ORANGE, Calif.—With 3.3 miles of traversable terrain and five interweaving trails, the Orange County Parks department welcomed the opening of the Saddleback Wilderness hiking trail system last month located within the protected wildlands of the Irvine Ranch Open Space.
The newly-developed trails—some with 360-degree views from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean—welcome hikers, bikers, and equestrians.
“Nearly all the routes feature scenic vistas,” Orange County Parks Operations Manager John Gump told The Epoch Times.
A flower blossums in the Saddleback Wilderness in Orange, Calif., on May 4, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Before the trails’ opening, biological surveys were conducted to identify rare and protected plants and animals….