After my recent hike twice around the nearly 2-mile Quail Hill Loop, I’ve come to believe in fairies. Fairy shrimp, that is. I learned about these magical creatures by calling in to the self-guided cellphone audio tour that’s available for curious hikers. I couldn’t see any of the shrimp – but that’s typical of fairies, right? Also, I was hiking in the early fall, and they only appear in vernal pools that fill up with rainwater in spring. The Irvine Company, in its dedication to preserving biodiversity, has created a seasonal pool in the preserve, lined with clay, where the tiny shrimp emerge from eggs that might have been laid hundreds of years earlier.
I had to marvel at the incipient life lying dormant in the dirt. Could there be an egg or two, hidden from my view, that would emerge as a shrimp in, say, 2124? It boggles the mind.
They sound quite delightful – the tiny cuties swim upside down, using 11 leaf-like legs to propel themselves forward. They also provide important nourishment for birds and fish.
Quail Loop, like all of Irvine’s wilderness areas, changes mightily depending on the season. The hike holds several memories for me:
An encounter in the picnic area at the trailhead with a perky roadrunner that wagged its tail faster than the most enthusiastic dogs.
In the summer, watching little blue butterflies swoop and spiral on the breeze.
My pleasure at seeing the purple pompom flowers of artichoke thistles before I learned, as an Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer, that it’s an invasive species crowding out native plants.
On this hike, I saw several battalions of the dried-out thistles poised for a spring offensive. I must confess, even knowing now the plant’s voracious tendencies, I still think the flower is gorgeous.
The Loop is beloved by trail runners and dog walkers, as well as hikers who aren’t looking for a major challenge. Aside from an easy incline if you turn to the left after exiting the parking lot, the trail is mostly flat as it winds its way around the preserve.
Happily, I also saw several native plants that braved the dry conditions to bloom: lovely yellow evening primrose, hardy bush sunflowers and cloud-like clumps of grayish doveweed.
The Loop is beloved by trail runners and dog walkers, as well as hikers who aren’t looking for a major challenge. Aside from an easy incline if you turn to the left after exiting the parking lot, the trail is mostly flat as it winds its way around the preserve.
I stopped at Vista Point, which offers a great view of Saddleback and the Irvine area, which has been developed so that structures blend in with natural surroundings.
While I didn’t see any coyotes, I did notice furry scat, evidence of their existence and the demise of a bunny or two. I glimpsed a few small birds with red breasts and a couple of turkey vultures making swooping circuits in the sky. No red-tailed hawks, though they’re often seen here.
Hiking the Loop took about 4,500 steps. If you want to get to 10,000 steps, you have three options: Take much smaller steps (joking!); follow the Loop around one more time, in the same direction; or turn around and hike the Loop in reverse. That’s what I like to do – it’s amazing how different the perspective can be. On this go-round, I spotted a large bush of jimson weeds, waving their hallucinogenic white trumpet-shape flowers in the breeze.
Get in those last few steps by heading over to Quail Hill Shopping Center for lunch or coffee. That’s the beauty of Irvine – within minutes of a nature trail, you can meet a friend for a fabulous meal and perhaps share your excitement at learning that fairies really do exist, thanks to the foresight of conservationists.
If, on the other hand, the short hike has whetted your appetite for a bigger helping of nature, turn right out of the parking lot and continue along the path until you see the Quail Hill Community Center on your left. Cross the road (carefully) and head to the rear of the structure. There you’ll find a trail that will take you all the way to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, with potential detours into Crystal Cove State Park and Bommer Canyon. The possibilities are endless. Happy hiking!
Lynette Brasfield is an avid hiker, an Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer trail guide and freelance writer and editor.
Birds to watch
The Quail Hill Trailhead offers access to a regional network of bike paths and trails that connect across the city and into vast acres of open space and protected wilderness areas, all part of The Irvine Ranch.
Nearly all white, a white‑tailed kite hovers over the grasslands like a helicopter. Beating its wings while holding its position, it scans the ground before dropping down, talons first, to snag a meal.
Watch for the rust-red tail and white breast of this large raptor. A red-tailed hawk often perches in a tree or glides high above the grasslands, filling the air with its piercing scream.
Listen for the chi‑ca‑go call of the California quail. Quail tend to travel in a group, or covey, and walk rather than fly. Watch for its plump body and distinct black plume on its forehead.
