Many Irvine hikers and walkers know about Quail Loop, a pretty – and pretty easy – 2-mile trail that begins at the trailhead near the fire station off Shady Canyon Drive.
But there’s another option close by for hardy hikers looking for a more challenging route. Tucked behind the Quail Hill Community Center, you’ll find a trail that interconnects with Laguna Coast Wilderness trails – and which could take you all the way to Laguna Beach with enough planning and plenty of time. That point-to-point hike is a little too ambitious for me.
My favorite route, when I’m feeling strong and the weather cools, takes me from the community center to Nix Nature Center in Laguna Beach and back, a distance of 9 miles. It’s challenging, with a few hills that get your heart pumping. This is not a trail for beginners.
Before I leave, I fill my backpack with plenty of water, electrolyte gummies and a picnic lunch, usually chicken sandwiches, nuts and fruit. Hiking poles come in handy, too.
After a steep climb, you’ll feel as though you’ve stumbled into a Mediterranean wonderland as you pass gorgeous Shady Canyon estate homes on your right.
Continue along Serrano Ridge, enjoying the panoramic views of Irvine, the Pacific Ocean and perhaps roadrunner sightings. You’ll pass Rabbit Run, Fox Run and Cattle Crest, which you can explore on Bommer Canyon Open Access days. I strongly recommend that you do so.
Continue and head down Little Sycamore to Nix Nature Center. Little Sycamore is shady and crosses a creek, dry in the summer, though you might hear a trickle or two after heavy rains. In spring, wildflowers are plentiful here.
Nix offers clean restrooms and the opportunity to fill your water bottle. Sit on an Adirondack chair in the shade with a sweeping view of the wilderness as you eat lunch. Inside the air-conditioned building, you’ll find a topographical display showing the terrain you’ve covered. You’ll also find trail maps and pamphlets with information about local flora and fauna.
On particularly hot days, you might decide that you’ve achieved your 10,000 steps and take a rideshare back to Irvine. If you’re still in hiking mode, you might want to take a short detour to Barbara’s Lake, Orange County’s only natural lake. I’ve seen pelicans, coots and ducks on its serene surface. More recently, I’ve heard bullfrogs and wondered why they aren’t called foghorn frogs, so loud is their braying.
From Nix, head under the freeway and continue to Stagecoach North, linking up with West Canyon and back to Serrano Ridge and Quail Trail. Often in September, you’ll see twiggy wreath plants on the side of the trail, their skeletal stems studded with delicate pink flowers that attract white cabbage butterflies. Monarch butterflies have also been plentiful this year.
The lollipop trail descends back to Quail Hill Community Center, by which time you’ll feel extremely accomplished. Buy yourself a smoothie or cup of coffee at the Quail Hill Shopping Center to celebrate your achievement – and your good fortune to live so close to the ocean that you can hike there on foot if you like.
A different challenge
To hike from Irvine to Crystal Cove, start at the Bommer Canyon trailhead and take the Ridge Park Trail, which connects with the Crystal Cove State Park trails that lead to the ocean. Consult a physical map or use apps to decide on your route. The total distance will depend on your trail choices – and your stamina. This point-to-point hike, a minimum of 11 miles, is not for the faint of heart.
