There’s 40,000 acres of deep wilderness and stunning landscapes situated in the northeastern backcountry of Orange County that make up Black Star Canyon.
This historic piece of land was originally occupied by the Gabrielino (Tongva) Band of Mission Indians until the late 1800’s when the Black Star Mining Company started coal mining in the area, giving the land its present name.
Mining operations ended in the early 1900’s and OC Parks eventually acquired the land from the Irvine Company in 2010, eventually dedicating it as a Wilderness park.
Black Star Canyon is home to many types of wildlife such as animals and arthropods such as Harvester Ants, Darkling Beetles, Western Toads, Coyotes, Tarantula Hawks, to other plants like the White Sage, California Everlasting, Chalk Dudleya and geologic formations such as the iconic red rocks formed by the sediment oxidizing over time.
While owned by OC Parks, a series of guided hikes, trail maintenance and other upkeep for the land is done by Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers.
On most days, the partnership keeps getting a variety of local residents access to trails.
Residents like Yousfa Janjua, who lives in nearby Irvine and credits the educational aspects of the guided hikes.
“The kids have been learning a lot throughout the years,” said Janjua, 40, while leading her three kids through the Black Star Canyon trail.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers also help keep the open space healthy by going out and removing invasive species and helping to grow and seed more native plants at the native seed farm to help with habitat restoration projects on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, including Black Star Canyon.
“It’s so cool that this is right outside the city and so many people don’t know it’s here” said Irvine resident Dan Hoover, 69.
The massive piece of land has a variety of trails varying in difficulty from easy, half mile hikes, to harder 7 mile hikes.
“As a new person this is a great way to figure out if you like hikes or not” said Rancho Santa Margarita resident, Diana Strzok, 50.
Though all of the trails and falls that make up Black Star Canyon are open for hikes, they require pre-registration.
Local wildlife managers say the guided hikes by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers also help keep the land in good condition because participants of a guided hike are less likely to go off trail and disturb the animals and environment.
“With over 3 million people living within a 30 minute car ride of the land we manage, we know that there is a tremendous amount of interest in recreating on the land,” said Irvine Ranch Conservancy Communications Manager Scott Graves.
“This rule, though slightly inconvenient, helps to keep the land pristine while also allowing the public to experience it in a way not destructive to the environment.”
Here are a few more views from the hike.
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