Orange County residents can find free and docent-led activities each week throughout the region’s parks and open spaces.
Visitors can sign up for activities at letsgooutside.org that range from hikes to photo walks and junior ranger explorations to nights learning about bats. They are organized by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and its partners, utilizing thousands of acres of natural land owned by the county, Newport Beach and Irvine.
Also check the OC Parks website and your local city for even more things to do outdoors.
Here are five outdoor places you might not know are protected by your tax dollars that you can explore for free or at a low cost.
Read also: Who enjoys nature? Why parks and beaches feel out of reach for some Orange County residents
The Sinks in Limestone Canyon
The Limestone Canyon Natural Preserve east of where the 241 and 133 toll roads meet offers trails out to The Sinks, Orange County’s mini Grand Canyon, and panoramic views to the ocean and the Santa Ana Mountains.
Guided hikes through Let’s Go Outside range in difficulty from a level five trek with steep climbs to a “hiking 101” trip for beginners to the outdoors. Programs are also offered from early morning to after work, for walks with sunset views.
Visitors must register beforehand at letsgooutside.org.
Redwoods at Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Walking through Orange County’s only grove of redwoods at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea is always open to residents. The park is not short on amenities with barbecues, equestrian trails, playgrounds, ballfields, tennis and volleyball courts. You can also go fishing, bird watching or enjoy the native plant garden.
Camping at O’Neill Regional Park
You can go camping in Orange County for as little as $20 a day at the O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon, or simply use the park’s barbecues and picnic tables for a day out to see beautiful spring wildflowers and sage.
Walk through coast live oak and sycamore trees in the park’s 4,500 acres and spot wildlife such as mule deer and the endangered California gnatcatcher in the early spring.
Irvine Regional Park
Through Irvine Regional Park in Orange you can access Fremont Canyon Nature Preserve to see views of Irvine Lake; the exposed sandstone formations, said to be the “Yosemite of Orange County;” and one of three remaining Tecate Cypress groves in the world.
Also take advantage of the almost 500-acre Irvine Regional Park, which offers its own oasis of wildlife and trees to wander through, bicycle and walking trails, playgrounds, softball fields and picnic areas. Entrance to the OC Zoo at the park’s heart is $2 a person.
Doheny State Beach
Doheny State Beach offers camping sites and activities throughout the day. Go surfing or check out the tide pools. Pack a picnic, enjoy a bonfire or go for a walk on its paved beachside trail. Or go to check out the birds, and spot black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets or sanderlings racing across the sand.
The beach offers campsites ranging from $50 to $65 a night that can be reserved at reservecalifornia.com.
Free access
All public school fourth graders and their families can access 54 state parks for free with a California State Park Adventure Pass. See how to get a pass at everykidoutdoors.gov.
Library-card holders can also get free entry to more than 200 state parks by checking out a pass at their local branch.