Easy and free parking. Great place to decompress, walk around, run and bike (on certain trails). I noticed you could also boat which is cool. The bay is obviously much cooler/colder in the winters. Loved the various signs showing fun facts about the Bay and signage to direct people where to go and what's permitted. read more

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We hiked here every day while stay at the Newport Marriott Bayview. The Reserve comprises about 1,000 acres including the Ecological Reserve. It's a great place for joggers, hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, birders and campers. There were numerous educational classes being held while we hiked the trails. There are great water views along the trails. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash. There is a long paved path for biking and running, and many narrow dirt trails off the path. Parking lots are available in several spots on the trail, and some on street parking. The flowers were in bloom during our trip, and were quite spectacular. There are numerous scenic overlooks along the trail, and as it happened, and eclipse during our visit. We saw many birds including some spectacular hawks during our visit. read more

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Trees. I love trees. Did you know trees has the capability to lower air and surface temperature by approximately 20 to 40 degrees F than that of non-shady places? Well, it is true. Today we went on a mini stroll in Newport Back Bay (does anyone remember a little bistro in South Coast Plaza in the 90's by this name? They had the best potato skins!) Anyway, the trail has trees and brushes and vegetation all over. However, the trail at most points does not have big trees overhead and it makes a huge difference. Make sure you carry a water bottle as the heat can easily make you dehydrated. For the most part the trail is free from doggy and horsey poop, but keep your eyes peeled. You will see much poop on the side of the bike trails. Knocking of half a star for this. (just one of those things that at times not preventable.) Beware of wildlife. Today we had sightings of birds, squirrels and lizards. There were also sounds of birds and insects. Not to fear. Happy strolling or biking! read more

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Lots of hiking, biking, trails. Dogs allowed. Nature center and restrooms here. 10 mile loop of trail. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to Upper Newport Back Bay. I didn't realize it would be so gorgeous and there would be actual hiking/biking trails. I went last Saturday on a beautiful OC summer day after June Gloom had dissipated. Parking was excellent! As the pandemic is sadly still going on, less people are inclined to be out plus we arrived around 1pm which is usually a warmer time of the day. We walked along the pretty vacant trails except for a few couples or families with kids. We had our masks on hand for whenever we passed individuals by. Some did the same, some did not. We definitely experienced some awesome nature moments while there. We saw a cool black swan/duck (not sure what it was) searching for food. He/she went down and in one instance, they caught food and we saw it in its beak/mouth. We also saw a fish jump! That was spectacular and caught it on video. We also saw a duck startled by the swan and flock away - also captured on video. We equally loved exploring the plants all around us and downloaded a very cool app where you snap a picture on your smart phone and it immediately tells you what the plant/flower is. Great to have if you're looking to see what's poisonous or not! Overall, a fun afternoon. The hiking wasn't much but we still got a mini workout in! read more

Upper Newport Wilderness Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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See also: Upper Newport Bay and Back Bay Loop Trail This is a great spot for birdwatching. Also for a good long walk for yourself or your dog. Or a vigorous jog. Bicyclists seem to enjoy the paved paths which circle around the preserve. Not a whole lot to see really unless you are into birds. But AH! It's nature! With the steady roar of jets flying overhead as they fly into John Wayne airport. They do have a nature center on the north end, just a short walk from the parking lot. The folks working there have loads of info on various programs and events offered (ie - kayaking the bay). read more

Upper Newport Wilderness Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This place is so pretty! I also like that because you're close to the water it's not as hot as other trails. There's a paved path to walk or you can do the dirt trail (yay dirt!). Lots of birds flying around. Parking can be done on the street near the UCI campus off Campus Drive and it's free. Some people bring their bikes too. You can walk in two different directions which makes returning gun - go one way the first time and another the next! It's really clean, which I love. Bring a hat and water though. Even with the ocean breeze it can get hot. I'd recommend going either early or just before sunset is really beautiful and it's much cooler. When you're done, there are a lot of cool places to grab a bite to eat off Campus Drive or in the UCI campus area too. read more

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A beautiful walk after the rains with near by trails to discover. Most folks are running or on a bike to skates. I am not sure if I would really call this a hike. It is more of a walk and bird watching. Some areas are designated for fishing. Some areas you will get a woof smell. It is not so horrible bad but if you are sensitive on the nose then you might take into consideration. Great for families and couples for a little or long walk. read more

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Love the mornings on the trail with my friend Barbara Loop to loop see the beautiful foliage read more

Upper Newport Wilderness Preserve - Good morning Newport Beach - Hiking Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Easily accessible slice of nature in the OC 'burbs. I've been a fan of this place for a long time; it's changed for the better in many ways, with its smooth paved trails and cool nature center, but I'm so glad most of its wildness is still there. You can do a multitude of activities here while taking in beautiful nature views: walking, hiking, running, biking. There's enough mileage in the trails to suit whatever level of activity you desire. It's easy to get to and there's plentiful free parking between the nature center the streets. The city and residents have done a wonderful job of preserving and improving this area and I hope it'll be around for a long time for many more people to enjoy! read more

4 stars. I've mainly been here to volunteer and plant every 2nd Sunday morning of the month. This really isn't much of a hike but moreover a running/biking trail. Scenery is balanced with plants, the neighborhood and water. There is plenty of parking on the street or in the parking lot as well. There's not many hiking places in Irvine but if you're in the mood for some simple organic scenery, this is a great place. read more

Upper Newport Wilderness Preserve - Volunteering every 2nd Sunday! - Hiking Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great place to get a little sun and get some exercise. Dog friendly also. Easy to get to and plenty of parking read more

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My cousins and I tried this hike today! We really enjoyed it. The hike is not hard and the scenes are so beautiful! It gets better the longer you walk. The trails are not that hard to follow. Yes, be mindful to runners, bikers and horses. We would definitely go back for this hike. Also, there is enough parking on the street and at the trailhead on Irvine ave. read more

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Right now many of us know that being cooped up inside fearful of the pandemic situation outside your door is not healthy. Well, I'm here to show you one of the many places among the Orange County area that are awesome to experience!! Even better, it's FREE!! So, as you'll notice that in these pictures most people are observing social distancing as well as face masks. But that aside, talk about beautiful, open space where you can take your best friend or your kids and the family dog and just walk, explore, and enjoy the trails. Granted there are rules posted and strict hours to adhere to. There's a locked gate so, you definitely don't want to get caught behind that after closing. In a couple of my pictures you can see I was so bold as to picnic on my hood. There are benches and observation areas with some seating and even a few picnic tables. Please be so kind as to observe the rules and keep trash where it belongs. You can clearly see in the pictures that the park is in an incredible state of beauty and cleanliness. The little fowl and critters are quite happy and do thrive. That being said, as we head into winter, you won't have to worry about experiencing any unwanted reptiles as the weather is cooling off. But, peak summer hours or very hot days and you will be following the guidelines for making any encounter a peaceful and smooth resolution. I want to also take a moment to say thank you to my pals at Nice Guy Vegan on 19th Street in Costa Mesa, across from the DMV. If you go over on the Google maps and punch them in, I have a review there for their amazing vegan burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, tater tots, and other delicious, cruelty free, vegan food. I always enjoy my day better when I take time to unwind here in this park and today of ALL days, I felt I should make it an extra special occasion by enjoying a Cali Burger and some tots with ranch dressing!! They make all of their dipping sauces daily and they are always on point and really YUMMY!! Enjoy!! read more

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This is so close to where I live, and there is plenty of free parking. My boyfriend and I took a 1-hr hike. It is not super challenging, but it was a very pleasant hike. We saw some rabbits, lizards and baby stingrays! It was quite enjoyable. We started our hike around 8:30 on Sun. It got pretty warm as the trail did not have a lot of coverage. (Be sure to wear a hat and lots of sunscreen!) There were friendly hikers, joggers and cyclists, which made our hike even more enjoyable. We will go back there for a sunset hike! read more

I really love it here. There is always plenty of parking no matter where you want to start your hike, and once you get away from the road, it's really a nice escape from the noise of the streets surrounding it. One of my favorite things is that you can choose between the paved trail, or an unpaved trail (watch out for rattlesnakes, though). Probably wise to not hike totally alone here- there were rumors of a wild cat living down there, and one time I saw a huge kitty paw print in the mud! read more

This place is great! Lots of places to park and the path is easy to follow. The view of the water is nice and there are some small inclines and such for a little more of a workout. They do have indoor bathrooms available and a water bottle fill station in the building there. The one thing that they don't have are any trees! We went on a hot day and had to end our walk short because there is no shade to keep you cool. I will definitley be coming back on a cooler day. read more

While this trail is nice for an occasional hike, it is kind of sad to see how the out-of-control development surrounding the "Reserve" creates an environment where wildlife has a difficult time getting a foothold. I mean, let's be serious, the Back Bay Loop Trail also includes a yacht club and aquatic center. Will someone please explain to me how this qualifies as a "Ecological Reserve?" read more

Very beautiful scenery! Spring time right now has all the flowers blooming. I highly recommend coming here if you're trying to get a good work out with lots of inclination. It is also dog friendly however like mentioned earlier since the flowers are in full bloom there are also a lot of bees you don't want your dog getting stung by. Brought my mom for the first time and she loved it! read more

I can only give it 4 stars as my friends and I didn't walk that far. Hahahaha we're kinda lazy and there were a tonnnn of bees. :x But it's a really nice hiking trail...at least that 1 mile ... but probably less that we hiked. There's a little information center there that you can pick up brochures for other outdoorsy stuff to do the in OC and get maps of the different trails in this area. The other hikers were very friendly and greeted us and a group even stopped to talk to us for a little bit. Found out the entire trail is 12 miles long...I think that's when we decided to just backtrack and get food. I definitely want to come back here again! and get more than that mile long hike we did. read more

Gorgeous views, went in end of March beautiful wildflowers everywhere. Paved paths, great for walking, running or bicycling. Enjoyed seeing the birds, lizzards along the water. read more

This is a great trail to walk on and maintained very well by OC Parks. I like that there is an option to go on the paved path or the unpaved. I saw some lizards and birds during my walk. Many people are hiking, running, and biking. Yesterday was Earth Day and it was nice to see people of all ages enjoying the area. read more

Love this place for a nice long walk with the baby! Lots of path. Beautiful views. Easy parking. Free!

Great paths for walking. There are many walkers around so it is a pretty safe environment. Large parking lot that can be used for walkers, runners, bikers, and Geo Cachers. I went there to find a couple of caches and a bike ride. I also had a chance to go into the preserve station and look around. I will bring the kids back. The map is a bit deceiving. Go to the corner of Irvine and University and you will find it. read more

The back bay is a great trail to walk or ride. My dogs love going there. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises! Beware of the slithery snakes that live there, and the coyotes at night...but other than that, it is a beautiful place to visit and relax. read more

I thought this preserve was pretty boring. Most of the time you are walking along a paved road, there are a couple small "nature" paths here and there. You get a view of the bay, there were quite a few kayakers out when I was walkin/running. The view isn't much really, just a few lizards and birds you can take a look at. Lots of brush and bushes and the bay. There are much better places to go in the OC, but if you really want to see the newport bay, then maybe this place will float your boat. read more

I never get tired of coming here every chance I get, the view I always so nice and not to mention the people you see!:) read more

Upper Newport Wilderness Preserve - Great place to walk, run, hike anything you want! Everyone's always friendly and it's super peaceful I love it here!! - Hiking Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ha this is not an area for a hike. This is just a straight path for walking or riding your bike. Rattlesnakes??? I All you see are birds. I did see a hawk take a baby duck. Its nice for a nice jog but thats about it. read more

Absolutely one of my favorite places to go during a sunny day ! When the Flowers blossom it's a beautiful view & it's so fresh !

This place is beautiful to walk around. It's pretty well kept with little to no trash around from previous hikers! It's a fun place to take an easy hike when you don't want the hard core hills and climbs of other spots read more

Great trails to walk on for any level of fitness. Beautiful view as well.

I run here every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Most cyclists are good about sharing the trail, but on occasion I've had run-ins (literally) with a few assholes. There's a good amount of hills to keep things challenging & interesting. A few observation points (e.g. Vista Point down on Eastbuff) offer some really cool views, especially early in the morning. read more

I love this place for running or walking! I'm no duck or bird enthusiast but do love the quietness and stillness of this place. Early mornings are best as there less people and get to enjoy the road space. read more

Great for that late night dog walking. Specifically recommend the butterfly preserve.