formed with the gradual lift of the Santa Ana mountains; their red coloring appears when sediment, deposited by rain or wind oxidizes and erodes at the rock.
The Red Rock Wilderness is accessible through advanced registration with OC Parks, where you can reserve guided and self-guided tours of the open space.
Here is a list of this month’s specific dates and events.
June 7 – Red Rock to Limestone Distance Hike
6:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
June 13 – Thursday Morning Trek in Red Rock Wilderness
7:30 – 11 a.m.
June 14 – Morning Hike at Red Rock Wilderness
8 – 10:30 a.m.
June 15 – Wilderness Access Day: Red Rock Wilderness
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
June 16 – Moderate-Paced Mountain Bike Ride in Red Rock Wilderness and Loma Ridge
8 – 11 a.m.
June 28 – Morning Mountain Bike Ride at Red Rock Wilderness
8 – 10:30 a.m.