Mountains to Sea Trail

Mountain to Sea Bike Ride in Orange County

Orange County’s Mountains to Sea Trail is no hyperbole. This stunning 44-mile route (round-trip) stitches together trails from the Santa Ana Mountains to Newport Beach, hugging concrete water channels and opening up to nature—and scenic loops—at either end. Don’t let the mileage daunt you. The way is mostly paved and gently graded. Starting in the middle at Bill Barber Memorial Park, head south along San Diego Creek Channel towards the ocean. After crossing beneath the 405 Freeway and beside UC Irvine, a pass under Jamboree Road thrusts you abruptly into the sweeping expanse of Upper Newport Bay (aka “the Back Bay”), one of the few pristine estuaries left in Southern California. Circle its entirety on Back Bay Loop Trail.

Cruise down its eastern edge beside a verdant marsh and bluffs of coastal sage scrub, then climb to cliff-top vistas at Castaways Park on the west side. Returning to Bill Barber, cross the creek and pedal north into Tustin via Peters Canyon Trail, which traces a wash channel bisecting the fringe of commercial properties and pleasantly landscaped housing tracts. At Bryan Avenue, cut over to the channel's west side and follow Irvine Trail north, meandering into pure suburbia. The path parallels Jamboree Road, passes Cedar Grove Park, and then links to Peters Canyon Regional Park, where a dirt trail takes you over hills of native vegetation and past a reservoir. A paved stretch along Jamboree Road then connects to Irvine Regional Park, the oldest park in OC.

FOOD & BEER BONUS: For breakfast or lunch, stop off at EATS Kitchen in Irvine, just a block from San Diego Creek Channel. This gastropub embedded in the ground floor of Hotel Irvine serves colorful modern takes on bar comfort food under the direction of a masterful European chef. Enjoy craft beers and cocktails on the patio as well.

Rent a road or mountain bike from Trail’s End Cycling Center, just a few blocks west of the trail in Irvine. The bike shop also offers extensive parts and services for any roadway emergencies. For the ride: Take I-5 to Tustin, exit Jamboree Rd. and head south. Turn left on Barranca Pkwy. Turn right on Harvard Ave., then right on Civic Center Plaza to reach parking for Bill Barber Memorial Park. Dog-friendly.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  3. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  4. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View