| Location: Bommer Canyon, Irvine Open Space Reserve, – Santa Ana Mountains, California Distance: 7.76 miles (out and back) Peak Elevation: 1,023 feet Elevation Gain: 1,228 feet Difficulty: Moderate Caution: Sun exposure, rattlesnakes, ticks, poison oak |
This hike explores Bommer Canyon from Turtle Rock to Hogback Ridge. Bommer Canyon is a gateway connecting the mountains to the sea. It’s a rare thing to see a vast natural open space in the middle of a metropolitan economic powerhouse. The land remains pristine due to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s efforts. They have limited access to monthly Wilderness Access Days and guided hikes.
| Directions to Trailhead | Hiking Directions | Bommer Meadow | Bommer Canyon | Hogback Ridge | Laguna Coast Wilderness Park | Plan Your Visit |
Directions to Trailhead
| Head south on the 405 freeway, exit University Drive and continue south. Continue on University Drive for 0.7 miles. Turn left at Ridgeline Drive and drive 1.4 miles. Make a left at Turtle Rock Drive and continue for 0.6 miles. Turn left at Sunnyhill and drive 0.1 miles. Make a right at the Turtle Rock Community Park parking lot. Head south on Sunnyhill, turn right onto Shady Canyon Drive and begin the hike on Bommer Canyon Road. (It is about 0.3 miles from the lot to the start of the road.) |
Hiking Directions
| Trailhead: Park at Turtle Rock Nature Center. 0.3 miles: Trailhead: Head south on Bommer Meadow Trail. 1.3 miles: After Cattle Camp, turn left onto East Fork Trail. 2.5 miles: At the junction, turn right onto Hogback Ridge Trail. 3.1 miles: At the junction, turn right onto Camarillo Canyon Trail and head below the toll road. 3.3 miles: At the junction, turn left onto Upper Laurel Trail. 3.88 miles: At the shady tree area on Upper Laurel, turn around and return to the trailhead. |
Bommer Meadow
The Irvine Ranch Conservancy has closed off the green hillside of Bommer Meadow. Except for the trails, the wildlands area in the Irvine Open Space Preserve is off limits. They are reintroducing native plants such as California sagebrush (cowboy cologne) and coast sunflower. They are still working to eradicate invasive plants that become fuel for wildfires. Spanish colonizers most likely planted black mustard plants to make the El Camino Real path golden.
After a few wooden footbridges among the rolling foothills, you reach the historic Cattle Camp. Bommer Canyon has a long connection with cattle ranching. Its newly restored red barn building provides a glimpse into the Irvine Ranch’s original cattle grazing operations. A bummer is an abandoned calf, which was where the canyon’s name came from.
Perhaps you should just park at Cattle Camp. This would shave off 2.6 miles from this hike so you can explore more of Bommer Canyon. After the camp, there are a number of different trails you can take.
Bommer Canyon
At Bommer Pass, the locked gate to the East Fork Trail is only open to the public once a month. The narrow dirt path is mostly flat and leisurely, which allows you to observe the abundant flora and fauna. Beside a cluster of coast sunflowers, a pair of bouncy quails cross the trail and hide in some thick brush. You might see the tiny pea-sized petals of the orange deerweed blossoms. Next to a set of bobcat tracks, prickly pears grow out of cholla cacti.
The East Fork Trail definitely goes out with a bang. Almost two miles into this hike, things start getting spicy. The steep path climbs 500 feet in half a mile. You may end up passing several groups of hikers who are catching their breath.
Hogback Ridge
The junction of the East Fork Trail, Ridge Route, and Hogback Ridge Trail is a peaklet. You will see lots of bike riders at this stone circle deciding which single track to bomb down next. The single track of the Hogback Ridge Trail descends gently past interesting rock outcroppings. To the east you can see other ridgelines including Serrano Ridge with Saddleback in the background. There are also tons of sun exposure, so you will agree that oak shade is the best kind around. The coastal sage releases a pleasing fragrance while also providing refuge for rabbits and squirrels.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
When you head south on the Serrano Ridge Trail, you will quickly approach the toll road (state route 73). The trail ducks under the quiet lightly-used highway.
At least there is nice shade from the two large overpasses. The path soon becomes the Upper Laurel Trail, which is a fire road that enters the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. At the gate to a fenced off area, a squirrel and a rabbit were having a staring contest. In a quarter mile, oak trees on both sides form a tree tunnel.
Plan Your Visit
- Registration: The Irvine Open Space Preserve at Bommer Canyon is accessible on the third Saturday of every month. Register online at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s Let’s Go Outside activities page. Each event has limited spaces.
- Gates: The gates are only open from 8 am to 2 pm. You will be subject to citation if you are found on the Irvine “scheduled program only” trails before 8 am or after 2 pm. Failure to remove your vehicle from the Cattle Camp by 2 pm will subject you to citation.
- Cancellation: If your plans change and you cannot attend, cancel your registration to open your spot to another visitor.
More to See in the Irvine Open Space Preserve