Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve: Tour e Visite Guidate

C and Java fans take note!
C and Java fans take note!
Gorgeous paddle session surrounded by nature with our NIXY Inflatable SUPs
Leave it to the OC to build a combination automobile/bicycle/pedestrian path, each with its own lane, along a three mile stretch of the upper portion of the Newport Bay.

But that is exactly what they did.

The trail is all asphalt, with a few very small offshoots into dirt "nature" trails.  The place is beautiful, really, but I have to put a fly in the ointment here and divulge one of the OC's dirty little secrets.  Somehow or another, a heavy portion of refuse has washed back into the bay and now litters various spots along the trail.  It does not overwhelm the area (as you see here), but it definitely gives one pause to reflect.

That aside, the refuge is home to all manner of wildlife -- Ospreys, Snowy Egrets, Herons, Terns, Seagulls, Ravens, crabs, lizards, frogs, wildflowers of an incredible variety, and all the insects they attract.

There really is no elevation gain to speak of, nothing but the 6-mile round trip to give it even a hint of hiking bona fides.  But it is a very pleasant way to drop down from a 16-mile noggin' poacher like the long route at Crystal Cove.

We added a second "hike" at another relatively flat nature preserve to round out the day. 

But more on that later.
The Preserve was established back in 1975 after a fairly ferocious battle between environmentalists and, well, everybody else.  I doubt there is anyone alive today who regrets the turn of events.

For one thing, huge swaths of land have been preserved [and protected] in pristine form, for another, public access through the place makes it a popular destination for runners, hikers and slow-driving tourists.  

Finally, the surrounding area is almost completely developed for business, high-end residential, and hotel property.

Everybody wins...well, as long as you're willing to keep your head pointed in the direction most suited to your tastes.

It's probably a workable model only where almost everyone is working with a set of unlimited resources and is willing to put them on the line in pursuit of their interests.

A Walden for billionaires, if you wish.  But I gotta admit, it seems to work.


Parti alla scoperta di Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Prezzi trovati nelle ultime 48 ore. Clicca per visualizzare i prezzi aggiornati.
The Buena Park Hotel & Suites
Hotel Huntington Beach
Laguna Hills Lodge

Tour e gite di un giorno

Mostra tutte le 34 attività

Tour privati e personalizzati

Mostra tutte le 14 attività

Attività acquatiche

Mostra tutte le 5 attività

Spa e centri benessere

Mostra tutte le 3 attività

Divertimenti e avventure all’aperto

Mostra tutte le 3 attività

Luoghi di interesse da non perdere


Migliori offerte hotel

Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa/Newport Beach

Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa/Newport Beach

4 out of 5
325 Bristol Street Costa Mesa CA
Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa/Newport Beach
Newport Beach Marriott Bayview

Newport Beach Marriott Bayview

4 out of 5
500 Bayview Cir Newport Beach CA
Newport Beach Marriott Bayview
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel

Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel

4 out of 5
4500 Macarthur Blvd Newport Beach CA
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel
Sunset Inn

Sunset Inn

2 out of 5
2100 Newport Blvd Costa Mesa CA
Sunset Inn
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach West

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach West

4 out of 5
4545 Macarthur Blvd Newport Beach CA
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach West
Hampton Inn by Hilton Costa Mesa Newport Beach

Hampton Inn by Hilton Costa Mesa Newport Beach

2.5 out of 5
2070 Newport Blvd Costa Mesa CA
Hampton Inn by Hilton Costa Mesa Newport Beach
Pendry Newport Beach

Pendry Newport Beach

4.5 out of 5
690 Newport Center Dr Newport Beach CA
Pendry Newport Beach
Cozy Inn

Cozy Inn

2 out of 5
325 W Bay St Costa Mesa CA
Cozy Inn
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach

4 out of 5
1107 Jamboree Rd Newport Beach CA
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
Prezzo per notte più basso trovato nelle ultime 24 ore, per un soggiorno di 1 notte per 2 adulti. Tariffe e disponibilità sono soggette a modifica. Si applicano condizioni aggiuntive.