IRVINE : Hicks Canyon Hike Affords Great View

It’s a 3-mile hike to the crest of Hicks Canyon. However, once you arrive at the top, thoughts of aching feet are likely to ease as you behold some of the most sweeping vistas in the county.

To the west is the Pacific Ocean, and on a clear day Catalina Island is visible. In the foreground are the red tile roofs of Irvine’s Westpark village and the giant blimp hangars at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station.

“When it’s clear, you can see the Queen Mary and the Spruce Goose dome in Long Beach,” said Libby Cowan, Irvine’s community services superintendent. “You can see the Matterhorn (at Disneyland) with binoculars.”

Irvine’s Community Services Department is offering guided hikes through Hicks Canyon three times in the next three months. The area is owned by the Irvine Co., but the city is allowed access to the land for recreational activities under an open-space agreement.

The canyon, nestled in the eastern foothills of Irvine, boasts dramatic 300-foot cliffs and varied species of wildlife and vegetation.

Hikers will walk along the paved Hicks Canyon Haul Road. The street got its name because rocks and gravel are hauled from Santiago Canyon to South County on the route.

“It’s a slow and steady climb,” Cowan said. “The road climbs along the canyon wall.”

People as old as 80 have made the 6-mile round trip.

“If you are in reasonably good shape, I think you can make it to the top,” she said. “It’s absolutely worth it.”

Tours will be offered on Jan. 8, Feb. 6 and March 19. Anyone older than 11 is welcome. The cost is $15 per person. For more information or to register, call the city at (714) 724-6610.