Upper Newport Bay gives visitors up close look at unique habitat

Editor’s Note: This is part of a monthly feature on notable regional parks in Orange County, which is rich with places to get outside and have fun with the family and explore nature.

Nature and beauty abound in the Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach.

Whether it’s bird watching, hiking, kayaking or horseback riding, there’s something available for everyone, even those who just want to enjoy beautiful scenery.

The area, referred to as Upper Newport Bay or the Back Bay, covers 135 acres.

It is managed by a collection of cities and government agencies that oversee the nature preserve with several trails, the ecological reserve that includes the estuary and the surrounding area.

Cliff swallow chicks are fed at their nest at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Joseph Wagenet checks out a sting ray at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at the Back Bay in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A Great Blue heron looks for lunch along the Delhi Channel in the Back Bay in Newport Beach, CA, on Friday, July 25, 2025. The channel is one of several sources of fresh water entering the bay. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A woman rows in Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Low tide exposes the salt marshes and mud flats at the Back Bay in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The 10,000-square-foot Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center serves as a popular starting point for learning about the area’s geology and accessing trails. The center also hosts a variety of activities for the public such as naturalist nights, kayak tours and guided exploration geared for children; find them at LetsGoOutside.org.

A 10.5-mile trail encircles the Back Bay, ideal for cyclists and walkers.

Part of the trail goes along the water’s edge, where it is paved, and then connects to Pacific Coast Highway and city streets to complete the loop.

For bird watchers, there’s no shortage of waterfowl.

In the spring and summer, cliff swallows build their mud nests on the outside walls of the Muth Interpretive Center.

Feeding the young chicks is a non-stop activity as the adults catch bugs over the grasses of the bay and bring them back to hungry mouths.

Upper Newport Bay is one of California’s few remaining coastal salt marshes and supports several rare and endangered species such as Ridgway’s rail and the California gnatcatcher, which depend on its unique ecosystems, said Danielle Kennedy, spokesperson for OC Parks.

If that’s not enough, thousands of birds flying south along the Pacific Flyway, a migratory route that extends from Alaska to South America, stop by during the winter.

No motorized boats are allowed in the Upper Newport Bay, but kayaks can be launched from several landings, including the Newport Aquatic Center, North Star Beach and Lower Castaways Park.

Non-powered watercraft can use the main channel up to a marked buoy, about halfway up the bay.

Upper Newport Bay is an estuary, where fresh water and salt water meet, Kennedy said. The estuary filters out large debris, trash and pollutants from the water before it enters the ocean.

It also provides habitat for many plant and animal species.

All that combines to make Upper Newport Bay a coastal gem.