From the canyons to the coast; from buckwheat to bulrushes; from hawks to herons, the 22-mile Mountains to Sea Trail is a study in contrasts. The trail starts at Weir Canyon on a docent-led hike, or you might prefer to begin your hike at Irvine Regional Park or Peters Canyon Regional Park.
Beloved by bikers and hikers, the trail meanders through a range of habitats and links five cities: Anaheim, Orange, Tustin, Irvine and Newport Beach. Wilderness areas and parks along the way include Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary and Upper Newport Bay. Several sections hug the San Diego Creek Trail.
Take time to enjoy the oaks that stud the canyons and the buckwheat that turns from white to pink to rust, depending on the season. Look up to spot red-tailed, red-shouldered or Cooper’s hawks. You might also see white-tailed kites or peregrine falcons.
Listen for the pock-pock-pock of a Nuttall’s woodpecker seeking insect larvae in the bark of trees. Perhaps you’ll witness a California gnatcatcher dining on gnats (of course!) or a cactus wren singing on a prickly pear pad. The air is redolent with the scent of coastal sagebrush and white sage.
Take a detour in Peters Canyon to stroll the Creek Trail, one of my favorite short offshoots, or revel in the peace of the eucalyptus groves before continuing on the trail.
As far as navigation is concerned, it’s probably easiest to follow Peters Canyon Wash south until it becomes San Diego Creek Trail, then follow San Diego Creek west to Back Bay.
You can choose to walk sections of the trail rather than taking on its entire length, stopping for a lunch or coffee break. You’ll pass bikers, hikers, strollers in every sense of the word and a few equestrians along the way.
The grand finale of this marvelous trail begins as you enter the Upper Newport Bay Nature Reserve. The 3-mile paved path offers top-notch bird-watching, with the tidal basin providing a stopping point for hundreds of migratory birds and a home for local species.
Delicate-legged shorebirds, from herons to egrets, stand tall on the mudflats. At low tide, godwits, curlews and willets search for sustenance, probing the shallows with their tweezer-like beaks for worms and crabs. You might spot an osprey in search of a fish dinner.
The vegetation, too, is a contrast from your starting point inland. The golden hills and ridges of inland and the manicured fields of Harvard Community Park give way to green willows, mulefat, cattails and California bulrush and the blue of the bay.
Back Bay is a great trail for family bike rides, with opportunities to stop and observe the birdlife or watch kayakers ply the water during high tide. You’ll also find the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center close by, its displays offering a fun and educational experience for all ages.
End your epic journey through the varied scenery and topography of Orange County on Balboa Island, where you can reward yourself with a frozen banana or enjoy lunch overlooking Newport Harbor.
Don’t forget to take plenty of water and a snack or two with you on this terrific trek, especially on hot summer days.
