2-28-2025 5:52am

OC Parks March Events | Various OC Parks Locations | Month of March

Eric Bergstrom Editor

MARCH 2025 FEATURED EVENTS

March 1 – Wilderness Access Day: Black Star Canyon 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. |

Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park

Black Star Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, offers pleasant introductory trails for beginner hikers and families as well as challenging experiences for seasoned trail users. Designated trails are available for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian use. Parking is limited on Black Star Canyon Road and carpooling is strongly recommended. Advance registration is only required for equestrian use.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 3 – Nature Immersion Meditation 4 – 5 p.m. | Mile Square Regional Park

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware in the moment. It has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and promote overall well-being. Come cultivate mindfulness in nature during this guided meditation session designed to engage your senses and relax your busy mind. Closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing are recommended. This program is recommended for ages 10 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 4 – Down on the Farm Preschool Program 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. |

OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park

This program is for ages 3 to 4 only. Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts and meeting zoo creatures up close! Cost is $5 per child (one parent included). Parent or guardian must accompany child for entire program. Phone registration is required. Parking fee is $3 per vehicle on weekdays.

Registration: Call (714) 973-6846

March 5 – Tot Trails 10 – 11 a.m. | Irvine Regional Park

Explore the natural wonders of Irvine Regional Park with OC Parks! Join us on the first Wednesday of each month to participate in a variety of kid-friendly hikes and talks. This program will begin at the Children’s Garden Trail located near parking lot G. Program content is tailored for ages 2 to 6, but all are welcome to attend. Water, comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes are recommended. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration is required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 8 – Restoration Day 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Peters Canyon Regional Park

Lend a helping hand to improve native habitat at Peters Canyon Regional Park. Dedicate the morning to caring for restoration sites and help our native plants and shrubs thrive. Be prepared for weeding, watering or planting as needed. Strong garden gloves, trail snacks, water, sun protection and wearing clothes you don’t mind getting dirty are highly recommended. The program and parking are free. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 8 – Backyard Bugs 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and make up 80% of all known species. There are more varieties of bugs than all other types of animals combined! Join us on a family-friendly trek around Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park to learn all about these amazing animals who have perfected the art of ecological specialization. Insects may have a reputation for being icky, but they're essential pollinators needed to sustain life on our planet. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

March 8 – Mile Square Story Time 10 – 11 a.m. | Mile Square Regional Park

OC Parks invites you to story time at Mile Square Regional Park. Join us as we read nature-themed stories, take a short walk and enjoy a hands-on activity. Please bring picnic blankets, pillows, chairs and anything you need to be comfortable. We will meet at Freedom Hall adjacent to parking lot G. This program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. Registration is recommended but not required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 13 – Little Explorers: Five Senses! 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. |

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Join OC Parks naturalists and explore nature using all five senses! In this fun, hands-on program, we’ll look, listen, smell, touch and even taste our way through the wonders of the outdoors. Join us for an adventure perfect for curious little explorers! This program is for ages 3 to 6 only. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required. Please register all participants, including children.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

March 15 – Wilderness Access Day: Red Rock Wilderness 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. |

Red Rock Wilderness

Come explore OC Parks’ newest trails at Red Rock Wilderness through this self-guided opportunity. Located within OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, Red Rock Wilderness features more than 8 miles of new trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding along with a scenic overlook that offers 360-degree views of the nearby iconic red rocks, Black Star Canyon Wilderness, Irvine Lake, Santiago Canyon and beyond. 3 miles of multi-use trails within Loma Ridge Nature Preserve will also be accessible for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Advance registration is required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 15 – Explore! Fossils of the Ancient Sea Floor 8 – 10 a.m. |

Ralph B. Clark Regional Park

Come along for the fun, we’re going on a paleo run! Don’t be late, it won’t be drab - we’re going to look for shells and crab! Join us for a guided tour of the Clark Regional Park hillside fossil bed, followed by a trip to the Interpretive Center. Closed-toe shoes are required due to uneven terrain, and sun protection and water are recommended. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian. The program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 19 – Spring Bird Walk 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Irvine Regional Park

Join an experienced OC Parks volunteer and stroll through Irvine Regional Park searching high in the trees for flittering friends and low in the scrubs for bouncing birds. Bring your binoculars, sun protection, comfortable shoes and an eye for spotting birds! This walk begins outside the Nature Center, near parking lot T. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended. Inclement weather will cancel the program.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 19 – Critter Investigation: Brave Bobcats 10 – 11 a.m. |

Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

OC Parks invites you to learn about one of Orange County’s wild cats: the bobcat. Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about these brave animals by exploring their pelt, bones, scat and more! The program will include story time, an age-appropriate hike and a themed craft. The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for ages 2 to 5, but all are welcome to attend. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes. The program and parking are free. Advance registration is recommended.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 21 – Tot Walk 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Join OC Parks naturalists and bring your young ones to explore Aliso’s wild backyard. Take a leisurely stroll through the garden and creek where we will see bugs, plants and birds while exploring! This program begins at the Aliso and Wood Visitor Center at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring snacks and water. Please note most of the trail is not stroller-friendly. The program is designed for ages 3 and younger, but all are welcome to attend. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

March 22 – Wilderness Access Day: Saddleback Wilderness 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Saddleback Wilderness

Come explore 3.3 miles of scenic trails at Saddleback Wilderness, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space Designated trails will be open for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian use. There are multiple trail loop options which vary in distance and level of difficulty. Choices range from an easy 1-mile loop to multiple figure-8 configurations for those looking to maximize their mileage. Regardless of distance, nearly all options feature scenic views including a destination vista point offering 360-degree perspectives from the mountains to the sea. Access is first come, first served until parking capacity is reached. Registration is not required.

More information: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 22 – EarthCraft 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Enter a world of creativity and make nature-themed crafts and artwork with your little ones. We’ll exclusively use Earth-friendly materials that have either been found in nature, reused from ordinary daily products, or have been responsibly sourced. "Sphere" not, an enjoyable new project will be planned for each program! Please wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection and bring snacks and water. This program begins at the Aliso and Wood Visitor Center. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

March 22 – Nature Creativity: Kids! Pressed Flower Bookmarks 3 – 4:30 p.m. |

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Let nature spark your creativity! Join OC Parks naturalists for a scenic hike to discover beautiful native wildflowers along our trails. After the hike, we’ll use pressed flowers to decorate wooden bookmarks for you to take home as a keepsake! This program is designed for ages 7 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

March 26 – Spring Fling Preschool Program 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. |

OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park

This program is for ages 3 to 4 only. Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts, and meeting zoo creatures up close! Cost is $5 per child (one parent included). Parent or guardian must accompany child for entire program. Phone registration is required. Parking fee is $3 per vehicle on weekdays.

Registration: Call (714) 973-6846

March 27 – Little Explorers: Hike at Mason! 9 – 11 a.m. |

William R. Mason Regional Park

Join OC Parks for a 1-mile hike around Mason Regional Park with your little ones (ages 3 to 6). We will explore the Butterfly Garden, the lake and more. This hike is relatively flat on paved surfaces. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

March 28 – Night Hike 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Irvine Regional Park

Join us at Irvine Regional Park as we search for nighttime critters that call the park home. From humble toads to graceful owls, you never know what you’ll see! This program will begin in front of the nature center near parking lot T. Layers, sturdy footwear and water are recommended. Red-tinted flashlights are highly encouraged. This hike is not recommended for very small children or strollers. Children must be accompanied by a guardian during the program. The program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 29 – Nature Scavenger Hunt 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |

Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Join OC Parks staff and volunteers for a nature scavenger hunt that’s fun for all ages! Participants will find a series of interpretive tables and posts that are “hidden” along the trails near the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. There will be hands-on educational activities and prizes available for those who complete the scavenger hunt. The program is designed for ages 7 to 12, but all are welcome to attend. The scavenger hunt takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, and participants may begin it anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The program and parking are free. Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

March 29 – Explore the Universe: Space Ranger Program and Starr Party 6 – 9 p.m. | Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

Embark on a journey through the stars at our Space Ranger Program and Starr Party! The Space Ranger Program begins one hour before sundown and features interactive activities and a short talk, perfect for families and space enthusiasts of all ages. Once the sun sets, join us outdoors for the Starr Party, where telescopes and expert guidance will help you explore the night sky until approximately 9 p.m. Visitors may attend one or both activities. No equipment is needed, just your curiosity! This is a family-friendly program recommended for children ages 5 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All activities will take place at the nature center. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Advance registration is required for those without a camping reservation.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

Visit ocparks.com/events to view the entire calendar of upcoming programs and activities. Please contact Brandon Gamez at brandon@theaceagency.com with interest in previewing or covering any events or programs this March. Media, photographers and cameras are welcome with prior approval.