What we’re about
Welcome! (Require: a personal photo and introduce yourself to the group)
***By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings***
- Click RATING TABLE to learn more about difficulty levels. Click HikingOC Policy to read more FYI. https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/messages/boards/thread/53724845
Take a quick look at our Events Calendar to see what events are on the horizon
- • Join us whether you are new or experienced in Hiking. There are different levels, but we all share one common: using our legs to move up down hills. Most of the time on dirt trails, but there are different terrains: rocky or gravels or in water, river or mud; different settings: mountain, forest, wilderness or desert.
• Contact us if you are interested to join the Organizer Team and organize Hikes local OC or out of town Hikes to those who share the same interest. Our wide open calendar will fill with events during the weekdays, but mostly the weekends. Our events or trips are generated by volunteer effort and time of volunteer organizers.
[All Our Organizers Volunteer their Time and Effort for Free Cost to Most Events]
• Once or twice per month, there will be events or trips that require payments. These are costs to cover your expenses and fund raising to "HikingOC Fund".
• "HikingOC Fund" will generate profit after the costs from events monthly. It will maintain the group website, support all HikingOC volunteered organizers who contribute to build this hiking group, an outdoor active community and to donate to the good causes or charities.
• If you like to do a great cause in honor our group name, please support helping those affected by disasters or the National Park Services (we hike on many lands of the National Parks.) We are sure your support is highly appreciated and rescues the unfortunates! There are many Non-Profit Organizations, please contact direct AMERICAN RED CROSS ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER for more info
***Read more past hikes on A Journey with HikingOC -- ANP Tourism-Lifetime Memory
for more Travel Trips in the US and Many Regions in the World***
Check on the IMAGES to see our photo albums
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Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Salt Creek 5-Mile Hike/Level 2Salt Creek Trail via Ambers Cantina next to Fratellos Italian Restaurant, Laguna Niguel, CA
DEPARTURE TIME: 5:30 p.m.
Meet in a parking lot next to Amber’s Cantina Restaurant.
Trail is 100% paved. Please wear regular walk/tennis shoes, not your hiking boots since this a paved trail.
Ratings: It’s best as level 2/2+ for distance, elevation and speed.
Click to see RATING TABLE for more info about hiking levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRatingDistance : about 5 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation: few hundreds ft
ABOUT THE HIKE: This is a moderate or fast-pace 5.2 miles walk along the paved road of the fragnant sage-dense area in Laguna Niguel that ends in the beautiful Salt Creek Beach. This trail has a few small hills, but mostly is flat and gradual. This hike is suitable for anybody: for beginners or advanced hikers, and will take us no longer than 2 hours to complete. The paved trail is laying just above the actual Salt Creek, and there are several spots where you can hear some frogs singing at night :-) There are restrooms at the half-way, when we reach the Beach.
One of the hikes with Elena from last year https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/photos/32527376/
REMINDER
***By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike*** - 2024-April: Midweek-Turtle Rock Hills near UCI, Irvine at Sunset/Levels 2 to 3Turtle Rock, Irvine, CA
Midweek evening workout on Turtle Rock hills at sunset!
This hike is rated levels 2 to 3 for pace and elevation. Please see the RATING TABLE for more info about difficulty levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating
Meeting time: 5:45 PM
Duration: ~1.5 to 2 hours
Distance: 4+ miles
Elevation: 1100ftESSENTIALS: Bring water, running/hiking shoes, and a flashlight just in case, but we will finish before dark
DIRECTIONS: Address: 1 Concordia, Irvine
From the 405 exit Jeffrey and head towards the beach, Jeffrey will become University, Left onto Ridgeline Drive, Turn right onto Turtle Rock Drive, Turn right on Concordia and park on the street.
Map: 1 Concordia, Irvine 92612
ABOUT THIS HIKE:
This is a workout conditioning hike composed of a looped route with a mix of trails and sidewalk/bike paths, along with some not too long but fairly steep hills. The two popular hills: French Hill and Suicide Hill at Turtle Rock. This loop, which uses city streets, single-track trails and a little bit of climbing, is one of several possible routes that visit the two summits. This hike requires regular hikers or those who have exercise experience (stair stepper or treadmill on 5-7 degree incline). The trail is dog friendly.
Route:
The hike begins with a steep climb up French Hill, gaining 200 feet in about 0.3 miles. At the top, you get a nice view of the Santa Ana Mountains and you can also see the other destination, Turtle Rock, to the left.
At the top, bear right, pass by a small summit marker, and begin heading downhill, toward a residential neighborhood. The trail swings around the back side of the houses and begins to curve south, making a moderate ascent to a ridge. Here, you get nice views of the Laguna Canyon area and the San Joaquin Hills.
At 1.2 miles, you begin a sharp descent toward Ridgeline Drive. Head right and follow a trail that’s been beaten on the side of the road. Soon you cross Hillsborough, where you can follow a proper sidewalk up to the intersection with Turtle Rock Drive.
Cross the street and continue following Ridgeline, looking for a paved walkway heading downhill (1.9 miles.) At the bottom of a hill, where the walkway makes a hairpin turn, continue straight on a dirt trail. Never getting too far from the residential area on the right, you climb to another ridge. Head right at a junction, where you’ll see Turtle Rock ahead of you, with its geological outcrops that resemble turtles. You descend into a pleasant wooded area, reaching a paved walkway at about 2.6 miles.
Head left, and almost immediately take a hard right and begin climbing a staircase. At the top, head right and continue your ascent. A little bit of scrambling, though nothing too difficult, is required to reach the top of Turtle Rock (2.9 miles), where you enjoy a nice view of almost all of Orange County, and on clear days, beyond.
Continuing north, you descend steeply from Turtle Rock. Turn left at the next junction and head through a meadow, toward the intersection of San Rufino and Via Novella (3.4 miles.) Follow Via Novella to Amalfi Drive, head right and turn right again on Turtle Rock Drive. Heading slightly uphill, follow Turtle Rock 0.4 miles back to the starting point.
REMINDER:
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike*** - Peters Canyon Hike Saturday Morning/All Levels: 1+ to 3/Beginning-AdvancePeters Canyon Meetup, Tustin, CA
NO PARKING ZONE and Driving Direction: see below FYI
Join us for a workout or it can be a training for regular hikers. Peters Canyon is a dog friendly trail.
Hiking time: 7 AM
General Rating/Difficulty: All Levels: Slow to Fast/Beginning to Advance: for distance, elevation and pace.
Link to Hike Rating Table: https://tinyurl.com/HikeRatingPlease keep in mind: Hikers will join for a workout together; there is no leader or sweeper on this hike
Route: We will start at Eucalyptus trail and going up hill (optional to the lake) and hike back. Click on the links to see Trails Map (https://ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2023-03/Peters%20Canyon%20Regional%20Park%202023_03_06%20%281%29%20%281%29.pdf) and to read more about Peters Canyon Regional Park (http://ocparks.com/parks/peters)
Duration/Distance/Elevation: 1.5-2 hours, 5-7 miles and gain 500ft-1000ft
The most important: 10 Hiking Essentials (https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/9535234)
Click to read more about HIKING SKILL LEVELS (https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/10328308) that some other organizers may use
Suggestions :
- Everybody should have good tracking shoes or traction running shoes
- loose clothes- shorts would be fine since its warm out there
- Plenty of water
DIRECTIONS :
Sometimes you may get a ticket if you park in the zone "NO PARKING anytime" Try to come early or park at Cedar Grove Park parking- From the 5 Freeway- exit Tustin Ranch Road and head towards the foothills and drive approx. 3 miles. Get in the left hand lane and take a left on Pioneer WAY (signal). Now get into the right lane and take the next right on Pioneer ROAD (signal). This road will wind around Cedar Grove Park. Continue to the first stop sign and take a left on Peters Canyon Road (stop sign). Take this road down around a little curve and park on the right side of the curb at the end of the road. We will meet at the sign for Peter's Canyon Trail
- Another location for parking: Park in North Tustin. Address: 2158 Lower Lake Dr. , Santa Ana, CA 92705 Parking is on the parking lot or on the street. You'll be ahead of the group, so we'll meet with you at the portable potties 10-15 minutes after.
From North or Central OC, take the 55 Frwy exit Chapman Ave in Orange, go toward the mountains for 2.2 miles, then turn right on S. Crawford Canyon Rd for about 1 mile, then left onto Newport Blvd, then right onto Cowen Heights Dr, right onto Skyline Dr, then left onto Lemon Heights and continue to Lower Lake Dr.
REMINDER By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***