I highly recommend this hike, and I wanted to do it months ago when it rained, but it was of course, closed around that time. I actually decided to do this last-minute on Memorial Day because I accidentally drove to work when it was a holiday. I arrived a bit before 7 AM, and the trail is well-maintained, with restrooms at the trailhead. The parking spots do fill up pretty quickly, so come early! The other hikers are friendly, and the views were great. At the start, there are pretty flowers to look at, and the air was so refreshing. read more

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Bommer Canyon is absolutely beautiful--lush, green, and alive with the sounds of nature. The different shades of green across the landscape are stunning, and there's a wide variety of wildflowers and mustard greens along the trails. The panoramic views of the rolling hills are breathtaking and being deep in the canyon, with very few people on the trail makes you feel immersed in nature. There are multiple trails in the area, all of which are well-maintained and clean. If you go on a weekday morning, it's especially peaceful--very quiet, empty, and feels wonderfully isolated. There are several parking lots and trailheads/gates for different entry points, but parking space is limited (shouldn't be a problem on the weekday). read more

Bommer Canyon - Trail Map - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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One of the best trails I've been on in the oc area. 1. Many trails, from and to the freeway 73 and past, to the beach . Loops that are 3 to 6 miles long and often traveled by walkers runners and bikers. Many switch back trails and steep up and downward paths. Parking is super clean, the cleanest I've ever been to. Grounds and entrance is an A+ location. Elder, couples parents and bikers of all ages are friendly outgoing and make the area safe and enjoyable. Park... limited to around 12 to 15 stalls; so on a busy day, if not available, just wait, and someone will eventually leave - worth the wait. Beyond that, it's a 4.5 stars and the only thing missing, would more parking or signs with more directional info. read more

HIDDEN TREASURE of IRVINE in OC! I almost do not want to write this review because I want to keep this gem ALL TO MYSELF! I went there for a late afternoon/evening walk. The sun was coming down. I could hear the birds chirping, soft winds in the air, enormous open space with fresh clean air. It was so serene! The tranquility gives you a sense of peace if you are one of those folks who practice mindfulness/meditation. I don't have to travel to Costa Rica or Hawaii to experience such spacious and beautiful field of green! Entrance: It can be easily missed because cars drive 50MPH on this two-lane road! My car's map was off by 1 entrance, but I was able to find the entrance with Bommer Cayon sign. Parking: It is very limited as you can see in the picture. No Parking from 6 P.M. to 7 A.M. Trail opens 7AM to Sunset. There are additional parkings down at Turtle Rock Community Park a few minutes down the road. You can check Irvine City website for details of activities at Bommer Canyon Park. They have camping activities here for family and different events. NO EBIKES! NO DOGS! Check out "LetsGoOutside.org" for details of parks and trails. Verify status of trail call: 949-385-1891 read more

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Beautiful views, would be an amazing spot to take photos, it's so quiet as well and the trails are clean. read more

Bommer Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

I am sure the scenery of this trail is beautiful during the early spring, but it's not so great during the summer. For starters, there is VERY limited parking. About 10 spots to be exact. If you plan to hike this trail, I recommend going early in the morning. By early, I'm talking 6:00 -7:00 AM. I made the mistake of going around 8:30 AM and I regretted it. By doing this, you will avoid 3 things: 1.) Dirt bike riders who have no regard for hikers 2.) The heat 3.) Not finding a parking spot If you do the entire trail, it's about 5 miles. If you are going at a medium to fast pace, you should be done within 2.5 hours. Keep in mind that most of this trail is going uphill. I wasn't aware of this and I was suffering without hiking shoes. I might give this trail a shot during spring, but I won't be revisiting in the summer months. It's also good to note that when you get to the top of the hill, you don't get reception. Make sure you download a map on your phone before making it to the top. read more

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This trail in Irvine is my absolute favorite. Please visit after a week of rain, the mountainside bursts into a vibrant green, offering breathtaking views that make every step worthwhile. With a few different trails to choose from, you can tailor your hike to your fitness level. Opt for a leisurely loop for a relaxing stroll, or challenge yourself with a steeper incline for a more rigorous workout. It can be a little difficult to park as the parking space is limited but you can park at the near park and walk over. read more

Great open trail. Amazing one way and fenced trails. Bring hydration and snacks. Lots of photo op spots for the family and kiddos. read more

They lack sufficient parking and they only have less than 10 spaces available. I don't understand why the city has such restrictions on parking on the side of the road on the way to the trailhead area. The trail is an easy beautiful hike that you can bring children or the elderly to join in on the adventure. We hiked on a cloudy day but I would recommend a hat on a sunny day as there is little shade. read more

Bommer Canyon - Sunday nature hike 2022 - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

The level of difficulty of this hike really depends on the trails you decide to take. We took Bomber Meadow, Bomber Pass, Turtle Ridge Singletrack, Community Trail, and then walked through a residential area to get back to where we parked. Altogether a beautiful 7 mile hike! I'd say the hike was a moderate level. Turtle Ridge is where it starts to incline- I was out of breath during the incline but after about a mile you reach the top and you are able to see the ocean and the cities! WEAR SUNSCREEN. We went on a gloomy Sunday and the wind felt amazing, but we ended up so sunburnt by the end of our hike. There is little to no shade so be careful and bring lots of water. You have to go through a residential area for the last half of your hike if you want to make a loop back to your car. read more

Bommer Canyon is a Great place to go if you're looking for a short hike, lots of wildlife and scenery, the only downside is that the parking lot is very small so you might have to park about a mile down the road at turtle rock park and walk over to the trailhead. read more

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One of the better places for a hike in the Irvine area. Best done in the cooler months as there is virtually no shade. It really is beautiful, especially in the spring, and although you feel completely out of the urban area the million-dollar-plus homes on the distant hillside are ever present. On my most recent visit we encountered more bicyclists than hikers. Although many came whizzing by they all were courteous in loudly announcing their arrival so that we had time step aside on the narrow dirt path into the brush. But admittedly it did take away from the enjoyment of the hike. Restrooms are available at the trailhead where there is also a map posted of the path routes. Parking lot is free but tiny; it's often full on weekends requiring one to park a half-mile down the road. read more

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Bommer Canyon is one of the nicest trails I've ever been to! It's tucked away between small communities, but it feels very isolated from suburbia. There is a parking lot, but not very many spaces. We went on a Thursday, so there were not many people, but I'd imagine on a busy weekend, you'd have to find street parking. Trails are distinctly marked so there is no confusion as to where you are going. Trails vary in difficulty, ranging from short loops with little to no incline to 4+ mile loops with very steep inclines. We ended up doing a 3 mile loop in about 1 hour. We wanted to hike for longer, but we saw 2 rattlesnakes and decided that those were signs that we should leave. Overall, the hike was really nice and relaxing. We'll be back, probably in the winter when there are no snakes! read more

Bommer Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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Really cool hiking trail spot. Very clean and multiple options to choose from. They have a parking lot inside, but we parked at a nearby park and walked into the Turtle Rock community that has a flat road leading to bommer canyon. Many cyclists and joggers. Most people wear masks. The trail currently is one way only. So choose wisely. After you pick your route no turning back till you complete that trail. There is a map at the entrance by the restrooms so you can see how long each trail will be. Minus 1 star cuz I didn't think the view was that amazing. A lot of dry grass and dead flowers. There is a nice row of million dollar homes you can view. read more

Bommer Canyon - One way trail markers and fenced - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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My favorite place to go for a walk or hike. Amazing trails. Sometimes I forget that I am in the middle of Irvine.

Beautiful natural area in the middle of Irvine ... several great trails for hiking and biking !

Went on a small little 1.5 mile hike with some friends this past weekend. It was really beautiful. Along the way we saw two other hikers who mentioned to us that they had saw a rattlesnake on the trail just ahead. We were on the bommer meadow I believe? Then we took the loop back to the trail head. Everything was super green and it was a beautiful day out, will probably come back, parking is free and restrooms are clean. read more

Mild & easy hike for amateurs. Parking is on site and right next to the trail, would highly recommend for those getting back into shape. Went on a Tuesday morning with no traffic, and maybe ran into 4-5 on the trail. read more

Bommer Canyon - Loop trail - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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The views at Bommer Canyon are wonderful, parking is plentiful, and the people who walk the trail are usually friendly. When hiking here, you'll need to be careful to avoid animal droppings on the trail. If you wear ear buds or headphones while you hike, keep alert to avoid mishaps with mountain bikers trying to get by you. Tip: This is a great hiking venue for beginning hikers to "cut their teeth" and work up to some more serious venues, like Top of the World in Laguna Beach read more

We went to the wilderness access day at Bommer canyon yesterday and although the park itself was gorgeous, all the bikers on the hiking trails made our hike very dangerous. Several time we were almost run over by bikers. I cant believe that OC parks, usually so concerned with safety would allow hikers and bikers to share those narrow paths. Why dont they have separate days for bikers and hikers. It would be much safer. read more

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." -- Robert Frost Well... I have to say, there is no such thing as a road less traveled by at Bommer Canyon, especially when it comes to the cyclists. They WILL mow you over, most without even an "excuse me" or "behind you" or "on your left (or right)". No... they will whiz by you with little regard for anyone's safety. With Bommer's narrow paths, you can imagine what an... adventure... this could be. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bommer-canyon-irvine?select=50057yPEnrJucql9rBGAQA#L-ZxQmftSrxH64FnMhNgBQ That out of the way, Bommer Canyon is a pretty kick-ass place for a jog or hike. The views are beautiful, it feels out of the way of just about everything, and all the trails are well marked. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bommer-canyon-irvine?select=50057yPEnrJucql9rBGAQA#tgNKVmj9_OJkfge2QbnymQ and http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bommer-canyon-irvine?select=50057yPEnrJucql9rBGAQA#b_YnYlXScxekIXE2lXRdKg On occasion, you run into informational posts that give phone numbers to recordings that give a history lesson! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bommer-canyon-irvine?select=50057yPEnrJucql9rBGAQA#WOBaYJAhNy1QoC4ZFpLzaw and http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bommer-canyon-irvine?select=50057yPEnrJucql9rBGAQA#SKMUY4N9oX1-kQa_rXwQbQ Apparently, there used to be rodeo's in Irvine's early days: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bommer-canyon-irvine?select=50057yPEnrJucql9rBGAQA#0OrZofprM4Ak9Wp5wQByyg and http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bommer-canyon-irvine?select=50057yPEnrJucql9rBGAQA#JbzIgh0ua_2jScO-1OVLGQ The parking lot gets closed off pretty early before dusk, but you can park over at the Turtle Rock Community Center and walk over. You can still have access to all the trails. Bommer Canyon just part of the vast network of trails in Irvine's Open Space Preserve. Time to get outside and hike this trail! Or dust of your mountain bike... just make sure you give the hikers some warning before you buzz by! read more

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"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." -- T.S. Eliot "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." -- John Muir Bommer Canyon, recently opened to the public, is a pleasant enough hike during the day...especially for a worjkout. The views are just okay...of Shady Canyon...of the distant toll road...of smoggy Irvine. However, at night, without a flashlight...the sky becomes larger and more breathtaking...the toll road becomes a , lighted, ominous beast...you finally see stars in Irvine...the crescent moon is luminous and lovely...the overpriced Shady Canyon McMansions actually appear lovely. I'm sure the hike wasn't legal...but it was worthwhile :) Parking at the Turtle Rock Community Park tennis courts is a must. Just watch out for whatever that thing was in the bushes...I don't know what the hell could make that shrieking sound!!! :) read more

A nice hike with scenic views! I just recently discovered this place and am disappointed that I didn't hike here more often during my time at UCI. If the bustle of life and urban environments is getting to you, this place is remote nature almost within your backyard. I also hiked here during the spring and you can see lots of wildflowers and bunnies! I even saw a baby bunny and tried to lure it back but it wouldn't trust me :( Next time I'll bring some carrots ;) come out and enjoy the nature with meee read more

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Distance: 3 miles Elevation gain: 700 ft Wow! This hike definitely took me by surprise. I certainly here for a fitness hike with the Irvine ranch conservancy (you have to sign up in advance) and had my butt kicked! Thinking it was only going to be three miles long, I almost didn't even bring my water bottle. Good thing, one of the docents convinced me otherwise. Finishing the hike took a little over an hour, with some short pit stops to enjoy the view. There's one part near the beginning of the trail where you climb the whole 700 ft elevation gain in about a quarter mile. It's killer but it'll get you that booty. After that, the rest of the hike is relatively flat and easy. The views up here are breathtaking during sunset. This fitness hike is only open during daylight savings (march-october) but its on weekly! read more

Again, hard to rate mother nature so this review is for this location's hiking offerings. Good for: hiking w kids, beginners, out-of-town guests who you need to get out of the house, and a when you just need an hour of walking on dirt w a slight incline. Good facilities. Not good if you want breathtaking views or a longer (more than 3 mile) workout. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty area, but Crystal Cove/EL Morrow, Top of the World and others offer views, more ele, and more options. read more

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I signed up for a Tuesday evening hike (started at 5:30 pm) through the Irvine Conservancy (http://www.irlandmarks.org/Activities/). A friend of mine forwarded me the link, knowing my love for the outdoors and my lack of friends who also partake in my love of the outdoors. All the trails are open to the public and I would love to come back with friends of mine and explore the area. It was nice to go on the hike with a group and a guide. The guide was very knowledgeable and super friendly. The guide also passed out walking sticks, to those who wanted them. I'd been hesitant to buy them myself, and I enjoyed being able to "test" one out. It's nice to see and hear about all Irvine is doing to preserve the area. This hike has 700 feet of accumulated climbing elevation experienced on a 3 mile loop route. There is another group that does a 7 mile hike on alternating Tuesdays and unfortunately I can't make it in time after work to participate. read more

Bommer Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

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Bommer Canyon isn't my favorite place to hike, but it's a great gateway to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park if you're looking for a long hike. In Bommer Canyon though, I recommend Bommer Canyon / Bommer Ridge / Turtle Ridge. You can get some great ocean views from Turtle Ridge, and some nice elevation. I don't personally like out and back trails -- I'm a loopy girl -- so that's a personal preference. Be mindful about parking -- the lot in Irvine there supposedly closes early, so park at the Community Park. I've seen people still take their cars out just after sunset, but I'm not willing to risk it! Play it safe :) 2017: 47/100 read more

A spoiled walk. If you want to hike pick a place with more elevation. Come here on a Wednesday morning or early afternoon to get away from the noise. There's a bit of elevation change after the old cattle ranch that might not be for everyone, but if you have an hour to burn and need to rebalance your energy then this is a good option. read more

Bommer Canyon - No more cattle. - Hiking Near Me - Irvine, California

Secluded hike with a decent distance view of Irvine. Getting to this trail isn't too hard (it's located near the park), but finding the base is a little walk on it's own. At the beginning, there's a segregation of a trail and a bike path, which is awesome since it reduces traffic and frustration for both parties. Once you get on the trail itself, there are a number of different routes to take. We took the Bommer Meadow trail for the most part. There was hardly any hikers or bikers on the trail, and when we did see people they were few and far between. It made for a very serene hike. In terms of difficulty, I'd rate this on the easier side...maybe a 3/10. There are paths that go up the mountain, but they aren't too steep at all. Just a heads up - there are private areas where you're not supposed to hike, but oftentimes there are marked trails that go around these areas to keep everyone happy. read more

Great place to go with the family - so beautiful, clean, and magical. It's amazing that Irvine has so much protected open land that we can take advantage of! read more

I absolutely love going to this trail at Bommer Canyon! It is one of the places in OC that has plentiful of wildflowers. It's a really gorgeous and peaceful hike! I love that they preserve the land really well, and it has wildflowers surrounding the trail. This hiking trail is so beautiful in the springtime! read more

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Great walking trail, all dirt, never packed, easy to park during the day, and overall a great scenic spot when I get tired of its neighboring trail shady canyon. read more

Great local park in Turtle Rock & Shady Canyon area in Irvine for hiking, biking or just plain relaxing, and meditating too... there's something for everyone at the picturesque Bommer Canyon that takes on gorgeous looks at not only sunsets but also sunrises and Spring and Fall. If you love long hikes, you can take one all the way to PCH from here. read more

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I went here the first time last weekend. Fair warning - you will likely not find parking anytime after 8:00 am on the weekends. My friend and I parked at the Turtle Rock park and walked over. The hike itself was nice, but beware of the mountain bikers! If you are on foot, you have to be alert at all times for oncoming mountain bikers because the trails can get narrow. Otherwise, it's a nice trail and I would come back again. read more

This is not your typical review of Bommer Canyon, but I'm putting it out there for all you engaged couples who might have heard about this low-cost venue option from a friend of a friend. My husband and I were looking for a wedding venue in Orange County and we were on a serious budget (which pretty much means you're not getting married in Orange County). It was important to us to be married where we lived instead of traveling somewhere else. We looked at 26 wedding venues (and yes we're still together) and came up empty. Nothing seemed worth the money and nobody had a back yard large enough to fit all our relatives. Then my MIL heard from a friend that someone's daughter was getting married at Bommer Canyon. She asked us to check it out and we figured we might as well humor her since we had looked at 26 others, though we were not hopeful. We fell in love with Bommer Canyon immediately and knew we absolutely had to have our wedding here. Bommer Canyon is an absolutely gorgeous hiking and biking area, but it used to be a cattle ranch and has an outdoor venue area tucked away in what seems to be the only patch of trees for miles. There is so much wildlife and you don't need to really decorate at all because the place is so naturally gorgeous. It was absolutely perfect. I'm writing some positives and negatives here because when we decided to go with Bommer Canyon, we couldn't find anything at all online to go off of for reviews or ideas. I'll post pictures too, because many of the ones online are dimly-lit and hard to see. NEGATIVES (let's get them out of the way): - NO GLASS. We love mason jars. The no glass policy made the do-it-yourself part of decorating and catering pretty challenging, but it was nothing we couldn't handle. - NO THUMBTACKS/NAILS/ETC. Again this made decorating very difficult. But with some painter's tape, zip ties and a little creativity, we made it happen. - THE CITY OF IRVINE. We submitted our application immediately (in July 2012) so that we could reserve the spot because we had many out-of-town guests who would need to make travel arrangements. We called every single week for an update to find out if our application was approved, and we FINALLY received a yes - in NOVEMBER. Yes, we waited 4 months to find out if we could book the place, as we watched the possibility of booking any other venue slip away with the passing months. That was tough, and completely unacceptable on the city's part. The staff we worked with to complete the reservation was amazing, however, and so patient with my phone calls. - WILDLIFE. I call this a positive and a negative. You really need to be careful not to disturb the animals' habitat, which can be challenging at a wedding. And some people are afraid of tarantulas and rattle snakes and that kind of thing (weird, right?) - BATHROOMS. This one didn't bother me either but it might bother some - your only option is a port-a-potty. We got fancy and rented the V.I.P. potties, but let's be real, it's still a port-a-potty. Makes it a little tough for the grandparents, but we all survived. And the bride can use the bathroom in the office :) - BARTENDERS. We had to find our own and the city has very strict policies and can't recommend any to you, so that was a challenge. But we LOVED the bartender we went with, and we found him on Craig's list. - WEATHER. If there's a red flag warning, your event gets canceled. Talk about wedding nightmares. I had friends and family flying across the country for this thing and I had absolutely no idea what the wildfire forecast was going to be. Everything went just fine, though - it was a beautiful day and I guess they've never had to cancel for a red flag warning before. POSITIVES: - DO-IT-YOURSELF. All the venues we looked at were SO cookie-cutter, but here we got to make our wedding exactly what we wanted it to be. - PARKING. There is SO. Much. Parking. - COST. It cost us a fraction of what it would have cost to rent anywhere else, and that included the rehearsal the night before, 12 hours of rental the day of, security, parking attendants, and clean-up. - STAFF. The staff here was absolutely amazing. They can't accept tips no matter how much you try, so please review the place so that they get the credit they deserve. All we could do was send a thank you note to the City of Irvine. We worked primarily with Jason, but also with Dave and Jose. They were so good to us and so happy to be a part of our special day. They helped make the wedding even more memorable. - NOISE. There's no noise restriction because you're in the middle of nowhere - it's GREAT! - PRIVACY. Only one booking at a time and you're not in the middle of town or anything, so it's really your own place. - BBQ PIT & BONFIRE. Need I say more? (you can only use the bonfire pit if the winds aren't high though) Overall, we had the perfect wedding because we had it here. We're also avid hikers of Bommer Canyon, so we love it for that reason too! read more

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Recently opened, Bommer Canyon is located on Shady Canyon in Irvine. If you drive up Bonita Canyon toward Newport Beach/Coast from Irvine (so basically drive in the direction of Culver turning into Bonita Canyon), you turn left on Shady Canyon. You'll see a Bommer Canyon Trailhead opening on the right. As it is fairly new, a lot of the trail is paved..WHICH IS A ALLERGY-PRONE PERSON'S DREAM! Unlike trails like Peter's Canyon, there isn't as much dust. The trailhead is open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians. From the looks of it, there are lots of tours too. From a voice of bad experience: be careful of wher eyou park! Although the actual park/trail doesn't "close" until sunset, Turtle Rock staff does close the parking gate at 6!...Wish I knew before I got locked out and had to call for help! haha read more

Nice trail. The trailhead was a bit hard to get to and Google Map confused me. I had to go further up. There are several trails. Pleasant hike even on an overcast day. read more

I came, I hiked, I conquered. Oh and got a rocking tan! We hiked about 5 miles, torched some major calories, got scared by some chimpmunk that came outta nowhere (He was scary though) and had an overall pleasant afternoon hike. Be careful of those mountain bikers, they come out of nowhere without warning! read more

Irvine has all these little surprise amenities, and, for me, Bommer Canyon is one of them. We went camping here through an event from Irvine Community Services, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The coordinators did a great job keeping everyone up to date with details before the camping date. Once we got there, they provided all the amentities that were promised - activities for the kids, dinner, guided hikes, s'mores, and the campfire. There was a sunset hike and a morning hike on two different trails. The views are pretty, and it's a great way to interact with nature. If you're a camping pro, this will be too easy and "frou frou" for you. But if you're a first-timer or just want to take it easy, this is a great way to ease into camping, especially if you have little kids. Since many things were prepared for us, we spent more time hanging out, having fun, and playing. Great quality time with the family for sure! read more

Today, my fiance and I went on an awesome, (and free) docent-led 3 mile hike in Bommer Canyon. I signed up for it because I worked close to Bommer tor years and never actually went. We finally got on a list, and we were excited. DO NOT show up late to your scheduled hikes. They need you to show up 15 minutes prior to sign in and prepare. We showed up right before due to unscheduled overtime at my fiance's job. They were VERY nice to reopen he gate lock and let us in, but I don't imagine too many are that lucky. We pulled up to the cattle ranch and all the other hikers (who clearly do this regularly with the conservancy) were all very warm and welcoming to us clear newbies. The conservancy had walking sticks we could borrow too! The hike began promptly at 5:40pm after the briefing on what was to come. There was one docent in the front and two in the back. The docent in the front pointed out many interesting things along the hike like weird plant life, barn owl nests, and natural animal habitats. The views from this East Fork hike were AMAZING! On a clear day they would be more amazing, but the hike would also be way more exhausting. This is NOT a hike for someone who really isn't accustomed to hiking and strenuous walking. most of the beginning was a steep uphill climb, and the end was entirely downhill. It was even a little hard for me, and I get out pretty regularly for hikes and training. One note on the hikes here too is to watch your step. I say this for many reasons: 1. There are lots of animals living in Bommer Canyon, thus there are lots of different types of poop on the trail. 2. Ants, Fuzzy Caterpillars, Stink Bugs, and Lizards also use the trail, watch where you walk and be careful not to step on them. 3. Squirrels dig holes all throughout the trail, be careful not to fall into one of their holes, you could hurt yourself. 4. Watch out for rocks in the walkway. I recommend these free hikes. They are nice ways to meet new people and get outside! read more